Faith and hope a story of building capacity

### Shifting Power Through Collective Action: The Faith and Hope Centre Initiative

**By Brenda Sigauke**

In a world where communities often struggle alone, the Faith and Hope Centre stands as a beacon of hope. Our mission is to empower Zimbabwe's homeless and vulnerable through sustainable agriculture, vocational training, and holistic support. But this mission is more than a plan—it's born from personal experiences that ignited a passion for change. While this idea is still in its incubation stage we do have hope that every great journey of success started with an idea and once you put it down you commit it to the Lord.

**Inspiration from Compassion**

My journey with Faith and Hope began in a prayer group in Harare's CBD, where we cooked and shared meals with the homeless. These encounters revealed stark realities: individuals without jobs, shelter, or safety. One story that deeply impacted me was that of an older woman and her son with a speech impediment. They were once forcefully moved by authorities to a remote area, without a proper resettlement plan she was cast out in the bushes and they hoped that it will be difficult for them to go back to the city centre where they where living. Unfortunately she was separated from her child and she had to do everything in her power to go back and reunite with her family this is truly a heartbreaking testament to the neglect faced by our homeless population. While we can empathize with their plight the reality is you can only do so if you are actively doing something about it. The real issues most of our society are ignorant of because we just believe that the homeless are lazy people who don't want to work. Truth of the matter is that if you have not walked in their footsteps its impossible to understand why and how they got into the streets.

**Addressing Root Issues**

Beyond homelessness, I encountered another group of men battling alcoholism and drug addiction. Despite their resolve to break free, societal pressures and economic hardships often pushed them back into addiction. These guys will get so addicted that all the money they work for is spent on buying more and more drugs and alcohol and their health is slowly deteriorating. One man, who sold cheap spirits for a living, asked for alternatives to survive.When he told me of his dilemma the issue still came to the fact that there was no alternatives that were available his plea resonated deeply; it highlighted the urgent need for rehabilitative support and sustainable solutions. A place where they can come and get cleaned up and get counseling to stay sober. That's what I was just thinking, Lord what is it that I can do? because after talking to these people there is no peace within your soul all you have is a burden to bring change to these people even if I don't touch the whole nation but if I can possibly transform 20 people then maybe the world can be a better place.

**Building Alliances for Change**

Faith and Hope centre isn't just about providing immediate aid. It's about forging alliances with skilled individuals and businesses eager to invest in community-driven change. These partnerships are crucial in restoring agency and dignity to our beneficiaries, offering not just temporary relief but long-term opportunities for growth. If only we can establish a place where interested parties can come and give life skills to these people it indeed can make a difference. In an economy where formal employment is now even harder to obtain it's very important that those that we are helping are aided with important skills that can provide employment for themselves. Knowing how to build something from scratch is far better than knowing how to beg.

**Empowerment through Education**

Faith and hope centre has high hopes of linking its activities to farm. Central to our initiative is the establishment of a hydroponics and aquaponics farm—a sanctuary that not only feeds but educates. Here, we aim to teach sustainable farming practices, empowering individuals with practical skills to sustain themselves and contribute to their communities' well-being. Hydroponics is an emerging trend in the farming industry that produces crops more quickly than soil farming. If we are going to feed 5000 like Jesus did we need the grace of multiplication. We want to sell food as well as provide food for the Faith and Hope kitchen.

**Vision and Challenges**

Our vision extends beyond the Centre's walls. Sometimes just dreaming of the days when all this comes true makes me toss and turn in the night. We envision a network of self-sustaining communities across Zimbabwe, each empowered to thrive independently. Yet, the path isn't without challenges—securing funding, navigating bureaucracy, and garnering widespread support are ongoing struggles. There is a lot that needs to be done to make this vision a sucess . But each obstacle fuels our commitment to innovation and advocacy for those often forgotten. Indeed they have been forgotten but only for a little while until we can make change not only a possibility but more of a reality.

**Personal Commitment**

For me, Faith and Hope is more than a project; it's a personal commitment to transformative change. It's about fostering solidarity, sharing knowledge, and uniting in a collective pursuit of justice and equity. Together, we can shift the power dynamics, creating a future where every individual has the opportunity to rebuild with dignity and hope.

**Join Us**

Join us on this journey of hope and resilience. Together, we can rewrite the narrative, empowering communities, and creating a brighter tomorrow. When Jesus told us to love thy neighbor as thy self I do believe that this is what He truly meant. Why don't we start thinking of giving a person a rod to fish instead of just giving them fish, such that tomorrow he knows how to get food for himself. True love is all about Empowerment for the long haul.