Zimbabwe Orphans Through Extended Hands - ZOE CONNECTED CHURCH Zimbabwe Orphans Through Extended Hands - ZOE

I ASKED GOD ‘WHY ME’? September 2015

When have you felt the most loved? Notes to leader: To give people some time to think, ask them to talk about the question with the person sitting next to them first, then see if anyone would like to share their answer.

Sizani became an orphan at the age of 12 Sizani became an orphan at the age of 12. She had to look after her two younger brothers, as well as her grandmother. She dropped out of school but she couldn’t find a job. The family grew very thin.

Then a neighbour offered her a job as a maid in a nearby town Then a neighbour offered her a job as a maid in a nearby town. She went, but it was all a lie. Sizani was kept inside and forced to do work she didn’t want to do. Notes to leader: You could explain that when someone is taken away from their home and forced to do work they don’t want to do, it is called trafficking. It happens across the world to vulnerable people. Men, women, and children are all at risk of trafficking. If it is appropriate for your service, you could add the following details: At the age of 13, Sizani’s neighbour said he knew someone in a nearby town who needed a maid. He lied. Instead of becoming a maid, Sizani was taken to brothel where she was forced to become a sex worker. She was kept prisoner, and with no one to turn to, she couldn’t even begin to imagine how to escape.

A few years later, she managed to escape. She ran to a church that ZOE had been teaching about how to look after vulnerable children like Sizani. They looked after her, and reunited her with her family. Notes to leader: If it is appropriate for your service, you could add the following details: The situation grew worse and Sizani became very angry with God and the people around her. She fell ill but the brothel owner refused to let her seek treatment. She shared her story with one of her clients and he took her to the nearest clinic. Seizing her chance, she ran away.

‘I don’t know how to thank the church ‘I don’t know how to thank the church. I want to help other girls who are going through what I went through.’ Notes to leader: Sizani now attends a children’s club run by ZOE at the church. At the club they do a range of activities, including drama, dance, and peer to peer counselling. This has helped Sizani to feel strong enough to share her story with the other girls. The church and ZOE introduced Sizani to other girls who were trafficked and they formed a support group. They are now helping other girls by doing community awareness training about all forms of child abuse; including trafficking. Sizani was also trained in running a small business so she will be able to support herself and her family in the future. Sizani is pictured in the top photo with a church volunteer and the pastor of the church. We blurred her face in the picture to protect her identity. Sizani

PRAYER Pray for Sizani and girls like her, that they would find love and healing in the Church Pray for ZOE’s staff as they continue to encourage churches throughout Zimbabwe