{"id":12568,"date":"2023-05-03T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/?p=12568"},"modified":"2023-07-24T15:17:22","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T20:17:22","slug":"from-the-frontlines-zimbabwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/blog\/from-the-frontlines-zimbabwe\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Frontlines: Zimbabwe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Many of the children we rescue in East and Southern Africa have been driven to exploitation to survive. The layered hardships they face, such as child-run families, extreme poverty and lack of access to education, do not evaporate when they\u2019re rescued. That’s why our programs in these regions provide customized care for survivors after rescue.<\/span><\/h5>\n

By walking with a child and her family and providing targeted services after rescue, we can specifically address the vulnerabilities that led to her exploitation and provide opportunities to help her stay free. During the <\/span>pilot phase<\/span><\/a> alone, our program in Zimbabwe served over 100 children, and the impact can be seen in survivors’ confident smiles and heard in their words.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The difference a meal can make<\/span><\/h2>\n

Food packs help relieve the financial burden of paying for food while the survivor or her caregiver completes our economic empowerment program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cI am grateful that there is food to eat when I get home from school!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Anele, 13-year-old survivor<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\u201cOur situation at home is very difficult, and I am so grateful for the food parcels.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Chipiwa, 16-year-old survivor<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Taking the (financial) reigns\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Apprenticeships are another crucial aspect of our Community Care program. These apprenticeships not only give the survivor a stable source of income but strengthen the economy and connect local business owners with motivated new workers. 16-year-old Nyahsa, for example, is not only providing for herself but impressing those around her:<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cI am making money every day and can now support myself. I can now buy nice clothes!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Nyasha, 16-year-old survivor<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\u201cIf you give me another child like Nyasha, I will be very happy!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Nyasha\u2019s employer, a salon owner<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\u201cShe has grown and matured so much. She is an excellent hairdresser and very confident with her clients. She is now building up her own clientele. We are so proud of her.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Nyasha\u2019s caseworker<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Long-term, multidimensional growth<\/span><\/h2>\n

Our caseworkers have the pleasure of watching survivors grow through their healing journey. Notice how 17-year old Ruva\u2019s gratitude changes over the course of a few months:<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWe are so grateful for the food parcels. They help us so much.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Ruva, three months after rescue<\/span><\/p>\n


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\u201cMy life has changed; every day, I make some money to take home.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Ruva, six months after rescue<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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That\u2019s the type of change our caseworkers love to see when they visit these brave girls. Watching as they transition from surviving to thriving is an unspeakable joy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And the kids\u2019 reaction to seeing their caseworkers is a testament to how well these compassionate <\/span>Freedom Fighters<\/span><\/a> shower love on those in their care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cI love it when you visit me!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/h5>\n

\u2014 Maita, 17-year-old survivor, upon seeing her caseworker during a follow-up visit<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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When we usher kids into a new life of freedom, we do more than just remove<\/span> them from abuse. We\u2019re also <\/span>building<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Building lifelong relationships. Building strong, resilient souls capable of not just driving forward in life but of forgiving those who wronged them. Building communities where the generational cycle of exploitation is gradually being dissolved.<\/span><\/p>\n

God is doing some amazing work in Zimbabwe. We hope that you\u2019ll be a part of that work by completing the form below.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n