Each year, donations allow nearly 200 children to attend primary and secondary schools in Mutare and Chinhoyi. These schools serve children from families who cannot afford the fees and uniforms at Zimbabwe public and parochial schools. Many of the students are orphans. Assistance with the cost of tuition, uniforms, and supplies help these families to spend what little they have on other basic necessities such as food and clothing.

With financial assistance from Marymount, the RSHM are able to pay 12 teachers to tutor 100 children. The older children receive tutoring to pass their school examinations. The younger children have never attended school, either because they are orphans or because their parents have failed to get them into school. When they receive enough tutoring to reach a standard to be able to cope with regular school, their school fees are paid with the help of our donations.

During the war of independence, many of the parents were of school age but did not attend class because of safety concerns. The RSHM uses financial donations to sponsor an adult literacy program. With the help of this initiative, illiterate parents acquire the reading skills needed to understand their children’s school reports, read the Bible, and sign their names, instead of just making a mark.

The RSHM also supports the salary of a nurse who dispenses medication and directs trained volunteer caregivers to make regular home visits to AIDS patients. The Sisters use their training and expertise to provide therapeutic massage and pastoral counseling to relieve suffering from this illness, as well as to assist families who must cope with bereavement.

In cooperation with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Jesuits in Zimbabwe. The RSHM Sisters provide 400 of the most needy children with a simple hot meal every school day.

The RSHM Sisters also use donations to contribute to the salaries of ten people to work in two homeless shelters.