Zimbabwe: Relief and Development for Children

With support from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, Save the Children will embark on the Matau Primary School Project in Zimbabwe. Learn more.   Zimbabwe Statistics 1.6 million Orphans and vulnerable children — nearly 1 million due to HIV and AIDS 3.3 million children living below food poverty line (UNICEF, 2010) Nearly a quarter of orphans and vulnerable children are abused Global hunger index of 23.8 is rated alarming 1 out of 10 ten children will not reach their fifth birthday A third of boys and girls are chronically malnourished and underweight Only 55% of children reach a sixth grade reading level 190,000 school age children don’t attend school 300,000 children have disabilities Zimbabwe Quick Facts In 2010, Save the Children and international partners reached over 450,000, including: 35,000 children through HIV prevention and protection education 25,000 babies received newborn medical check-ups 154,000 children through education programs 26,000 children with food and nutrition support Watch Videos of Relief and Aid for Children in Zimbabwe How You Can Help Charitable contributions from people like you make it possible for us to support programs in Zimbabwe, and so much more. Please support our mission and work around the world with a gift to our Global Action Fund. You can count on Save the Children to be good stewards of your generous donation, helping vulnerable children where the need is greatest with whatever they need the most. You can help make a difference by supporting all the work that Save the Children does to help children in need in the U.S. and around the world.

Elizabeth was brought to Save the Children after she had been abandoned by her mother. Read her story

Humanitarian Relief and Development for Children

Save the Children has supported programs in Zimbabwe since 1984. We serve children and families through humanitarian relief and long-term development. Initially one of the most successful democracies in Africa, in 2000 began a Zimbabwe rapid decline toward economic and social meltdown. Children have suffered as a result, particularly, orphans, the poor and those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS.

The situation for children in Zimbabwe — nearly one out of three are malnourished — is getting even worse. Acute child malnutrition in parts of the country has increased in recent years. In addition, many Zimbabwean children lack access to basic education, health care and daily essentials for survival.

• Challenges for Children
• Education and Child Development
• Emergency Relief and Recovery
• Results and Impact in Zimbabwe

Challenges for Children

Zimbabwe has suffered massive food shortages since 2002, due to the country’s ongoing economic crisis. Small farms failed and the commercial farming industry collapsed. Families in Zimbabwe rely on rations of food aid to survive. Nearly half the population — about 5 million people — is in need of food aid.

The spread of disease continue to threaten the lives and well-being of children and their families in Zimbabwe. Basic sanitation services and the health care system have collapsed. A growing number of children and families have had to face infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS, cholera, measles, malaria and typhoid in recent years.

Education and Child Development

More than 3.2 million children are enrolled in primary and secondary schools in Zimbabwe — yet there are only about 102,000 teachers. School enrollment is highest in first grade, but first graders also have the high drop out rates. In 2009, three percent of children in first grade left school. This highlights a need for early learning opportunities to prepare children to succeed in school.

Nationwide in 2009, less than half of students passed their seventh grade exams — a series of tests which serve as a major educational milestone in Zimbabwe. On average, three Zimbabwean school children share a math textbook, and four children share a seat and desk area.

In response to these and other challenges, more than half a million orphans and vulnerable children are being helped in getting access to a quality education through programs supported by Save the Children.

Emergency Relief and Recovery

Zimbabwe experienced the worst cholera crisis in Africa for 15 years in 2008-2009. Nearly 5,000 people were killed by the deadly disease, many of them vulnerable children. Another 1,500 people died from cholera-related infection in 2010.

In response, Save the Children has reached over 23,000 people, including nearly 12,000 children, with treatment and health education. Hygiene, education food was delivered to cholera-affected areas including water treatment tablets, soap, water containers, educational posters and flyers, cooking oil, food and other supplies. Efforts were coordinated with other non-government organizations and technical assistance was provided to the Ministry of Health.

Results and Impact in Zimbabwe

Last year, more than 450,000 people benefited from our work in Zimbabwe providing food, health care and child protection services. While progress has been made, life for millions of the poorest children and women in Zimbabwe is still full of hardships.

A total of 57 projects were implemented, many in partnership with local organizations to increase efficiency and engagement in Zimbabwean villages and communities. Save the Children’s relief workers and development programs reached a total of 452,378 people directly, and 385,263 of them were children. In addition, the program indirectly reached 831,901 people, of which 451,716 were children.

“Even if we are not literate ourselves, we can help our children so that they can read and study well. It is important that our children know how to read so that they would have a better life than us.”
– Mother of a Literacy Boost Student

Last Updated May 2011