Zimcare Trust

Founded in 1981, Zimcare Trust is a private voluntary organisation supporting people with mental health challenges in Zimbabwe. Annually, Zimcare supports more than 1,000 people, both children and adults, in 14 centres.

Zimcare’s mission is to facilitate an environment in which all learning and care programmes are anchored on individual needs so that each person is assisted to excel within his or her capacity. In the junior schools for children aged 5-17, students are taught basic life skills, reading and writing, sewing and candle making. In the adult centres, students learn a wide variety of income-generating skills including carpentry, pottery, gardening, sewing and welding. Students are given tools and methods to help them succeed in the broader community.

Students have the opportunity to participate in various sporting activities, including golf, netball, athletics, dance and swimming.  In 2015, Zimcare Trust was proud to be able to send six of their students to represent Zimbabwe in the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. The children brought home silver medals in golf and athletics.

Zimcare Trust is also dedicated to helping dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding persons with learning differences. In November 2015, Zimcare Trust hosted its first-ever Zimcare Trust Awareness Day in Harare. More than 400 people attended, including government representatives.

Zimcare has been a partner with Oak Zimbabwe since 2005. To find out more about Zimcare’s inspiring work, check out their page on Facebook.

This grant falls under Oak’s Zimbabwe Programme, which works with local organisations involved in caring and providing for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Zimbabwean society.