Our Story
Kuda Vana means "loving children"
Kuda Vana Partnership (formerly Murwira Children’s Home) was officially founded in Zimbabwe in 2006 by retired church secretary Paula Leen. Before retiring, Paula enlisted the help of partners in Zimbabwe and around the world who could continue to help meet the needs of orphaned and abandoned children in the area.
In 2015 we changed our name to Kuda Vana Partnership.
“Kuda Vana” means “Loving Children” in the local language of Shona
"Partnership" signifies our commitment to partnering with local leaders and like-minded individuals and organizations around the world for the benefit of the most vulnerable children of Zimbabwe.
Kuda Vana Children’s Home is approximately 30 minutes outside of Mutare, Zimbabwe. It is adjacent to a permanent and generous water source, allowing us to grow several acres of food, and is equipped with group homes allowing up to 50 children and infants to live in family units with caregivers while we work to find them forever families. We operate an additional Youth Transition Campus located in Buhera, which supports young people ages 18-22 in their transition to self-sufficient adulthood.
Kuda Vana is not your typical orphanage. We aim to provide each child placed in our care with more than a safe place of refuge. It is a home providing love, a complete education and life skills as well as spiritual and emotional guidance.
While Kuda Vana’s team provide a wonderful home, we know that residential care is never best for children: being in family is. Thus, we are committed to facilitating safe family reunifications, and domestic adoption and foster care.
In recent years we have
Facilitated 10 adoptions
Placed 7 children with foster families
Reunified 14 children with biological family.
Thank you for your interest in our work, and joining us on this journey!
PHOTO GALLERY
“This place is special. It isn’t just an institution. It shares love. I want that love. I want to share that love. I know there are other people in the world that are living the way I lived before I came to Kuda Vana. I have to find those people now and help. And share the love I was given”