By Style Reporter
The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Ebenezer Assembly in Chitungwiza sprung life out of the usually quiet Imba Youth Centre where they hosted a surprise early Christmas party for over a dozen children at the youth centre.
Led by the youthful Ebenezer Assembly pastor, Reverend Blessed Mhandu, scores of church youths descended on the expansive home bringing huge smiles to the children who have come to live at the centre after circumstances separated them from their parents.
The children were treated to all sorts of entertainment and, in the Christmas spirit, lots of food and music as well. They played games, sang together, ate, drank and danced the day away amid pomp and ceremony.
Reverend Mhandu said his congregation, the AFM Ebenezer Assembly Chitungwiza East Province, chose December 21 as the day to bring joy to the less privileged children in their community. Through the church’s Youth Department and in liaison with the centre’s authorities, the church hosted a successful Christmas party for the children.
“The idea was just to share with the less privileged during this festive season,” said Reverend Mhandu.
“We felt that as many organisations, churches, and different groups of people and families would be hosting end of year parties, these less fortunate children would be left out if nobody remembered them in this festive period.
“So, we put our heads together and decided that we would go out there and make a difference to the children at Imba Youth Centre.
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“We came up with the idea to hold a Christmas party for them where our youths from the church would come and mingle and make friends with the children.”
Reverend Mhandu had the time to share the Word of God and offered life lessons, encouraging the kids and the youth before they enjoyed some juicy braai and drinks.
The church also later presented Christmas gifts. including groceries and money for the children.
“We encourage other people and organisations including churches to always remember these less privileged members of the society whom God loves and care for. As the old adage goes — ‘Love is not love until you give it away’,” Mhandu said.
Imba Youth Centre is a registered residential child care centre located in Manyame rural district. The centre has two family houses that have a capacity of accommodating a maximum of 16 children at any given time.
Director of the centre John Mutumburanzou said each family unit has a surrogate mother and father who, like in any other natural family set-up, provides both physical, other physiological needs and guidance for the children in their care.
“Working with the department of social development under whose jurisdiction we fall under, we, together with the children, develop both the care and discharge plan of the same children,” Mutumburanzou said.
“To date, more than 50 children have stayed at the centre either on a place of safety basis or for a more extended period. Some of the children have been re-unified with their relatives or reintegrated into the community,” Mutumburanzou said.
At Imba Youth Centre, children are trained in various skills that prepare them for life after they leave the centre. These include agricultural skills in the fields of horticulture, poultry and rabbit rearing.
Mutumburanzou said this year the centre joined hands with the local Covid-19 district taskforce through distribution of foodstuffs, sanitisers, face masks as well as conducting awareness campaigns.
