RESIDENTS of Hatcliffe, Harare, have expressed concern over the ‘philanthropic’ services being offered to pupils in the suburb by a non-governmental organisation, (NGO) Miracle Mission.
The organisation which promised to pay fees for ‘poor’ students and construct schools in the sprawling suburb has not delivered anything besides taking pupils for Thursday night movies at Borrowdales’ Sam Levy Village.
The founder of the organisation, Jacque Anderson, preferred to racially abuse this reporter, calling him an, ‘ungrateful kaffir’, when quizzed why the organisation had not delivered on its promise besides taking out primary school pupils for movies.
Some NGOs in the country have misrepresented their activities to their funders and have used unwitting locals as basis for securing funds.
Parents interviewed said there was nothing life transforming about movie outings.
“We are not poor to levels that we cannot afford television sets and DVDs, our children have ready access to films that are readily available in the streets for ‘dollar-for-two’,” said Chenai Mgandani.
“Thus to have this organisation Miracle Mission going about claiming that it is doing great philanthropic work and transforming our children by taking them out for movies is being unrealistic.”
Anderson fumed insisting that the community should be grateful for the movie-outing gesture.
“What I am doing is a great favour to children from poor African communities because I am providing entertainment to these kids,” said Anderson who hung up after she had threatened to sue this paper for publishing the story.
A concerned parent Josphat Jimu said as parents they were worried about Miracle Mission.
“Promises were made to pay fees and construct classroom blocks, but nothing of that nature has happened,” he said.
The organisation has been operating in Hatcliffe since 2011.
The high density suburb has been a target of NGOs since it came into existence in 1992.
“We are beginning to wonder what these movie outings are about as they are the only activities of the organisation,” said one Tapiwa Muchenje.
“There is a tendency by some of these organisations especially those led by whites that we should not question their activities, but just be grateful for whatever they are doing for us.
“But we are raising questions because we do not see what our children stand to benefit let alone know what they are being exposed to during these outings.
“Where the West is concerned you cannot rule out hidden mischief even their seemingly wonderful and good gestures might carry sinister motives.”
The organisation facilitates transportation and pays for the movies.
According to Tatenda Manyuchi no meaningful development had been brought by the organisation in the community.
“She has said she feels for the ‘poor’ kids and wants to help them.” Anderson said the organisation was into community development through helping orphans, prisoners and waste management.
“Anderson promised to assist in the construction of a private college in Hatcliffe extension but that has not happened,” said Manyuchi.
Parents of the children said the community required more than the taking of children to movies.
“We must not be forced to ululate and be grateful for a supposedly noble gesture. The organisation promised us a lot and it has not delivered on its promises such as paying fees and building classroom blocks,” said Lydia Chingwe.
“We are beginning to feel and suspect that our children are being used by Anderson for personal gain.
“We will not be surprised to find pictures of our children doing rounds in Europe as pictures of orphans,” she said.
Child psychologist Eggifa Tarwirei said children programmes had to be closely monitored.
“What is disturbing is that parents are not actively involved in these programmes as a majority of them evidently do not know what their children are being made to watch,” said Tarwirei.
“In the West you do not just take kids and engage them in programmes that are not fully understood by parents and the authorities.
“Children are impressionable and easily influenced it is critical that adults responsible for them understand the activities they are involved in and as future leaders they must be safeguarded.”