BULERMAZI supported by FK Norway

ZPHCA is implementing a three-year exchange program namely BULEMAZI (Building Leadership skills Youths in Malawi and Zimbabwe) in partnership with PODCAM (Parents of Disabled Children Association of Malawi).

The program is aimed at engaging Youths wit disabilities to build their capacity in lobbying and advocacy, leadership and enhancing their participation in developmental activities of their society. As a result, the youths should take up leadership positions be role models and ambassadors to others and be empowered with lobbying and advocacy capacity in their organisations. Every year four participants from Zimbabwe and four from Malawi are trained to teach others PWDs and to share the knowledge, skills and experience acquired during the months of exchange programs.

“MAKE THE VOICES HEARD” supported by Headway

Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association with the support of its Partner Headway Africa is strengthening the status of persons with disabilities, raising awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities as provided in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and capacitates persons with disabilities to make their voices heard.  The expected result is to increase members’ active participation and their possibility to impact the future development.  This has increased cooperation with authorities and other CSOs dealing with people who are differently abled.

This project is improving capacity of ZPHCA in advocacy and governance and strengthening of the network with SCAZ (Study Circle Alliance of Zimbabwe)

IMPROVING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY ON DISABILITY

Supported by Misereor

1. Rights Empowerment – ZPHCA has been hosting Children Living with Disability Rights Training Workshops in Harare and Chitungwiza. Through the Project ZPHCA managed to reach out to more than 500 children living with disability and their parents and siblings sensitizing them of their Rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and other national and international statutes. Disabled children in the area of operation are now empowered and knowledgeable of their rights and are now voicing out against rights violations in homes, community and schools.
2. Community Acceptance – Children living with disability are enjoying the general acceptance and conducive environment created through the ZPHCA Awareness raising Campaigns, Advocacy and Lobby Campaigns and ZPHCA Peer to Peer Education Campaigns programs carried out during the period in question. Such Acceptance is nonetheless not achieved everywhere and not at the same time. It is a constant engagement that ZPHCA has resorted to pursue as long as it will take.
3. Improved Primary Care – ZPHCA through this Grant funding has hosted Primary Care Givers Refresher Courses for parents, siblings, peer educators and caregivers caring for children and young adults living with disability in Harare and Chitungwiza. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of children living with disability remains ZPHCA primary objective and it is encouraging getting feedback from the children and parents acknowledging the improvement in caring standards particularly coming from siblings and other family members trained.
4. Diet Improvement – ZPHCA through the Grant Facility managed to embark on the Broiler Poultry Project, Peanut Butter Making and Candle Making at some of its centers as part of Income generation and self-sustenance endeavors. The Income Generation Projects (IGPs) benefited children enrolled by ZPHCA who managed to enjoy delicious meals carters of the proceeds from the projects which were shared by group members. ZHCA also managed to sell their products for a profit with the resources mobilized being used to diversify the diets at their respective Centers.

SUPPORTED BY BMZ

The project will be implemented by the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC) in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA) and Plan International. The partnership will build on the different areas of expertise of the organizations. ZNCWC will particularly focus on strengthening the collective voice of civil society for monitoring and reporting to the Government on regional as well as on national level. This is done on various levels, on the one hand through children and adolescents directly and on the other hand through strong and well-interconnected civil society organizations. ZPHCA is an organisation with long term experience in working with disabled children and their families inside the communities.

ZPHCA advocates and lobbies for the observation and implementation of the rights of the disabled children. They mobilize parents of disabled children to join the parenting groups to give each other moral support and share experiences about the welfare of their disabled children.

They assist parents build their capacity in meeting the challenges faced by their children, including child care stimulation trainings and relief them in their care. Furthermore, they raise the awareness in the community on the situation of the disabled and what can be done to change the situation. They also network with Government, NGOs and other Disabled Parents Organizations in the provision of basic services and advocate and lobby for the recognition of the challenges faced by children with disabilities and their families and help to bring about positive change.