One thing I enjoy doing is looking at our Tariro bank account, not for the money, which is never as much as I want, but for the names of our regular donors. Some are my own friends and family; some are friends of my Community. Many are people I have never met but their names have become so familiar they seem like friends. Tariro is not just the kids we care for in Zimbabwe. It is also the large number of people – you – who support us here in England. Without you we could do nothing, so thank you very much.
We have recently had a large number of new people sign up for this newsletter. Perhaps you, too, will become regular donors, but no pressure, I promise.

Joram
Joram is one of my favourite boys. He lives at St Francis Mission, Shurugwi. The first photo here was taken of him with his older brother Tinashe when he was 12. These two boys were living with their grandparents as their own parents had disappeared. Then the grandparents suddenly decamped leaving the two boys on their own! The Sisters at St Francis Mission took them in and Tariro has looked after them ever since. Tinashe is a nice lad but sadly has no brains and so is working on the farms. Joram has grown into a splendid boy. He is doing fairly well at school has good carpentry skills. Next year he will begin his training as a carpenter. If he is a good carpenter he will always have work and money to live on.

What’s he like as a boy? Rural kids are very polite and treat us with great respect. That is really nice. But he is able to talk openly to me about the things he loves. He says he’s not interested in girls, which I don’t believe! He loves football. He works hard in the fields when we need it. He likes going to church on Sundays because he loves singing. He seems to have left behind the unhappy experience of his family and is well set to have a good life ahead of him, even in difficult Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe
I shall be going to Zimbabwe in September to see all our young people and talk with the Tariro staff. That is a joy from start to finish. I am looking forward to meeting a new boy, Blessing, at the Harare house. I want to see how Priscilla (below) is getting on with her law studies at University. Some of the children I first knew in primary school are now at university and I am very proud of them.

I am also looking forward to seeing little Joyce whom Tariro took on recently. She is a very sweet kid and settled happily into the house with her host of new sisters and brothers. Then there is Kudakwashe, a nice looking but unhappy boy from a children’s home. He seems to be growing in confidence and self-acceptance, which is what he needs, but it is a long business. That is why we let the youngsters stay as long as they like, sometimes for several years, till they feel confident enough to set up on their own.

Then there is the pig farm which has recently acquired more land. We are developing this into a good source of income so that Tariro will not be wholly dependent on English funding. It also provides jobs for some of our young people. Probably this new land will be used to grow soya for which there is a good market. Chickens come next as they provide a steady income. We insist that everything is done in the most animal friendly and environmentally good way possible. I love visiting the pig farm as the pigs are such fun and the crops are always fantastic.

New youngsters
There are so many young people in Zimbabwe whom we could help. To do that we need more money. This is a hard time in UK to find extra money but if you have any ideas – a local church, a rotary club, a work place which might help us please do let us know. Or, better, let them know about us. Last month I talked to the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in London and got a great reception. Later in the month I talk with a group of parishes near Norfolk. They were lovely, welcoming and generous people. Next month I shall talk to a Rotary group in Ripon, and so it goes on. Just yesterday I heard from a church in Abingdon who have raised money for us with a young people’s brass band concert! It’s fun thinking of all these people doing things for kids in Zimbabwe. That’s what Christianity is about. And I am so lucky to be at the heart of it all!

Nicolas CR