Stories
Much More than a Piece of Paper
Birth certificates provide families living in extreme poverty with access to vital services and opportunities.
“Now we are a very healthy family”
Mrs. Matanda is a widow who has devoted herself to caring for her three orphaned grandchildren. Frequent illnesses made life very difficult. "Bopoma came to us at a time when we were in a desperate state."
Stopping disease before it starts
Gogo Magavhu is a widow who faces overwhelming challenges caring for her own family as well as her 3-year-old granddaughter.
Rocket Stoves Take Off in Zaka!
Most women in rural Zimbabwe cook indoors over an open fire—with dangerous consequences. Smoke from open fires causes serious heart and lung diseases as well as chronic eye conditions and even blindness. It’s been estimated that open fires produce as much as 400 cigarettes worth of smoke an hour! Open fires also expose women and …
Climate-Smart Strategy Multiplies Crop Yields
Small-scale farmers in rural Zimbabwe rely on rainwater but inadequate rains in recent years have devastated agriculture, causing widespread food shortages. What little rain falls, quickly evaporates or runs off the dry compacted earth, barely penetrating the dusty soil. Bopoma Villages teaches farmers how to retain rainwater in their soil and store runoff. Communities across …
A Venture Capitalist’s Perspective
"I often feel that the non-profit industry does not manage its money well. Sometimes only a few cents of every dollar actually leads to measurable impact. But for me, Bopoma Villages is a grand exception."
Tara’s New Garden
Tara* smiles as she proudly shows us the bundle of kale she grew in her keyhole garden. “We used to have trouble finding vegetables to eat. I have 4 orphans under my care and as long as we keep working in this small garden, it will provide the nutrition we need. I have no stress, …
A Brighter Future for Elizabeth’s Family
Elizabeth* is the sole parent of 3 young children. As a subsistence farmer, she works long hours in her garden every day to grow food for her family and some to sell at the side of the road to earn a small income. She is proud to tell us that all of her children are …
Mercy Goes Back to School
Rather than face the embarrassment of showing up for school without proper clothing or a notebook in which to write, for months, Mercy* pretended to go to school, but instead spent her day hiding in the mountains. Mercy’s grandmother was doing her best to care for Mercy, but lacked the resources to provide for even …
Simbarashe’s Success
It is the hope of every orphaned child we meet to be part of a family and a community and to attend school just like the other children in their village. However, in rural Zimbabwe, orphaned children face overwhelming barriers that often keep them from realizing these hopes. After the tragic loss of both of …
Tonderai’s Tippy Tap
“Our lives will never be the same again,” says Tonderai. “Because we did not know the causes of the health problems we were having, we were always repeating the same behaviour that was making us sick. All along we did not wash our hands but now we know what we have to do.” Tonderai is …
The Power of Health
“Thank you for rescuing my family” says Mrs. Mafobo, a widowed mother of eight children and grandmother of fifteen. “My life and my whole family were in a dangerous situation but now we are safe. Instead of paying for medicine and doctors we can use our small income to buy the things we need.” With …