Founded: 1998 Support Group 2001 Handicraft Project.
Location: Dzivarasekwa Township outside of Harare.
Founding members: 24 moms and George.
Current: 140 members.
Centre purchased: 2003.
Organization: 7 member Management Team.
Children: Preschool and Physical Therapy, since 2001.
Garden Project: Daily hot meals with garden veggies.
Handicrafts: Greeting cards, bottlecap art, baby gifts, bags, aprons, toys, dolls

The Batsiranai Project

The Batsiranai Handicraft Project is based in a highly-populated township outside of Harare known as Dzivarasekwa Batsiranai’s success is evidenced by the increased self-confidence and independence of the members The mothers now provide food and housing for their families and are able to meet the basic educational and medical needs of their special-needs children. When the handicraft project begun in 2001, these families were underfed and hungry, now the Batsiranai motto is.... “Batsiranai has made us, FAT AND FATTER!"

Batsiranai is a member of Zimbabwe Parents of Disabled Children Association (ZPDCA), an advocacy organization registered with the Government of Zimbabwe's Ministry of Social Welfare. Within ZPDCA there are 600 families with severely disabled children living in various townships around Harare. The original Dzivarasekwa group consists of 24 mothers and George (an older brother of a disabled child). The sale of handicrafts has enabled the members to reach out to include additional mothers from various townships around Harare. Today there are 97 mothers working with Batsiranai (July 2007). The dream of this project is to grow and grow quickly, so that all 600 families may participate in the success of Batsiranai: In fact, the Shona word Batsiranai means “helping each other.”

It is through your interest and support that Batsiranai can expand. If you want to help Batsiranai establish new international markets; purchase or sell Batsiranai products; make a donation; meet the mothers or assist the disabled children, please contact the mothers on this link.

Tax free donations can be made through One World Children’s Fund.