Empowering & Cheering Widows to Transform Challenges and Winning

A young widow with her child on her back.

In Zimbabwe, one in three girls marries before their 18th birthday. Three percent of all women aged 15-49 are widows at any point in time. Many girls like Anenyasha (Her name means ‘God has mercy’) do not continue school. Early pregnancies strip them of opportunities and lead to poor health throughout life; and they are at increased risk of violence within their marriage. She can’t afford to send her kids to school which makes them at risk for crime and trafficking.

When 20-year-old Anenyasha lost her husband from HIV, she had to leave the house they shared because the in-laws put her out. Leaving her without any livelihood. She says her in-laws have done nothing to assist in helping her or the children.

She has been verbally abused and told that she is trash. She has nothing. Her in-laws took everything. This is just one of the many violations of property and inheritance rights of widows in Zimbabwe. Over 70 percent of women are involved in the agricultural economy in Zimbabwe.

The help you provide through your giving raises her self-esteem and she do not have to withstand the intimidation tactics used by her in-laws such as daily shaming, harassment, and physical assaults.

When she can find employment, she works as a live-in domestic worker. Corona Virus and social distancing meant she had to find another option. She and her children went to live with her aunt in Gutu village.

In Gutu and Chinyika village, destitute widows like these are without food. Many eat one meal a day if they can get it. They like most widows live in poverty. Once they thought they had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. But God has provided them with food through your generous giving. Twenty-five dollars can provide a widow with food for one month’

Danai is in a green dress. Her name means ‘loving each other’ and she is a recipient of what Jesus calls us to do. Love each other. She and the widows seated with her no longer wonder where their next meal will come from. Older women routinely experience violations of their human and property rights. They do not have government pensions because they are farmers and were not employed at a job that supplies a pension. The abuses related to property grabbing from widows, predominantly older women is prevalent. Most women aged 60 and over are widowed. Widows have a worse nutritional status than married women.

Fadziso means ‘one who brings happiness’ can truly say that about all who helped with getting her food during the Corona Virus. She is pictured in the red jacket.

Poverty among elderly widows is consistently three to four times higher than elderly married women. Scamming and manipulation are common practice toward the widowed.

Some simply do not know that they have property and inheritance if their marriage was registered.

Not only is it the dry season but Zimbabwe has had a drought since 2019. Inflation is 800% and the economy is collapsing. We were able to feed the widows for months.

Our ministry is humbled, and words cannot express the gratitude that was on the faces of the recipients of the food. They were overwhelmed and greatly appreciated it and were satisfied.

Please give so we can continue to feed them.