How the UK Charity came to life


Conception

A retired English Community midwife, Christine Pratt, was passing through Mutoko in January 1999 with her youngest daughter, who was working in the area. A chance encounter in a local shop with another European introduced them to the Mother of Peace Community. In November of that year Christine returned for one of many visits she was to make in the coming years to offer her help and support.

By 1999 80 children were already accommodated at the orphanage. Work was continuing to clear the land for agricultural projects with the aim of taking the first steps towards a degree of self-sufficiency. At that time MOPC Mutoko was entirely reliant on a relatively small number of donors, mainly from within Zimbabwe itself.

Gestation

With the AIDS pandemic devastating the population and an increasing number of the community’s donors leaving the country it soon became clear that funds would need to be raised elsewhere.

Through Christine’s passion and commitment she began to generate interest in the work of the orphanage in the locality of her home in Somerset, where she received unexpected levels of support.

Visits to the UK by Jean Corneck, Leader of the MOPC Mutoko, to describe the work at the orphanage have also inspired many people to help by making regular donations or by organising fund raising events.

Birth

A Board of Trustees was formed in December 2004 and a draft constitution drawn up. On 15th April the Mother of Peace Community, Zimbabwe became registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales as UK Charity number 1109058.