Not Your Typical Orphanage

Gigi & her Cousin

Gigi’s Journey Home

Gigi has been at Kuda Vana since she was an infant. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father was not able to care for a baby girl alone. Social Services brought Gigi to us and gave us very little information.

Gigi is now a quiet, sensitive nine-year-old who almost always has a big smile on her face. She loves school, and especially enjoys reading. Gigi has always known about her father and has always looked forward to the day he might come for her. Unfortunately, it had been several years since anyone at Kuda Vana had heard from him.

In 2021, Kuda Vana’s staff began to do further checking into Gigi’s past and noticed that there was a cousin’s name in her file. They were able to locate her and discovered that this individual had cared for Gigi when she was born. We also learned that Gigi’s father had sadly passed away.

Gigi’s cousin was deeply emotional when she learned Gigi’s whereabouts, and even though it was challenging, she managed to visit her at Kuda Vana this past summer. Gigi was so thrilled to have a relative visit and was told she reminded her of the mother Gigi never knew. Arrangements were made for them to spend more time together, and our team worked with the family as they began a relationship and ensured it was a safe environment. Gigi has now spent two school holidays with her extended family, and they would like for Gigi to come and live with them permanently. Kuda Vana will continue to support Gigi’s education: a very good school has been selected and she will begin attending in 2022 when she moves in with her family.

Your financial support helps ensure we can keep our promise that the children in our care will not just survive but thrive, be it with us

or in the care of a forever family. Thank you for helping make this beautiful reunion possible!

From Surviving to Thriving

Runaka was around seven years old when he lost both of his parents and came to Kuda Vana. It was evident early on that he was a bright boy with a love of learning, and deep feelings. With support and love from the Kuda Vana Family, he has grown to be an introspective and hard-working young man of 23 who marches to his own drum.

In 2021, Runaka graduated from Midland University in Zimbabwe with a degree in Business and Finance! He is already employed and working in administration as an assistant to the accountant at a reputable company. We are also happy to share that Runaka recently made the decision to give his life to God. He celebrated this commitment with a baptism in front of friends and family at a local church. Runaka wrote to a Kuda Vana family member recently and shared:

“I don’t want to care about all the things I thought I used to want to become or do. I want to melt in the Potter’s careful hands so He can make me whatever He pleases. Whatever He calls beautiful, that’s all I want to be.”

Your support and prayers help Kuda Vana’s staff and volunteers be mothers and fathers to young people like Runaka, seeing them all the way home on their journey to self-sufficiency and spiritual wholeness. Thank you for ensuring Runake not just survived, but thrived.

Our Youth Transition Program ensures young people like Runaka don’t end up a statistic