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Forgotten Voices International

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Economic Development, International, International Economic Development, Microfinance

Mission: Africa is a continent of vast landscapes and beautiful people. It is a land of incredible children who face unbearable challenges and an uncertain future from an HIV/AIDS crisis that has radically altered their homes and their homeland. In Zimbabwe 500 hundred people die everyday from AIDS related illnesses and 1,000 children become orphaned. Entire communities are being ravaged by this virus, leaving behind children with forgotten voices that are too young or too vulnerable to rise above the background noise of a busy and preoccupied world. These children have become our inspiration. These children are why we are here. Forgotten Voices is demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by equipping local churches in southern Africa to meet the physical and spiritual needs of AIDS orphans in their communities. Our work is based on the premise that every person is precious to God. He hears every voice and is able to bring life-changing hope to every child. We believe this makes Africa a land of great promise. Joined together with people from across America and throughout the world, we are empowering community leaders with the necessary resources to help their fellow Africans, providing hope, one child at a time. To this end, the work of Forgotten Voices includes HIV/AIDS education, pastoral training, funding education for children who cannot afford it, providing care for orphans and sharing the stories of our African partners with our friends throughout the world. We know these children and their communities. We are drawn to their struggle and connected to their lives. And through these relationships, we are being transformed even as God transforms the lives of these beautiful children. We invite everyone to become a part of this incredible journey and share in our mission of hope.

Results: ZIMBABWE Christian Leadership Resource Centre, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Impact: 300 pastors; 800 trained through project management workshops Partners: TCZ, Christian AIDS Taskforce, Scripture Union, Habakuk Trust, Others Farming God’s Way – Matopos Region Impact: Anticipated 700 farms/year depending on supply costs each year; estimated to feed 7,000 individuals each year; 750 kids receiving school fees Free Methodist Church Project, Magwegwe North Impact: 102 children orphaned by AIDS sent back to school; Job training for 1; 25 youth attend camps/retreats during the year to get away and be kids, while receiving needed counseling & support for their grief; 100 people fed 4 times a year; Implementing Farming God’s Way/Foundations for Farming Partners: Neighboring churches, Farming God’s Way/Foundations for Farming, CLRC Matopo Mission Schools/Rotary, Bulawayo South Impact: 25 students (some primary, some secondary) Abandoned Children’s Ministry Impact: 30 abandoned children cared for currently; staff salaries, and general operations covered by this investment; requires $3,000/month/year to operate at current capacity. This investment, then, would equate to 1 month’s operating costs at current need. Mtshabezi AIDS Programme, BICC Impact: 2,400 school fees, 400 VCT clients; 125 schools for Peer Education Programme; and 800 homebased care workers trained & 500 HBC kits distributed Partners: BIC World Missions and Mennonite Central Committee The Rock Church – Worrington, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Impact: 30 primary students; 200 person church receiving access to clean water now; farm will feed 23 children; new well and pump producing 300L a minute and providing clean water to an estimated 500-1,000 people TCZ Leadership in HIV/AIDS Care Development Fund Impact: 168 TCZ Alumni Partners: Friends of TCZ, CLRC ZAMBIA BICC Compassionate Ministries, Choma, Zambia Impact: 100 children, 25 high school students, 4 pregnant women & families Partners: Mennonite Central Committee, TEAR FUND UK, BIC World Missions CURE International AIDS Relief Project, Lusaka, Zambia Impact: 100 HIV/AIDS children, patients at CURE Lusaka, Zambia Partners: CURE International, Beit CURE Hospital Free Methodist Church Ndola Project Impact: 26 kids in primary school (school requirements) Lubuto Church of Christ Project Impact: 80 orphans (53 primary, 27 secondary) back to school (school requirements) and sewing/empowerment projects for 32 widows; hammer mill that will be used for sustainability – identified need for hammering mealie in the community that will generate income to sustain project, as well as provide food supplements for the kids and their caretakers. The project also wants to host semi-annual retreats for orphans (psycho-social benefit). Ndeke ECZ Project (Evangelical Church of Zambia) Impact: 48 primary and secondary kids, as well as 20 trained in homebased care, as well as funding to supply orphans and caretakers with health & food needs New Life Ministries Church (Mercy Ministries) Impact: 50 orphans back to school (school requirements) and 60 widows trained in tailoring skills, as well as start-up fabric. Acquiring of 4 sewing machines and repair of 7 machines. TCCA Leadership in HIV/AIDS Care Development Fund Impact: 200 TCCA Alumni Partners: THETA Twapia ECZ Project (Evangelical Church of Zambia) Impact: 40 orphans, 15 vulnerable children attending school; 10 widows, 2 people receive needed training Zambian Baptist Association (Ndola) Impact: 50 kids school fees

Target demographics: Children orphaned by AIDS and the communities they live in throughout Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Geographic areas served: Zimbabwe, Zambia

Programs: Bic world missions-mtshabezi national aids programme - school fee payments for approximately 146 primary and secondary school children; home-based care supply kits distributed to 120 needy families; annual psycho-social support camp week for nearly 200 orphaned and vulnerable children; foundations for farming training, plus seed and fertilizer to help 64+ local families grow their own food; home visitation for orphans, vulnerable families and widows in the community; administrative expenses to maintain consistent staffing and resources

free methodist church magwegwe north - school fee payments for approximately 132 primary, secondary and tertiary students; periodic psycho-social support events 80+ orphaned children and youth; food supplements for 3 needy families; foundations for farming training, plus seed and fertilizer to help 130+ local families grow their own food; home visitation for orphans, vulnerable families and widows in the community

bic copperbelt - school fees and other services provided for 100 orphaned children; assistance provided for 4 home-based care patients; income generation support for 15 individuals, including small grants and business training; retreats for orphans and their parents/guardians

Community Stories

2 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

2 blstrangfeld

Donor

Rating: 4

I first met Ryan Keith, founder of Forgotten Voices, in a Politics class at Messiah College. As a recent alum, Ryan had come back to share with us the work that he was doing in Zimbabwe. I remember being so enthused and so inspired by Ryan's passion and vision. As I finished my time at college and was blessed with a full time job, I began to donate and invest in the ministry of Forgotten Voices. I am so thankful for the transparency of this organization and the work that they do. I love the way that they partner with local communities and churches to bless the people of Zimbabwe. What a great and inspiring organization!

4

Volunteer

Rating: 5

A local nonprofit that I'm happy to endorse, Forgotten Voices was started a few years ago by an incredibly motivated friend of mine who left his career to launch this organization and focus full time on making a difference in the lives of AIDS orphans across southern Africa. Through strategic partnerships with organizations already on the ground in Zimbabwe and Zambia, Forgotten Voices is able to effectively grow sustainable development programs and train local people to care for the scores of children orphaned by AIDS in their communities. Not only do I find the projects and work of Forgotten Voices to be admirable, but also their committement to financial accountability. Obviously, the organization is dependant upon it's donor base to operate and provide services, but even in these turbulent economic times they are committed to using 90% of all donations to fund projects in Africa. That's an incredibly high rate and it just makes you feel like the money you give really is going to where it's needed most. You can also request to see their IRS tax forms as well if you're still not convinced they are being good stewards of your donations. The great part about giving to an organization focused on a third world country is that your money goes a lot further, and you even if you don't have much extra to share you can still make a difference- just $15 sends an orphaned child to school in Zimbabwe for an entire year. I'd definitely encourage anyone interested in helping orphaned children to check them out.