Qantas Cabin Crew Team and Chiedza Child Care Centre are working together to address the issue of income insecurity and a lack of access to basic education services in the Harare region of Zimbabwe.

Project activities focus on strengthening the household economy by delivering financial management programs in conjunction with specific vocational training in areas such as mushroom harvesting, egg production, vegetable gardening and maputi making (a traditional snack made of roasted maize mixed with salt). Market linkages will be fostered to ensure that trainees have easy access to both suppliers and consumers in order to generate an adequate income which meets the educational needs of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) under their care.

At the community Resource Centre, ‘out of school’ children are provided with non-formal education classes facilitated by qualified retired teachers. Once students have ‘caught up’, they are re-integrated into the formal school system. Caregivers are invited to participate in regular workshops to realise the importance of pertinent topics including nutrition, hygiene, child safety and family planning.

Through this project, impoverished Zimbabweans will be able to embrace new life skills, engage in employment and contribute to self-sustaining communities.

Key Areas of Investment

• Workshop materials for vocational training
• Income generating start-up kits
• Student exam fees
• Student excursion costs for experiential learning
• Resource Centre computers, learning materials and furniture
• Professional development courses for trainers