Staff Reporter
WELFARE organisations play an important role in supporting vulnerable people and complementing government social welfare services, but community groups have been urged to register formally to improve accountability and access to funding.
This was highlighted during an information-sharing session with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, where representatives of welfare organisations and social services discussed the role of community-based organisations.
Senior Social Worker at Katima Mulilo State Hospital, Masiye Muyalapabbi, said welfare organisations generally operate at grassroots level and target needy and vulnerable members of communities to improve their quality of life.
She said the Zambezi Region has several registered welfare organisations, while many others provide services such as soup kitchens, donations of clothing and school uniforms to orphans, and other forms of community assistance without being registered.
Muyalapabbi encouraged unregistered organisations to formalise their operations, saying registration provides them with a welfare registration number that can be used when approaching businesses and other potential donors for funding.
She said registration also helps build public trust and ensures that organisations are accountable for funds received and how those funds are used.
“Welfare organisations, they are regulated by the National Welfare Act of 1979,” Muyalapabbi said, stressing that organisations must keep proper records of their activities and expenditure.
She explained that people seeking to register a welfare organisation can approach the social workers at Katima Mulilo State Hospital or any district social worker for information and guidance.
Applicants are provided with an application form, registration guidelines and guidance on preparing a constitution, which must outline the organisation’s name, objectives, fundraising methods and committee structure.
According to Muyalapabbi, a welfare organisation should have a minimum of seven committee members, including positions such as chairperson, vice-chairperson and treasurer.
Applications are first considered by the regional welfare committee, which meets quarterly and makes recommendations to the national welfare board. Once approved, an organisation is issued a welfare registration number and can legally operate.
Muyalapabbi said registration also allows organisations to approach businesses and other donors for financial assistance while ensuring that funds are used for their intended purposes.
“The government alone cannot do it all,” she said, adding that community members who have the willingness and commitment to assist vulnerable people are needed to complement government services.
Martha Nzwile, founder and CEO of Hope for Life, said her organisation focuses on supporting elderly people, particularly those who are neglected or abused by their families.
She said some elderly people experience abuse, have their grants taken by family members or lack assistance with basic needs such as food and healthcare.
Hope for Life operates across the Zambezi Region and has conducted outreach activities in areas including Makaravani, Masambo, Wayawaya, Bukalo, Ngoma and Impalila.
Nzwile said the organisation assists elderly people with managing their grants, maintaining their health and accessing basic necessities.
The organisation also provides clothing, mattresses, blankets and food to vulnerable elderly people and plans to establish a home for elderly people in the future.
She encouraged elderly people to view old age as a blessing rather than a burden, saying older people remain an important source of knowledge and guidance for younger generations.
“Our parents are our libraries. Without them we can’t know anything,” Nzwile said.
Sylvia Chidunda, founder and CEO of Mainstream Foundation, said the organisation has operated for about 15 years and focuses on children with disabilities, while also accommodating children without disabilities up to the age of six as part of its inclusive approach.
She said the centre provides education, life skills, rehabilitation, community awareness programmes, parent support and income-generating activities.
Children follow the national education curriculum, while those with severe disabilities receive life skills training and rehabilitation services, including a Motor Activity Training Programme.
Chidunda said the organisation also works with the Ministry of Health and Social Services on rehabilitation and conducts awareness programmes on the rights of persons with disabilities.
She said Mainstream Foundation’s parent support groups provide an opportunity for parents of children with disabilities to support and learn from one another.
The organisation also runs a garden project involving young people with disabilities, with the aim of equipping them with skills that can help them become more independent.
Chidunda said the organisation had recorded cases where children who initially struggled to walk or communicate made progress after receiving support and participating in activities at the centre.
She said the goal was to ensure that children with disabilities were not kept at home and excluded from society, but instead received opportunities to develop their abilities.
“Disability does not mean inability,” Chidunda said.
However, she highlighted financial constraints as one of the major challenges facing the organisation, saying Mainstream Foundation has operated for almost five years without sufficient funding.
She said the organisation needs educational materials, staff funding, seeds and other resources for its garden project, as well as assistance with water and other operational needs.
Nzwile similarly said Hope for Life currently relies heavily on contributions from its members and community supporters, with plans to establish a facility for elderly people requiring additional care.
Muyalapabbi said the work of such organisations remained important because they address different needs within communities, including the elderly, people with disabilities and vulnerable children.
She cited organisations such as Zambezi Girl Foundation and Children of Zion, which provides shelter for children who have been abandoned, orphaned or lack accommodation.
She encouraged people interested in establishing welfare organisations to approach social workers for guidance on the registration process.
“We are going to assist you,” Muyalapabbi said.
Photos: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology
