For Wiseman Muganiri and Shame Bope every day with the Zimbabwe Support Network team brings new challenges. These range from preparing training workshops on HIV/AIDS, to distributing food and meeting people who arrive at the Rokpa headquarters needing help. Limited resources make the task of deciding who they will be able to assist particularly difficult.
Wiseman writes:
"Those driving by the Rokpa headquarters in Harare see a long winding queue and may not understand what is happening. Looking more closely, they would see the young and old, the sick and elderly and orphans without any means of support. All have come to this Service centre for food assistance where there is someone to receive them every day, and they all have individual and unique needs. But the demand and supply are incredibly different and it is my job to select the neediest.
The number of people coming for help is ever-increasing. The assessment in order to allow or deny someone assistance is very difficult and often painful. Due to limited resources, we can only provide help to the most needy. In a country where it is always a struggle to get resources, and to then effectively target and distribute these, there are many daily challenges. Serving those in need is nourishing when I am able to notice a positive change in their wellbeing. I can then tell that Rokpa and my work are making a difference."
Shame trains Talk Time facilitators who give sessions that raise awareness of AIDS and advice about prevention. "Over the last two years we have managed to provide training to more than 800 people. Trainee facilitators are selected from among the poor and chronically ill who seek our help. We are so happy to report that they are beginning to set up their own community groups". This shows that the training is working and word is beginning to spread. Hopefully this will bring the number of people infected by the HIV virus down at last.
ROKPA UK Overseas Projects
Kagyu Samye Ling, Eskdalemuir, Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 0QL
Telephone: 013873 73232 Ext: 230
Fax: 013873 73223
email: charity@RokpaUK.org
ROKPA Trust Reg. Charity No: 1059293
