MEDIA
The ZARA'S CENTER story has been picked up by media locally, nationally, internationally.
Orphanage in campaign to promote children’s rights
ZIMBABWE
Chronicle Reporter
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A BULAWAYO based orphanage, Zara’s Centre, on Saturday held a campaign aimed at promoting children’s rights through sporting activities in which about 200 children were offered an opportunity to watch the World Cup soccer showpiece.Zara’s Centre information communication officer, Ms Chenesai Mapfoche, said the objective of the campaign was to educate children and the general community on children’s rights.
She said Zara’s Centre took advantage of the world soccer showpiece to campaign for the rights of children and to offer children coming from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to join the rest of the world in watching the World Cup soccer showpiece.
“The objectives of the campaign were to educate children, the general community and stakeholders on children’s rights. We wanted to create an environment of fun by showcasing the 2010 soccer World Cup matches to the disadvantaged children and the general community. “The children presented poems and speeches on their rights. We also had a performing arts group from Nketa High School called Langelitsha Arts Group which performed and a number of activities for campaigning for the rights of children,” she said.The campaign was held under the theme: “Throw in children’s rights”.“
More than 200 children mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds gathered at Nketa High School. We had a soccer match pitting Zara’s Centre, Senzangakhona and Buffalo and we had a parade from Nketa Baptist Church to Nketa High School with the children carrying placards written messages about their rights,” she said. Ms Mapfoche said children were an important part of the Zimbabwean society and the rest of the world adding that their rights should be respected.
'I Have a Right To Health and Medical Care' . Children at Zara's Center demontsrating at World Cup Event 2010
One Teen's Wish Creates Zara's Center Dedicated to Helping AIDS Orphans in Zimbabwe
Rachael Plutzik's Dream Leads to Sustainable Support from NYC Marathon Runners
Rachael's self-less wish is an example of how one simple gesture sparks a movement and continues to gain momentum becoming an inspiration to people of all ages. Rachael Plutzik's actions resonate around the world and create hope for AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe ... Business Wire
Logos of media hits precede a posting from Reuters, August 09.
One Teen`s Wish Creates Zara`s Center Dedicated to Helping AIDS Orphans in Zimbabwe
Rachael Plutzik's Dream Leads to Sustainable Support from NYC Marathon Runners
Rachael Plutzik seems like an ordinary teenager and student growing up in New York City. She likes hanging out with her friends and family, singing in her a cappella group, playing the guitar, and reading Harry Potter books. With a grandmother in Zimbabwe, Rachael has close family ties to an African nation which in recent times has been faced with severe social disruption and economic instability. Recalling her experiences of visiting the country and being touched by the sense of spirit of those in the community of Bulawayo, Rachael was inclined to make what some could consider an unusual wish for a 13-year-old on her Bat Mitzvah -she wished to assist AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe. With this simple act of giving the pieces fell into place and her wish soon sparked a remarkable 3 year evolution of philanthropy and giving.
Sharing her eyewitness accounts of the conditions in Zimbabwe, and bringing
awareness to friends and family attending her Bat Mitzvah, Rachael read portions
of letters collected from children confronting the challenge of losing one of both parents
from AIDS. With this, she was able to raise over $30,000 from donations to put towards
supplies to nourish Zimbabwean children. The empathetic support however did not end
there and Rachael soon co-founded the Zara`s Center in Bulawayo - named after
Rachael and her brother Zachary. The center was established as a relief program to
provide hope and care for AIDS orphaned children. In the fall of 2007, Rachael made a
choice to attend school in Bulawayo for a semester, where she would dedicate her time
as a crutch for many of the children in the community. Simply sharing a hug, reading
a book, or helping sew, Rachael shined a light to many of the AIDS orphans of Bulawayo.
While she enjoyed working at the center where kids would often bring their brothers
and sisters, she also particularly looked forward to the home visits to children that were
too far away from the center to attend every day, where she would deliver packages
of food. While the older kids were in school, Rachael realized that the younger kids
did not attend preschool. She also decided to start a reading program for these kids,
and would read to them every afternoon. "I realized that having someone read to you
was a luxury that most of these kids had never had a chance to experience as their
families had been torn apart. It was amazing to see that such a small thing
like reading could make so many kids so happy."
Zara`s Center would continue to evolve over the next three years. The center
not only provides basic necessities, such as food and water, but is also now a haven where
life skills could be cultivated, emotional needs fostered and basic medical services provided. However, with conditions of Zimbabwe deteriorating, the sustainability of Zara`s Center requires additional support. The All for Africa campaign "Palm Out Poverty" will assist Zara`s Center through providing a model for sustainability providing the financial support needed to continue its good work. The All for Africa Project is a visionary initiative that sustains non-profits while restoring the world's eco-structure. This initiative involves farmers tending and growing palm trees in West Africa in order to harvest and sell the palm oil creating a symbiotic relationship that then provides solutions for Zara`s Center. It is anticipated that once fully gestated, Zara`s Palm Oil Trust will yield as much as $30,000 per year for 30 annual harvests of Palm Oil. Inspired by Rachel`s giving, a family friend, Eileen Patrick, with the official blessings of the New York City ING Marathon, is adding an exciting new effort in order to support her commitment to Zara`s Center.
Sharing her eyewitness accounts of the conditions in Zimbabwe, and bringing
awareness to friends and family attending her Bat Mitzvah, Rachael read portions
of letters collected from children confronting the challenge of losing one of both parents
from AIDS. With this, she was able to raise over $30,000 from donations to put towards
supplies to nourish Zimbabwean children. The empathetic support however did not end
there and Rachael soon co-founded the Zara`s Center in Bulawayo - named after
Rachael and her brother Zachary. The center was established as a relief program to
provide hope and care for AIDS orphaned children. In the fall of 2007, Rachael made a
choice to attend school in Bulawayo for a semester, where she would dedicate her time
as a crutch for many of the children in the community. Simply sharing a hug, reading
a book, or helping sew, Rachael shined a light to many of the AIDS orphans of Bulawayo.
While she enjoyed working at the center where kids would often bring their brothers
and sisters, she also particularly looked forward to the home visits to children that were
too far away from the center to attend every day, where she would deliver packages
of food. While the older kids were in school, Rachael realized that the younger kids
did not attend preschool. She also decided to start a reading program for these kids,
and would read to them every afternoon. "I realized that having someone read to you
was a luxury that most of these kids had never had a chance to experience as their
families had been torn apart. It was amazing to see that such a small thing
like reading could make so many kids so happy."
Zara`s Center would continue to evolve over the next three years. The center
not only provides basic necessities, such as food and water, but is also now a haven where
life skills could be cultivated, emotional needs fostered and basic medical services provided. However, with conditions of Zimbabwe deteriorating, the sustainability of Zara`s Center requires additional support. The All for Africa campaign "Palm Out Poverty" will assist Zara`s Center through providing a model for sustainability providing the financial support needed to continue its good work. The All for Africa Project is a visionary initiative that sustains non-profits while restoring the world's eco-structure. This initiative involves farmers tending and growing palm trees in West Africa in order to harvest and sell the palm oil creating a symbiotic relationship that then provides solutions for Zara`s Center. It is anticipated that once fully gestated, Zara`s Palm Oil Trust will yield as much as $30,000 per year for 30 annual harvests of Palm Oil. Inspired by Rachel`s giving, a family friend, Eileen Patrick, with the official blessings of the New York City ING Marathon, is adding an exciting new effort in order to support her commitment to Zara`s Center.
Reuters (8.7.09)
