Mavambo Orphan Care - Celebrates 25 years...

Mavambo - Our Charity in Zimbabwe celebrated 25 years during the visit of the Provincial. He attended the event along with Ms Frances Sibert who came along from the UK having done work, teaching and fundraising for the whole outfit. A tremendous event of celebrations; music, testimony, dancing, speeches, fun and laughter, all made a wonderful day!

SPEECH FOR THE GUEST OF HONOUR

V Rev'd Fr Richard Reid CSsR.,

Provincial Superior of the London Province and the Region of Zimbabwe

MAVAMBO ORPHAN CARE SILVER JUBILEE

Pamusoroi - Excuse me!

Chief Chinamora - your presence here today does us great honour.

Heads and Representatives of Government Ministries

Founders, 

Fr Ronald McAinsh CSsR, Sr Cathy Barbee MM and Br Benjamin Posvo CSsR

I would like to to mention these three people who can’t be with us this day, without their work, endeavour and commitment we would not be here today. They are with us in spirit and prayer.

Board Members of Mavambo Orphan Care,

Distinguished Guests,

Partners and Stakeholders,

Institutional Director and Staff, 

Supported children and adults,

My Religious Sisters, LCBL and OP

Caregivers (primary and secondary),

My confreres CSsR

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Mangwanani! Good Morning,

I came to Zimbabwe for the first time in 2001 - as Mavambo was at the very beginning. I have come back and forward to this wonderful country for the past 25 years and had the privilege of living here in Alphonsus House for two years. So I can definitely say that Mavambo is very much in my heart, in my prayers, in my head and on my tongue!

For me the Provincial and for Fr Elias Gweme CSsR, the Vicar Provincial, it is both a privilege and a profound honour to stand before you today as we celebrate a remarkable milestone, 25 years of Mavambo Orphan Care, Touching Hearts and Changing Lives. 

This Silver Jubilee is not merely a commemoration of years gone by, but a powerful celebration of lives transformed, hope restored, and communities uplifted. It is a testament to unwavering compassion, resilience, and a shared commitment to building a brighter future for the most vulnerable among us.

Over the past quarter-century, Mavambo has truly embodied the essence of compassion in action. Rooted in a mission to empower children to develop their maximum potential and become socially adjusted, self-sustaining and healthy, responsible citizens. This organisation has grown into a pillar of hope in times of adversity such as the peak of HIV and AIDS and disasters, offering not only material support but also dignity, belonging, and hope. Through its unwavering commitment, Mavambo has walked alongside children and their households and families in their most difficult moments, providing access to education, counselling, healthcare, protection, and opportunities for a better future through courses and livelihood skills. 

Mavambo has not merely responded to needs but has nurtured potential, restored confidence, and empowered communities to rise above hardship. In doing so, Mavambo has faithfully answered a sacred call: to love unconditionally, to serve selflessly, and to protect with unwavering commitment, a living testimony that true compassion is not passive, but active, transformative and enduring.

As Redemptorists, our charism calls us to proclaim hope to the poor and the most abandoned. In this regard, Mavambo’s work resonates deeply with the Gospel message in Matthew 25 vs 40 “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. Every child supported, every family or household strengthened, and every life uplifted is a living testimony of this divine mandate.

Today, we celebrate not only programmes and achievements, but people, the children and adults whose futures have been rewritten, the caregivers who have been empowered to better nurture and protect their families, volunteers who are ever on the ground as foot soldiers, Government that has all the time facilitated and enabled the work, and the partners who have walked this journey with unwavering commitment and support. We honour lives that have been transformed, resilience that has been strengthened, and hope that has been restored. Your work has not gone unnoticed; it stands as a powerful witness of faith in action and a testament to what can be achieved when compassion is lived out with purpose.

We must also acknowledge that this journey has not been without its challenges. Poverty, inequality, and vulnerability continue to threaten the dignity and well-being of many in our communities. Yet, for 25 years, Mavambo has remained steadfast, rising above difficulty with resilience, adapting to changing realities, and continuously innovating to meet the needs of those it serves. This enduring strength is a reflection of visionary leadership, a deeply committed team, and a clear sense of purpose that has guided the organisation through every season.

As we look to the future, the call becomes even greater. The needs remain vast, but so too is our collective responsibility. Let this Silver Jubilee not mark a conclusion, but rather a renewed commitment to expand impact, to deepen compassion, and to ensure that no child is left behind.

I urge all stakeholders present, government, partners, the church, and the community at large, to continue supporting and strengthening this noble work. Together, we can build a society where every child or person is healthy, protected, educated, and allowed to thrive.

To Mavambo Orphan Care: thank you for 25 years of faithful service. You have been instruments of God’s love, and your legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

May God bless your work, bless the children and people you serve, and bless all who make this mission possible. Remember, together we can make a difference! 

We have all done well:  ‘Touching Hearts and Changing Lives’

Makorokoto! I thank you. Maita Basa 

Richard Reid CSsR

 

08:00 - 09:00	Arrival and Registration	Ushers	Reception and ushering of guests, distribution of Jubilee brochures and Marimba
09:00 - 10:00	Mass	Parish Priest	Commencement with Mass - MC Requests
10:00 - 1030	Tea Break/Entertainment	Catering team, DJ/ Marimba - St. Peter's Kubatana	Interactive tea break and entertainment
10:30 - 10:35	National Anthem	St Dominics Choir/St. Peter's Kubatana - Marimba	National Anthem
10:35 - 10:45	Welcome Remarks	ID	Official welcome remarks
10:45 - 11:10	Board Chair's Report	Board Chair	Recognition of community members and partners, visionaries (video and messages)
11:10 - 11:30	Keynote address	Guest of Honour	Keynote speech by Guest of Honour
11:30 - 11:45	Entertainment	ZCPS Band/MLC	Entertainment
11:45 - 12:05	Solidarity Messages	MoPSLSW, MoPSE, MMI, OAK	Short messages from stakeholders
12:05 - 12:15	Entertainment	MLC - Music and Dance	Entertainment
12:15 - 12:25	Beneficiary Testimonies (Success Stories)	MOC Project Alumni	Direct accounts from adult/children whose lives were transformed by MOC
12:25 - 12:35	Entertainment	ZPCS Band	Entertainment
12:35 - 12:45	Presentation of Gifts and awards to staff members	Guest of Honour and Management	Honouring founders and staff members
12:45 - 13:00	Entertainment	St. Peter's Kubatana - Marimba	Entertainment
13:00 - 13:15	Closing Remarks and prayer	Board member	Appreciation of all guests
13:15 - 14:00	Entertainment	ZPCS Band/St. Joseph TD/MLC
13:15 - 14:00	Interactive Networking Luncheon	Catering Team	A final shared meal for collaboration and community networking