A Little Piece of My Heart Still Lives in Zimbabwe

Although I left Zimbabwe 26 years ago, a little piece of my heart has always remained there, particularly with children who have so little.

Around three years ago, I decided I wanted to do something practical to help.

I started by speaking to friends with children and asking whether they had any clothes, shoes, toys or other things their little ones had outgrown. If they were happy to part with them, I would find a way of getting them to children who needed them in Zimbabwe.

And people were incredibly generous.

I found a shipping company that could transport donations in huge 200-litre drums, which meant we could pack in far more than in ordinary boxes. Our very first shipment was three drums.

Since then, the donations have kept coming, and children in Harare have benefitted from the generosity of strangers.

Recently, I learned about an orphanage in Kariba that was already caring for vulnerable children when tragedy struck on Lake Kariba. A pontoon sank, leaving an already stretched organisation facing the responsibility of caring for even more children.

I contacted the manager, we talked through what was needed, and the next shipment began taking shape.

When we finally brought all the bags of donations up from the cellar, where they had been quietly accumulating out of sight, I genuinely couldn't believe how much was there!

Bags upon bags of donations, and they just kept coming as my son Taylan helped lug them upstairs from out the cellar.

By the time we had finished packing, we had filled six 200-litre drums right to the brim.

Inside are clothes, shoes, toys and all sorts of useful things for children from babies through to 17-year-olds. This time we also collected a wonderful number of books, along with pens, pencils and colouring materials, which I was particularly pleased about.

Filled to the brim!

We had to sit on them to get them shut. I'm so grateful to everyone who so generously gave. May God bless you.

The shipping company I use very kindly gave me a discount, so I was able to get all six drums on their way to Zimbabwe for just under £2,000.

Now I am praying they arrive in time for Christmas.

There is something incredibly joyful about seeing things that might otherwise sit unused in our homes begin another journey and become genuinely useful to a child thousands of miles away.

If you have children's clothes, shoes, toys, books, pens, pencils or colouring books that you would like to donate, please do get in touch. Donations can be for children aged from birth to 17.

While Grace Expressed is committed to putting 10% of all profits towards these shipping costs, there always seem to be more donations waiting to go than funds available to send them. If you would like to help towards the cost of a future shipment, you are very welcome to get in touch about sponsoring a drum.

Every contribution, however small, helps us fill the next drum.

With love

Donna x