Sponsor a Project

Food Packs and Medical Fund

As we deepen our commitment to children’s education, we also acknowledge that food security is still a significant issue for some of our scholars.  Many of our children have HIV positive parents, siblings, or are HIV positive themselves.  These children need additional food and medical support.  It is very important that we help to provide these things.  It literally might mean the difference between life and death.   Last year we spent $2500 on food packs for families in need.   We anticipate the cost will be about the same in 2013.

Tutorial Support

In our last newsletter we highlighted the 2012 Incentive Program, which includes mandatory extra lessons for students in their first year with us, all grade 7 and form 4 students preparing for national exams, and any C4C students who are falling behind in school.  For those students who are performing well, tutoring is available if they request it.  Since implementing this program, we have noticed tremendous improvements, both in actual grades and in the confidence level of our students.  In 2013, we are looking for donors who are interested in supporting the cost of these extra lessons.   The total cost in 2012 was just over $5000 and we expect it to be about the same in 2013.

Giving Back Fund

The desire to give back and to help others is what we hope to instill in every C4C scholar.  To this end, we fund several projects each year that will help support the spirit of giving.  In 2012 we supported Jane’s idea to run a leadership camp for teens.  Later, we set aside funds for Marlon to begin a soccer team that would target Norton youth who had just graduated from school.  Each of these projects had a budget of under $500 and offered our scholars opportunities to begin strengthening their leadership skills.  We would like to encourage this and feel that a formal application process and fund may encourage others to follow in the footsteps of these leaders.  Please consider making a donation to the Giving Back Fund this year!

“Women’s Pride Washable Pads”

Bridget McBride helped a group of teenage girls develop “Real Pads for Real Women” during her trip in August 2010.  After learning that disposable feminine hygiene products were often prohibitively expensive, Bridget researched a company called Lunapads to see how washable pads might be made. With videos and patterns she taught girls how to sew their own reusable cloth pads.  The girls, and all the older women in the community were quick to point out the economic and hygienic advantages of a reusable, washable product.

Read more about the girls’ group and/or make a donation that will help them to purchase additional sewing machines or materials.   You can also contact us if you are interested in purchasing a shipment of pads to sell at your college, church or in your community.

Together We Can — Youth Sports Project

In the past, UNICEF provided funding for a program called Young People We Care (YPWC), which supported established youth groups and encouraged them to help in their communities, while also incorporating HIV education and life skills training. Though no longer funded, Tsungirirai’s youth have expressed interest in continuing the mission of the project under the new name “Together We Can.” Building off the success of the soccer team, they have requested funding for sports equipment and hope to build a community basketball and volleyball court where they can sponsor community basketball and volleyball competitions. During the sports sessions, likely to be held on weekends, the youth would receive information on HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health from project officers or clinic nurses.

Ann Humphrey, of Medfield, MA and Reebok , have already made a large donation of basketballs and basketball shoes.