U.S. 501c3 non-profit status through Zimkids Orphan Foundation
Zimkids provides 300+ orphans in Pumula North, Bulawayo, and outlying areas with educational opportunities, skills training, medical care, food, medical care, and recreational activities. At Zimkids, we have no fancy SUV’s, no paid foreign staff, and all but two of our employees are former beneficiaries who we have trained in fields that help Zimkids, and who now have the skills to move out on their own as opportunities arise. Our day-to-day operations are largely self-funded, based on the work of the children themselves. They make dolls and wire toys – as they do for their own pleasure – which Dennis takes to the U.S. Individual donors and grants pay for special projects that include schoolbooks, outreach activities, medical aid, and building. Zimkids also generates income from our welding and construction vocational training program. Our preschool is entirely self-sufficient.
Beneficiaries: 300+ orphans from Pumula North and Methodist village
Trustees: Dennis Gaboury, Sambulo Dube, Philippa Polskin, and Hezvo Mpunga
Council of Elders: Committed to empowering youth, we maintain a Council of Elders composed of our beneficiaries over the age of 14. The Elders plan, schedule and direct our daily recreational activities under the guidance of our staff.
Seniors: As our council of elders grew up and left school, we formed another group called our Seniors. These beneficiaries are over the age of 17. Many will continue their vocational training at the Zimkids Center and go on to further their skills at local certified training centers or colleges at Zimkids’ expense.
Activities: Tutoring, reading, early childhood education, computer training, gardening, sewing, welding, construction skills, carpentry, chess, dance, choir, sports, art, and performing arts.
Health: Dr. Sashka Maksimovic provides medical care for our orphans. Zimkids provides funding for medications, hospital expenses, specialist doctor visits and transport for beneficiaries to hospital.
Food: Our pre-school children receive two well-balanced, nutritious meals every day. The older children are fed once daily and are provided food support from contributions and our market garden.
Contact: Dennis Gaboury, dennis.gaboury@yahoo.com or dennis@zimkids.com, in USA: 1-607-326-3301, in Zimbabwe: 011-263-9-241839; Or Tinashe Basa, our Director in Zimbabwe at 0774-101954.
Legal status: A trust under Zimbabwean law, Registration #MA29/2009, we receive U.S. tax deductible contributions through the Zimkids Orphan Foundation, a 502(c)(3), EIN 80-0930138.
To Contribute: For U.S. tax-deductible donations, click on donate button on our website or facebook page and follow instructions. Donations by check may be sent to Zimkids Orphan Foundation, 18 Roxbury Mountain Road, Hobart, NY 13788.