Thriving communities produce strong families

Kuda Vana Means Loving Children in Shona

Family of four walking away from the camera in green grass

About Kuda Vana

Kuda Vana Partnership International is dedicated to strengthening local organizations, families, and communities.

This is achieved through strategic partnerships, investments, and resources that promote family-based care and youth empowerment, enabling vulnerable children not just to survive, but thrive. Our executive director, Shelton Taguma, has brought his faith, knowledge of international development, local governance, and sustainable program development to help us achieve our expanded mission.

Our Mission

We partner with local organizations to empower communities to support vulnerable children, families, and youth transitioning from care.

Group of African children harvesting ground nuts

Our Vision

To see every child thrive in loving families and communities, living with courage, confidence, and hope in God.

Our Values

Kuda Vana Partnership International is a Christian organization dedicated to sharing hope, faith, and the love of God.

Our core values guide our ministry, shape how we lead our lives, and influence how we serve vulnerable children, families, and our partners. They underpin our decision-making, organizational culture, and programmatic approach. We value the dignity and well-being of all children, youth transitioning from care, families, and communities, while recognizing the transformative power of God.

Love

The love of our Heavenly Father inspires and sustains us. Our love is alive in every word we speak and every action we take. It is evident in the lives we lead, the decisions we make, and our commitment to care for those in need. We want every child, young adult, and family we serve to know and experience God's love through everything we do.

Grace

We strive to meet others where they are with dignity and extending grace just as God has shown to us. Through this grace we seek to find opportunities for growth and development not only for those we serve but also in our ministry.

Integrity

God has blessed us with many gifts and resources in our ministry. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of stewardship and transparency in both word and deed. We are committed to effective communication, participation, and transparency throughout our organization. We also aim to intentionally learn from both failures and successes in all our relationships, ensuring open and honest dialogue among staff, donors, partners, and those we serve.

Discipleship

Our faith refines our work and strengthens our commitment. This commitment allows us to serve and guide others on their journey. We believe that our actions show the love of God in us to the world.

Partnership

We believe that sustainable impact is best achieved by working together with others. Our goal is to see holistic change in the lives of those we serve, and we recognize that we cannot accomplish this on our own. That’s why we seek to partner with public and private sector organizations and ministries that share our commitment to vulnerable children and families while fostering a culture of mutual respect, learning, and accountability within the communities we support.

Empowerment

We want vulnerable children, transitioning youth, and families to thrive—not just survive. We actively empower people and communities by providing them with the opportunities, skills, and tools needed to flourish in their own environments. Through local skill development, we are dedicated to promoting sustainability for those we serve, helping them build resilience and take charge of their futures.

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26

Our History

Kuda Vana roots began in 2006 in the rural area of Marange, Zimbabwe, as a small children's home caring for 35 “orphans.” The vision for this campus was to care for vulnerable children while creating jobs and sustenance for the community.

In 2013, our founders John and Colleen were asked to take over the Murwira Children's Home. As practices relating to care for children evolved and recurring issues with a reliable water source emerged in 2015, Kuda Vana moved to a new location, where we created group homes focused on creating a loving home environment where children felt safe and could build relationships with one another and their caregivers. Through experience and evidence, we learned that even well-run group homes can't replace families. We've transformed into a family preservation and reunification organization where we work to place every child with family, either through reunification with biological relatives or domestic foster care and adoption.

Gardening planting tree with hands in dirt

Our Future

Our vision for the next 10 years is radically different from where we started. We are no longer only a children's home. We are now a grant-making organization focused on partnerships that deliver programs with rippling positive impact.

We want every child currently in our care to have a family. We want to prevent families from separating in the first place by partnering with local churches and organizations to help them find the support they need to stay together—food security programs, school fee assistance, counseling, and vocational training.

Partner With Us

Be a part of strengthening vulnerable youth, families, and communities not only to survive, but to thrive!

You can support our work with a one-time donation or by becoming a monthly donor. Monthly donations are a sustaining way to give; your recurring donation allows us to plan and meet needs as they arise.

Thank you for your support.

Contact

+1 (720) 213-8686 | [email protected]

Kuda Vana Partnership P.O. Box 631066 Littleton, CO 80163