Where Children &
Elderly Thrive Together.
Dedicated to children under the care of elderly guardians—children we call Muzukuru. Raised, protected, loved, and guided by grandparents whose lives are woven with theirs.
“One fabric. One heartbeat. One hope.”
Refusing to separate the child from the elder.
When we strengthen an older caregiver, we strengthen a child. When we invest in a child, we honour the sacrifice of the older person raising them. That is why we refuse to separate them.
As we stepped into the homes of elderly Zimbabweans, a deeper truth emerged: many were not alone. They were raising children… again.
“You cannot support the elderly without seeing the children they are fighting to raise.”
The stark numbers in Zimbabwe.
Children under elderly care face concentrated vulnerabilities. School fees are impossible, basics are lacking, and the pain of this gap is written on every face.
Approximately 60% of orphaned and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe are in grandparent-headed households, mostly looked after by elderly women.
More than 26.6% of children under 18 in Zimbabwe do not live with either parent, relying entirely on elderly guardians.
82% of older people in rural areas face disability, non-communicable diseases, limited healthcare access, and zero or inadequate pensions.
The Dotage Dream Fund
“Where yesterday's love meets tomorrow's opportunity.”
Education should not be a luxury. Just $30 covers one child's school term. In communities where elderly guardians earn nothing or live on inadequate pensions, $30 is the difference between a child in school and a child at home.
Why the Number Six?
In numerology, the number 6 stands for love, care, responsibility, and harmony. Six young people, giving just $5 every 3 months, can carry one future together. No one walks alone—and love is always strongest in numbers.
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Gogo Silenge & Her Grandchild
Gogo Silenge, from Chizhanje village, was struggling to send her grandchild to school. The fees were impossible. The uniform was a dream. Every term, the child would miss weeks, or the whole term, while Gogo worked odd jobs trying to find money.
When the Dotage Dream Fund came, everything changed. The fees were paid. The uniform came. The child went to school.
“Thank you very much for the school fees. Since you started talking with him, his misbehaviour has reduced. And he has even improved academically.”
Knowing her child's fees were paid and uniforms were coming was not just about education. It was about relief and dignity restored—easing an elderly woman's burden so she could focus on loving her grandchild rather than only surviving.
Be a Guardian: Choose Your Level
Every tier ensures a child stays in school and an elderly guardian receives dignity.
The Muzukuru Project
Muzukuru means a child under the care of elderly relatives. In Zimbabwean families, this is a sacred relationship—but one under heavy strain.
A Day in the Life of a Young Custodian
Typical days begin early with water collection and meal prep, followed by school, clinic visits with their elderly guardian, and piecework or selling vegetables to supplement household income. They need childhood, learning time, and support to thrive.
Immediate Household Relief
Monthly food packs, hygiene items, and small transport stipends for clinic visits. Countering meal-skipping and blanket-sharing so families can focus on health and education.
Education Continuity
Term-aligned payments for school fees, uniforms, stationery, and examination fees to prevent dropouts during critical transitions.
Psychosocial Support & Volunteer Training
Mentorship preserving childhood and hope. Training caregivers and volunteers on safe caregiving, medication scheduling, and psychosocial first aid.
Moments of hope & dignity.
Muzukuru children and elderly caregivers walking together in community.
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Support a Muzukuru. Honour an Elder.
When you support a child under elderly care, you are not simply paying school fees. You are supporting the grandmother who wakes at dawn to prepare porridge.
It's not charity. It's community. It's connection. It's continuity.