VOH Africa is Expanding!

 

VOH Africa is expanding!  We're getting ready to launch a new VOH Centre in Bulowayo, Zimbabwe!  The VOH Africa lead team, including me, visited the new location to give training about VOH Africa, our vision, mission, values and  programs. My role was to do the training on key standards and accountability measures to operate a VOH Centre.  What a fantastic week ... to see the energy and enthusiasm of the new leaders and volunteers. And to see the tremendous need. On the first day, we went to a location about 3 hrs from the city to see the potential new site. The government is gifting us land to start the Centre there. The community is one of the neediest in the country. Much drought exists, and the community is full of "go-go's" (grandmamas) looking after their grandchildren whose parents have passed away or moved to neighbouring countries to try to find work. We shared ideas, dreamed together and laughed together - all under a huge tree. I was so impressed with the creativity and vision they had!

So wonderful to join the community in planning for their future!

Next, we held a 3 day workshop where we shared the foundations of VOH Africa, what it means to be a partner with us and expectations to ensure accountability and effectiveness. On the last day we talked about building their strategy and set some key initiatives for next year to get started! There is a long list of things that need to be done, but there is a strong commitment and passion to get started! I'm sure they left the the 3 days with their minds swimming with information, and their hearts full of joy knowing the impact they will have in the lives of children in their community by opening a VOH Centre! It's going to be great!

On the last day, I visited the "HOPE Factory"! The church ministry we are partnering with currently provides porridge every morning for over 54,000 children! There is a ministry in the US that was funding purchasing the food, but this creative team thought "what if we made it ourselves? Wouldn't that be able to do more for less, and even create livilhood in the community where we serve?" Once again, the government granted land for them. They built this amazing factory last year, and have begun to make the porridge for the children as well as produce extra to sell to provide more income. The vision is that the farmers in the community where we are going will be able to grow the corn and soya beans, they buy it at wholesale prices, and then use it to make the porridge to serve their children! Talk about full circle!

Please pray for this new venture. There is so much to be done over the next year or two. Pray that God will lead and direct the leaders, staff and volunteers as they prepare to launch the new VOH Centre, and that many children's lives will be impacted. 2025 has been an amazing year! So much has happened and so many children have been reached. The launch of a new Centre was a great way to end the year - thanking God for His goodness, dreaming about the future .. and putting plans in place to expand VOH Africa in order to provide love and care for even more vulnerable children. 2026 is sure to be exciting! My heart just overflows. Thank you, as always, for your prayers, support & being part of it with me.  Blessings! Jeanette PS. As the year is almost over, may I be share one gentle request? When I was home in the spring for my fundraising, several individuals committed to become a monthly donor, increase their monthly support or give a special gift. Unfortunately, not all have been received as yet. If you made a commitment, or thought about it, and have not yet had a chance to send your support, may I humbly ask that you do so before the end of the year? It would really help my financial foundation and enable me to press into 2026 full steam ahead! Thanks!!!