Montgomery Heights is a registered children’s home, situated in rural Zimbabwe. It has been operating since the early 1980s and works with the Department of Social Development, through which the children are placed in the home. There are four housing units for up to 60 children from birth to 18 years of age, each with live-in house-parents, including a special care baby unit. All four housing units interact and work together to form one cohesive family.
Montgomery Heights Christian Care Centre provides a family home for some of the most vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.
We are connected in God’s love and in the firm belief that through the care they receive in this family these children will be released into their God given destiny
Psalm 144: 12 Then our sons in their youth will be like well-matured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Montgomery provides for the children’s academic education, starting with daily ‘learning times’ in the special care baby unit, then more formal lessons in the on-site Preschool.
Once the children are ready to start their Primary School education they attend the nearest government school. As it is 7km away they are driven down to the school each morning and then walk back across the fields (approx 4.5km) at the end of their school day.
After 7 years at the Primary School they move to a nearby government Secondary School which is just a few hundred metres from home….less than a 5 minute walk. After 4 years they take national examinations. If their results are good they may then choose to go on to a High School for a further two years to gain higher qualifications which will then give them access to university. Alternatively some chose to do more practical courses.
Whatever their ability, results and academic choices, Montgomery Heights walks the journey with the children and continues to support them until they are settled in their chosen career.
In order to help develop the children’s all round health and wellbeing, there are a wide range of indoor and outdoor recreational and sports facilities, and a well stocked library for them to enjoy.
There is also a small medical clinic on site, overseen by our nurse, Fiona, who helps to keep both the children and the staff as healthy as possible. She treats minor ailments and injuries on site and when necessary refers on to doctors at the local district hospital or connects with various specialists as appropriate.
Providing for the spiritual well-being of the children and staff is of paramount importance and everyone is involved in Sunday Family Services, Saturday Youth Services for the over 13s or Bible Club Activities for the under 13s, and mid-week Bible studies for the staff and young adults.
Each of the home units share in a short family Bible study and prayer time in the evening before the children go to bed, in which they are encouraged to take various levels of responsibility.
The Montgomery Heights family also seeks to share the life and light of Christ with the wider local community through encouraging them to join the different weekend services and mid-week Bible Studies, as well by reaching out in compassionate support and ministry to the neighbours.
Matthew 5: 14, 16 You are the light of the world a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As in any family, the children are also encouraged to take age-appropriate responsibility for ‘family chores’… cleaning, laundry, cooking, gardening, simple home maintenance, etc…to help prepare them for life.
For many of the children Montgomery Heights is the only home and family that they know and after leaving they often keep contact and come back to visit in later years. There are 2 smaller houses on the property providing accommodation for them when they visit as well as a home base for older teenagers who are pursuing further education away from home.
Montgomery Heights is under the leadership of the resident director, Miss Lesley Marshall, B.Ed., M.R.E., assisted by Pastor & Mrs Danniel Ngwenya & Miss Fiona Bunford R.G.N, who work together with a dedicated team of national staff.
There are twenty-five other full time staff members…a social worker, care givers, cooks, cleaners, maintenance men. All are Zimbabweans and all but one live on site. All are actively involved in the church in various roles…elders, evangelists, musicians, ushers etc.
Whilst each staff member has a ‘designated role’ everyone, including the leadership, work as a committed, flexible, unified team, turning their hands to whatever needs arise.
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