RUTH MILLS IN ZIMBABWE

Being a student of the College of the Resurrection this year brought the opportunity to arrange summer placements, and I had the distinct feeling that God was calling me to visit Africa – although I didn’t quite know what that looked like.  I emailed my group tutor at the time, Fr George CR, asking if there was a connection with a religious community in a particular region, who replied “no – but Zimbabwe might be possible, let me talk to Fr Nicolas (CR)”.   Before I knew it, a schedule was arranged, connections made and the details confirmed.

Sitting in the guest room with Fr Nicolas shortly before my departure date, we talked through what to expect, the particular pain and challenges of young people in Zimbabwe, and the difference education can make both to the immediacy and futures of young lives.

The work of the Tariro charity brings about this support, catching and lifting up to hopeful futures, many young people whose family’s poverty makes it impossible to pay for their education. They struggle even to eat.

Then there are many who are simply orphans, with no one else to advocate or provide for them.

Arrival in Harare allowed me to join the young people (YP) of the Tariro House at their local church for the Sunday Eucharist.

After the service, outside the church, the YP and I got to know each other a little better, and the first thing I learned was just how talented and keen they are at photography!  Allowing my phone to be passed from one budding photographer to the next whilst we were arranged into groups and poses, I later discovered the gift of no less than 180 wonderful memories of that morning!

On the bus back to the house we chatted and laughed as they began to tell me about their aspirations and activities.

Arriving at the Tariro House, I was welcomed with generous hospitality.  One of the young people studying hospitality had prepared a hearty meal of rice and stew, which we ate together in their living area, and then had a tour of the rest of the house and garden.  I was shown the ‘roadrunner’ enclosure where incredibly fast chickens (hence their name!) lived, and the nursery where handfuls of chicks were being raised – these, once grown, would be bred or sold as an initiative to raise money which would then contribute to the ongoing cycle of care, education and employment.

Another initiative I was shown was the budding ‘household cleaning product’ project.

An encouraging order had arrived for 48 bottles of washing up liquid, and careful sorting and preparing was done to ensure the customer would be happy with order fulfilment, which an adult sibling of the house who was visiting would deliver.

Here, the YP are family to one another, and remaining in touch with the Tariro House (after moving on in adulthood) is something close to the hearts of those whose lives are already changed by the charity.  Older brothers and sisters come back to support, encourage and advise their younger Tariro family siblings, making sure that leaving once of age doesn’t mean being forgotten or cast adrift.

On this afternoon, the older sibling remained to chat pastorally in a family group, speaking about spiritual preparation for their annual walking pilgrimage, and ending with a time of hymns and prayer.

Of course, our time ultimately ended with more enthusiastic photography whilst chatting with the Religious CZR Sisters who run and care for the House, before lots of hugs and goodbyes, leaving this humbling home where the value and hope of each YP is seen in their respect for their education and wider Tariro family (board members, leaders and supporters) as they work towards full flourishing in careers in many areas including psychology, politics, agriculture, hospitality, accounting and the arts.

The onward road trip to the mountainous region of Penhalonga was made with a former Tariro boy who now coordinates and liaises for TYP as well as looking after another project initiative in pig farming, and again, remains a sibling and mentor to the current YP.  En route to St Augustine’s Mission School we stopped in Rusape to visit two children in their school setting whom the Tariro charity support in education and at home.

Joyce and Penloe were cousins, wearing woollen hats against the chilly winter air, cheerful if a little shy of my visit; delighted to receive simple colouring pencils of their own, and keen to share the activities they love within and outside school, disclosing brief insights into their homelives where childhood can be laden with responsibilities.  School offers them a chance to develop their gifts and skills, realise their dreams, and be able to be children in safe and nurturing spaces.

Onwards again to Penhalonga, we arrived at the CZR convent which sits within the school grounds.  The CZR Sisters live an incredibly simple life with few comforts, placing a high priority on the pastoral and physical welfare of families and children around them, with particular concern for several Tariro children in the primary school.

During my two week stay here, visiting these children became a regular pleasure, their initial concerned faces at my presence becoming smiles and interactions as we got to know each other. Often they came up to the convent at the end of the academic day to show us a new uniform jumper and tell us about their participation in a sports team.

Faith is the foundation of Tariro, and I saw this deeply during the last weekend of my stay which was graced with the arrival of ten Tariro youngsters from the village of Tsvingwe who travelled in a group to stay at the convent in order to take some time to prepare for their confirmations in September.

On the Saturday morning they started by preparing the space of the chapel, singing ‘Hosanna’ in gentle harmonised voices, as they moved.

We spent the rest of the day exploring sacred spaces, furniture and vessels, liturgies, creeds, faith and prayer, and experiencing reading and interpreting scripture from the lectern; interspersed with shared meals with the CZR Sisters and praying the offices.

I was really moved at the way in which they knew one another, playfully encouraging and caring for each other’s needs, and vividly aware of the opportunity their education and connection through Tariro brought them.

Leaving the CZR and Tariro YP that Sunday morning to make the return journey to Harare – and then home – was an emotional pull.

After a shared breakfast (where a little seemed to feed the many) there were tears as we said goodbye. I sensed that this was both deeply rooted in the time of faith we had shared and the individual needs of stability, hope and love which their Tariro bond and our time together had provided.

The last stop was the Shearley Cripps Children’s Home in Chikwaka that evening.  I was able to spend some time listening to how this inspiring family of orphans live and learn together. I was incredibly moved by their resilience and joy.

During my time in Zimbabwe I discovered that the work of Tariro is more than just an outward working of charity.  It’s a deeply transforming inward movement of faith that is instilled and nurtured in each of the Young People whom its work blesses.

To witness the generosity of heart that each child has received through the nurturing of their faith and futures is to witness the promised olive shoots of Psalm 128.

May their growth continue to flourish under God’s care, standing as a vibrant testament to the power of nurtured faith and Hope, transforming their entire nation through the love they carry.