Help Build a Safe Haven for Children with Cancer in Zimbabwe

The Rainbow Children’s Village was conceived by KidzCan Zimbabwe after inspiration from a child’s drawing of a halfway home for children living with cancer. KidzCan is the only organization in Zimbabwe dedicated to increasing the survival rate of children with cancer and works with clinicians in what is presently the only paediatric oncology ward in Zimbabwe, housed at Parirenyatwa Hospital in the capital city of Harare. As a result of increased abandonment rates over the years because of the long periods between chemotherapy cycles, there was a need to provide suitable shelter for children with cancer and caregivers coming from out of Harare to receive cancer treatment at Parirenyatwa Hospital. The Rainbow Children’s Village was born.

At the initial offer of the land by Roundtable, KidzCan did not have funds to build the home. Later, a partnership of KidzCan Zimbabwe, the Meikles Foundation, and Roundtable was created to fundraise and build the home. KidzCan is the administrator of the home.

The vision is to reduce treatment abandonment and positively impact the reduction of the mortality rate of childhood cancer sufferers in Zimbabwe.

The goal of the Rainbow Children Village is to create a tranquil, clean halfway house to shelter both childhood cancer patients and their caregivers, in which the children afflicted with childhood cancer can recuperate during and after treatment before making the journey back home. RCV provides a holistic healing approach, including a recreational area and qualified staff to monitor the children. When completed, the shelter will house over 27 twin-bedded rooms plus additional communal living facilities, entertainment space, a state-of-the-art kitchen, laundry, and office space.

The construction of the home, divided into three phases to allow for commencement to cover this immediate accommodation need, while fundraising for the next phase, has been 100% sponsored by various donors taking sponsorship packages.

The Lions Club of Harare Gunhill, a member of the International Association of Lions Clubs, is seeking to facilitate the construction and furnishing of one of the rooms at the RCV, at a total cost of $25,000 (twenty-five thousand dollars). The Lions have successfully raised $12,500 of the required amount through various fundraising efforts, including the donation of 20,000 bricks to the cause. We appeal to companies and individuals to come onboard as sponsors for this humanitarian endeavour. Your support will directly contribute to the alleviation of the suffering of children living with cancer in Zimbabwe and help us reach our financial goal.