Farm Orphan Support Trust

The Farm Orphan Support Trust (FOST) is an additional project, which has been recommended for future support. No specific plans are underway at present.

FOST was founded as a voluntary aid organization in March 1996, and was officially registered by March 1997. It is recognized by the Commercial Farmer's Union and was highly recommended by Miseror, a German Catholic aid organization that provides oversight for local projects. FOST specifically focuses on the rural area, where 2 million farm workers, live and work on the large commercial farms in Zimbabwe. Many of the people are foreigners from Malawi and Mozambique and are known in Zimbabwe as the "forgotten people." Due to disrupted family structures the system of "extended family support" for orphaned children is less effective in this setting and thus the need is particularly great.

Specific future support will address the need for a well in Wedza, a rural community 1 1/2 hours east of Harare. There 500 primary school students and 286 secondary school students are taught by 24 teachers. Interest exist to expand that school with the addition of a "skills training center", providing an alternative to secondary school. All future development, however, depends on the existence of a functioning well.