17/11/2025
Hope Tariro Trust: A Beacon of Hope in Masvingo District
When I arrived in the Masvingo District, the spirit of Hope Tariro Trust greeted me long before I reached its centre. The atmosphere in Manyama Village carried a gentle sense of welcome and warmth, as though the community itself was breathing out hope. Women moved confidently through the vibrant rows of vegetables in the nutrition garden, tending crops that symbolized both nourishment and renewed possibility. Grandmothers sat together in soft circles of conversation, their laughter and shared stories reflecting the emotional healing and companionship they have found through the Trust’s support. The joyful voices of children floated from the small school blocks, where eager learners in ECD B and Grade One embraced their lessons with bright eyes full of promise. Livestock grazed quietly nearby, fruit trees swayed in the breeze, and community volunteers travelled between households offering encouragement and care. From the very first moment, Hope Tariro Trust revealed itself as a living space of restoration and empowerment—a place where hope is cultivated daily and where every effort is directed toward lifting children and families into a brighter future.
Hope Tariro Trust is a child-based charity organization that has been transforming lives since its formation and registration in 2003. Established to improve the livelihoods and prospects of vulnerable and orphaned children in Zimbabwe, the Trust stands firmly on its vision of creating a society that is just, socially supportive, and economically secure for every child. Its mission—to improve the lives and inspire hope in orphaned and vulnerable children through prevention, care, support, mitigation, and advocacy—has guided its work for more than two decades.
The Trust’s work is grounded in deep spiritual and cultural foundations. It draws inspiration from Biblical teachings such as Psalms 83:3–4, which calls on us to defend the cause of the weak and fatherless and to uphold the rights of the poor and oppressed. This spiritual compass is complemented by the African philosophy of hunhu or ubuntu, affirming human dignity, interconnectedness, and the belief that one’s humanity is strengthened by others. These principles shape a culture of compassion, respect, stewardship, accountability, and shared decision-making. Children are placed at the center—not simply as beneficiaries, but as participants whose voices guide the support they receive.
Throughout its programmes, Hope Tariro Trust works to meet the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of children. Counselling, psychosocial support, early childhood education, and school clubs help nurture confidence, resilience, and personal growth. The Trust works closely with guardians, families, and community institutions so that children grow within environments that protect and uplift them.
One of the most profound contributions of Hope Tariro Trust has been its support for grandmothers—women who, after losing their adult children to HIV and AIDS, suddenly found themselves caring for young grandchildren. These grandmothers face enormous responsibilities, yet through the Trust’s guidance, they rediscover strength and a sense of purpose. Hope Tariro provides counselling, healing retreats, and continuous support through community-based volunteers. It empowers them with training in agroecology, helps them produce food sustainably, supports local seed preservation, and restores their ability to create secure, nurturing homes.
Health remains a central focus of the Trust’s mission. Hope Tariro promotes HIV treatment literacy and adherence, facilitates TB screening and treatment support, offers sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents and young women, and raises awareness of cervical cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. These efforts ensure that vulnerable families have access to life-saving health information and support.
In support of food security, the Trust champions agriculture to ensure that families can feed themselves and their children with dignity. It trains communities in agroecology, encourages the cultivation of drought-resistant small grains, and supplies seeds and skills that help households produce and market nutritious crops. Nutrition gardens, especially for families caring for children with special needs, offer both sustenance and empowerment. Through value addition and market linkages, families gain opportunities for income generation and renewed independence.
Manyama Village in Masvingo Rural District stands as a powerful example of what the Trust makes possible. Under the leadership of founder and director Fezile Ncube, Hope Tariro Trust has empowered fifty-two women and one man through sustainable livelihood projects that include a flourishing nutritional garden, a productive fruit orchard, and livestock initiatives comprising thirty-two goats and nine cattle. The community school run by the Trust provides early childhood education that lays a firm foundation for young learners.
Director Ms. Fezile Ncube highlighted that accommodation for teachers remains one of the most urgent needs, as the lack of suitable housing makes it difficult to attract and retain qualified educators. She emphasized that the Trust is striving to officially register its school, a crucial step in strengthening sustainability and recognition. However, the process requires a feasibility study costing US$1,500, as required by the Masvingo Rural District Council—an amount the organization currently cannot raise due to limited funding. The shortage of qualified teachers continues to affect the consistency and quality of education, leaving the Trust dependent on volunteers who serve with dedication despite the challenges.
Even in the face of these difficulties, Hope Tariro Trust remains unwavering. Its strength lies in its people—board members, staff, volunteers, and community members—who have chosen to believe in transformation and work toward it daily. The Trust continues to build partnerships, conduct research, and document its progress so that each lesson learned becomes a stepping stone to greater impact.
Across the villages where it serves, Hope Tariro Trust stands as more than an institution. It is a lifeline for children, a pillar of strength for grandmothers, a companion for struggling families, and a shining beacon of hope in communities striving for a better tomorrow.
Today, the Trust extends a heartfelt appeal to well-wishers, partners, churches, companies, and individuals of goodwill. Support is urgently needed—both in cash and in kind—to help the organization meet its most pressing priorities: teacher accommodation, the US$1,500 feasibility study required for school registration, the hiring of qualified teachers, agricultural inputs, classroom materials, and support for vulnerable children and grandmothers. Every contribution, no matter the size, plays a direct role in shaping a child’s future, strengthening a family, and sustaining the hope that defines this community.
