About Us
Welcome to Leonard Cheshire, a leading provider of disability services with a rich heritage dating back to 1948. Founded by Lord Leonard Cheshire, a distinguished World War II veteran, our organisation has been dedicated to creating homes for individuals with disabilities in the UK and around the world. With over 200 organisations spanning 54 countries, including Zimbabwe, we have built a global legacy of excellence.
In Zimbabwe, our branch, Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ), formerly known as Leonard Cheshire Homes Zimbabwe, was established in 1981. Inspired by an Irish Catholic Priest, we began by offering temporary residential accommodations to adults and children with disabilities. As the world embraced rights-based approaches to disability and moved away from institutionalisation, LCDZ made the decision in 2008 to shift our focus to non-residential outreach services for people of all genders and ages with disabilities.
LCDZ News
Vacancies
SUPPORTING QUALITY INTEGRATED INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND EYE HEALTH SERVICES IN MASVINGO PROVINCE OF ZIMBABWE Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe wishes to engage a skilled, knowledgeable and experienced consultant to submit a Baseline Survey response related to the attached TOR not later than the 10th of October 2023 clearly stating their understanding of the TOR, methodology, Budget and Composition of their proposed team etc. The terms of reference provide a scope/guide of the proposed baseline survey for the project – Supporting quality integrated inclusive education and eye health services in Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe. Broadly, the project seeks to support accessible, equitable and quality inclusive education and eye health for children and young persons with disabilities in Masvingo province. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE BASELINE SURVEY SUPPORTING QUALITY INTEGRATED INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND EYE HEALTH SERVICES IN MASVINGO PROVINCE OF ZIMBABWE SEPTEMBER 2023 INTRODUCTION LCDZ wishes to engage a consultant to supply the services set out in the Schedule of Deliverables below. The Consultant is expected to offer consultancy services in relation to such services and has considerable skill, knowledge and experience in this field. These terms of reference provide a scope/guide of the proposed baseline survey for the project – Supporting quality integrated inclusive education and eye health services in Masvingo Province of Zimbabwe. The project which commenced in July 2023 has a three-and half-years duration. Broadly, the project seeks to support accessible, equitable and quality inclusive education and eye health for children and young persons with disabilities in Masvingo province. Background of the Implementing Organisations Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ) is a non-profit making disability service organisation registered as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO 36/80). The organisation envisions a society in which every person with a disability can enjoy their rights and have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Its mission is to enable Persons with Disabilities to improve their quality of life and to campaign for the removal of the barriers which hinder them. LCDZ values and promotes a culture of disability inclusion, openness and self-sustenance through implementation of various projects throughout Zimbabwe. Morgenster mission hospital has robust experience in offering inclusive eye health services in the province since 1992. Through the Masvingo Province Eye Care Programme (MPECP)- a corporation between the MoHCC, Reformed Church in Zimbabwe and CBM, the hospital has been running programs to reduce and prevent reversible blindness in the province. MPECP provides, (i) medical and surgical eye care services (consultations, surgeries and refractions) at the Morgenster Mission Hospital and (ii) regular mobile outreaches clinic to all 7 districts offering eye health training, screening, assessment, treatment, provision of spectacles and low vision devices during. Zimbabwe Association for the Visually Handicapped (ZAVH) is an active Organisation of Persons with Disabilities experienced in the advocacy for disability inclusive development and mobilisation of persons with disabilities for their rights. Background to the Project The project is being carried out by three partners in a consortium namely Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe, Morgenster Mission Hospital and Zimbabwe Association for the Visually Handicapped (ZAVH) in the 7 districts of Masvingo with funding from Christian Blind Mission Global . According to Zimbabwe National Survey on Persons with disabilities living conditions conducted in 2013, there are more than 600 000 children with disabilities of school going age who have never attended school, with more than 70% living in rural areas. Other co-existing factors are also responsible for adding to such high incidences of inability to access education. The 2020 Comprehensive Situational Analysis on Persons with Disabilities Report noted that school – going children and youth with disabilities are also prone to physical emotional, and sexual abuses. It is therefore, progressive to ensure that safeguarding and child protection measures be upheld as part of efforts to enhance access to education. Overall, the absence of early interventions has seen a huge restriction to equal opportunities for those with disabilities in the later years. For example, it was found that out of an enrolment of 28000 in teacher education colleges in 2021, only 1.7% were PWDs. Inclusive Education and eye health are intertwined elements and are seen as central to improving education outcomes in underdeveloped communities. The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) is making several efforts to promote inclusive education; however, gaps still exist. The challenges range from structural, attitudinal, institutional, and economic, within an environment of discriminatory practices against girls with hidden disabilities such as intellectual disabilities driven by socio-cultural norms and inaccessible infrastructure. When access to education is limited, areas such as finance, nutrition and health, family, and employment are put at risk and can further increase poverty. This intervention seeks to address functionality challenges faced by children and young people in Masvingo in order to enhance school enrolment, attainment and retention. Project Context The intervention seeks to ensure that 8327 learners with disabilities already in schools are retained and transition across grades, have access to early eye screening and, improved children safeguarding environments and access to community managed livelihoods that will cater for their nutrition, fees, transport, and classroom-care needs. Masvingo province has functional difficulty prevalence of 10.4%, 1.2 percentage points above the national figure (Zimbabwe National Census, 2022). According to a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey (RAAB) conducted in 2019, the major causes of blindness in Masvingo province include untreated cataracts (74.1%), glaucoma (8.2%) and refractive errors (4.6%). Project Strategies According to the project, inclusive education interventions include improvement of teaching and learning facilities for children with disabilities, provision of enabling resources; lobbying and advocacy for policy and attitude changes, as well as strengthening the capacity of teachers to handle diversity and effectively manage the teaching and learning of learners with disabilities. Eye health services focus on eye health screening services, refraction services, provision of spectacles, low vision services and provision of devices at outreach and base hospital. Safeguarding and child protection aspects of the intervention capacitate project staff and stakeholders. The project also includes an inclusive complaints and feedback mechanism on abuse and exploitation
Innovation and Empowerment: Leonard Cheshire Disability Orthopaedic Team Shines at ZITF 2023
Greetings, dear readers! Welcome to another edition of our blog, where we share with you the latest news and updates from the Leonard Cheshire Disability Orthopaedic team. Today, we have some exciting announcements to make about our participation in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) 2023, which will run from 25 to 29 April under the theme: “Continuous innovation, Global competitiveness.” As you may already know, we are a leading provider of orthopaedic services and products in Zimbabwe, with a mission to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and mobility challenges. We offer a range of services, including assessments, fittings, repairs, training and follow-ups. We also produce high quality and affordable orthopaedic devices, such as prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs, crutches and other mobility solutions. During the ZITF 2023 period, we are delighted to offer free assessments for anyone who is in and around a 20KM RADIUS of Bulawayo CBD. Whether you are curious about your mobility options or what we can do for you, we are here to help. Do not miss out on this opportunity! We also invite you to visit our stand at the ZITF exhibition hall, where you can see some of our products on display and interact with our friendly and professional staff. We have some special guests who have graced our stand with their presence, such as the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Honourable Rajeshkumar Modi and the well renowned Ezra Tshisa Sibanda. We also had the privilege of meeting the Zimbabwe Defence Force Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, who expressed his appreciation for our work. We are grateful for the support and recognition we have received from these distinguished personalities and from the public at large. We are also thankful for the media coverage we have received from the Zimbabwe Broadcast Corporation online and from Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, who conducted a live Facebook interview of our team.We hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned more about our work and our involvement in the ZITF 2023. Please stay tuned for more updates and stories from us. Until next time, stay safe and healthy!
Fostering Inclusion and Empowering Exchange Students: Leonard Cheshire Disability Orthopaedic Center Hosts Students from Kenya and Zanzibar
As Leonard Cheshire Disability Orthopaedic Center we were delighted to welcome four exchange students from Kenya and Zanzibar to our workshop in Kambuzuma, Harare on the 17th of May 2023. They came to visit us as part of the Zimbabwe Parents Handicapped Children Association program, which aims to promote disability awareness and inclusion in Africa. The students had a chance to see how we fabricate our prosthetic limbs and have a look at our other assistive devices for people with disabilities. They also interacted with highly trained staff, getting a chance to ask all their questions on the fabrication processes. They learnt about the challenges and opportunities that people with disabilities face in Zimbabwe and how we as an orthopedic center are trying to assist them. We hope that this visit will inspire them to share their new-found knowledge and experience with their communities back home and to advocate for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities everywhere.
SASA! Together: Empowering Community Champions to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls and HIV
SASA! Together is a community mobilisation approach that aims to prevent violence against women and girls and HIV. It is based on the principle of “joining power with” others to create positive social change. One of the key components of SASA! Together is the training of community champions, who are volunteers from different sectors of the society, such as women’s groups, faith groups, youth groups, and local leaders. This week, Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe is attending a 4-day training workshop for community champions in Shamva district, organised by the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Zimbabwe (FAWEZI), in partnership with Family AIDS Caring Trust Zimbabwe (FACT), Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ), and Action Aid Zimbabwe (AAZ). The training is supported by players of Postcode Lottery, who generously funded the TORCHES project. The training focused on the Support Phase of SASA! Together, The objectives of the training were: – To enhance participants’ knowledge, skills, and confidence to implement activities of the SASA! Together Support Phase. – To build participants’ understanding of “joining power with” others to prevent violence against women. – To enhance participants’ knowledge and skills to support survivors of violence and community members who are making positive changes in their relationships and to hold men who use violence accountable. During the training, participants learnt about what the Support Phase entails, such as providing emotional support, practical support, referrals, and follow-ups to survivors of violence and those who are trying to change their behavior. We also learned about communication basics, such as active listening, empathy, and non-judgmental attitude. We discussed how to hold men who use violence accountable, by challenging their attitudes and beliefs, offering alternatives to violence, and involving other community members. We also reviewed the safeguarding policy and procedures that we need to follow to protect others and ourselves from harm. We also had the opportunity to practice using the materials that we will use in the implementation of the Support Phase in our communities. These include posters, leaflets, stickers, story cards, and dialogue guides. These materials are designed to spark conversations and reflections among community members about violence against women and girls and HIV, and how we can support each other to end it.
Partner with Us
If you represent an organization, business, or institution, consider partnering with us to implement disability-inclusive practices and create accessible environments. Together, we can make a broader impact and drive positive change.