Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities Trust (MARCFT) a successful case of networking, empowerment, care and support
Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities Trust (MARCFT) is a networking and coordinating body of residential child care facilities, Children’s homes, schools for children living with disabilities, foster homes, old people’s homes as well as children living in the streets operating in Masvingo and Midlands Provinces.
MARCFT is a network of care homes in Masvingo and Midlands Provinces of Zimbabwe, founded in 2015 and registered in 2017.The organization is a unique network of children’s homes (Orphanages), Foster Homes, Special Schools for children with disabilities and Old People’s Homes. The organization also embraces community programming with children living in the streets, youths who have left care homes (care leavers including people with disabilities and Orphans and other vulnerable children.
Rationale
Global economic melt-down and disasters generally caused a decrease in donor, government and community support towards care institutions. More strategies like the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children shifted towards community programming at the expense of institutional care, although the latter remain inevitable due to the increasing calamities necessitating more desperation and vulnerability like baby dumping, child sexual abuse including child marriages. While the government refers desperate cases for care and support at the care institutions, the more the institutions become over burdened. It is out of this realisation that MARCFT was formed to create a networking force for care institutions adopting the adaqe that:
“Coming Together is A Beginning
Keeping Together is A Progress
Working Together is A Success”
Our Vision
The most Vibrant association of Residential Care Facilities for the provision of holistic child care.
Our Mission
Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities endeavours to promote holistic child care and production of responsible citizens through enhanced networking and coordination, capacity strengthening, mobilising resources and lobby and advocacy.
Our Mandate
- Networking and coordination
- Capacity enhancement
- Lobbying and advocacy
- Resource mobilisation
- Child development and integration & Street Child Programming
- Agri forestry Project
Our Membership
Our Membership comprises of following:
11 Children’s Homes
4 Old People’s Homes
3 Schools for children living with disabilities
12 Foster Homes
1 Special School
Children living in the streets and Care Leavers.