Give a Child Identity: Birth Registration Africa

Dear Supporters,

Without a legal identity, it becomes impossible, and in some cases, illegal for children to participate in activities required by society such as attending school and utilise services needed to ensure a decent life, such as seeking medical advice. In Zimbabwe, this is the reality of thousands of children, particularly those living in rural areas. In December, the GVI Trust together with local partners on the ground, started the preparation to provide 50 children with the financial and emotional support needed to get a legal identity.

In the end of September the GVI Trust visited a couple of schools in rural Zimbabwe which were experiencing severe lack of resources and secure infrastructure in Zimbabwe. When asked by local partners about the desperate state of the school, the Trust was informed that it was not recognised by the government as it was serving children which fell outside of the system. In Zimbabwe, a nation which faced high numbers of HIV/AIDS and high migration to South Africa has resulted in many children without their parents present. Consequently, the caretaker will not have the drive or resources necessary to ensure that the children get registered, leaving them paperless and without a legal identity. And without an identity, the children cannot get access to attend government schools; get access to recognised healthcare; apply to university and stipend; get a drivers licence; get a job on the formal market; get a drivers licence; apply for passports and visas; nor open a bank account. This will contribute to continued poverty and increase the inequalities which are already increasing. 

Therefore, rather than to invest in expensive infrastructure to cater for the children, the GVI Trust have decided to rather tackle the root causes of the problem, than to provide a temporary solution which only address one of the consequences of the lack of legal identity. To start, we will help 50 children in the rural area of Zimbabwe to get the paperwork, logistical and emotional support needed to go through the process. At this stage, our local partners are working together with social services to identify the beneficiaries who are in the most dired need of our support prior to opening a case. This is not to simply assist the individual child, but to reduce economic burden and stress on their families and to ensure that the coming generation will be born at hospitals and have the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of a legal identity.

It is with your continued support that we can make an impactful and long-lasting impact in the community by tackling the root causes of lack of education and healthcare. We are grateful for your generosity and it goes without saying that the GVI Trust and all its donors, play a vital and essential role in making a sustainable and impacting difference to the lives of many children across Zimbabwe. 

Your choice to support what we do in the field daily not only provides financial assistance to the projects but helps to bring hope to the community. We look forward to welcoming new and existing donors in the future, to join us on this remarkable journey.

With Gratitude

Zimbabwe Paperless