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Projects of the National Federation of Women's Institutes of Zimbabwe (NFWIZ)
National Federation of Women's Institutes of Zimbabwe (NFWIZ)
August 18, 2002 (updated December 05, 2006)

The Federation incorporates 16 Institutes nation wide. The NFWI is a world wide organisation and the local organisation is a constituent society of the Associated Women of the World.(ACWW).

The aims of the Women's Institute movement are:

• to enable women to take an effective part in the life and development of the country
• to improve and develop the conditions of our national and community life

Projects incorporate the following:

• The Melfort Farm Project
  This is an old age home on Melfort Farm that accommodates displaced domestic workers. The youngest resident is 65 and the oldest 96! There are 38 residents seven of which are women.

  Social Welfare do try and relocate these old folk, but some of them have been out of their own countries for as long as forty years. The residents are from Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana with a large number from within Zimbabwe too.

  The needs of the residents are various and include fresh vegetables, food donations, cigarettes and sweets, warm clothing and knitted caps. Towels and soap are always welcome. Meat donations and of course mealie meal.

  This project has all the residents working for their keep, and they take turns cooking, working (when able) in the field and cleaning the common living areas. The Project is well worth visiting.

• Helping the visually impaired
  This Institute takes great interest in the blind, supporting three teenagers. We are currently investigating a paper recycling project that one blind boy anticipates earning a good income from.
  
  
• The Rural Schools Project
  The ladies from this Institute in Melfort/Bromley have visited 26 out of 50 schools in their area. This extends to the Chinyika Communal lands and as far as Murewa.

  These schools are desperately in need of stationery. It was found that ten children often share one pencil with the worst scenario being that some students have not written in a year due to the fact that they cannot afford a pencil.

  Private Schools are encouraged to give their unwanted pencils and rulers. Printers are good enough to donate paper off cuts.

• The Roseburkama Project
  Their objectives are poverty alleviation and Aids Awareness.
  
• Karoi Children's Home
  There are some 23 children in the home but the numbers change depending on Social Welfare as these children are often temporarily in the home due to abuse etc.

  The home requires approximately 150kg of mealie meal a month and 36 loaves of bread a week. And of course toys, and small comforts like books, clothing etc.

For more information, and if you can help in any way please email Debby Houghton at debby@zambezi.net

Visit the NFWIZ fact sheet

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