As childcare organisations shift globally and locally away from institutionalisation towards family-based care, Kuda Vana Partnership is leading the change. Through family reunification, integration and structured holiday foster placements, the organisation is laying the groundwork for children to successfully assimilate into family and community life. The post Building bridges to belonging: How holiday fostering prepares children for family life appeared first on newsday .
FOR most children, school holidays mean sleeping in, playing games and counting down the days until the new term.
But for children in institutional care at organisations like Kuda Vana Partnership, holidays mean something more profound: exposure to a family and community environment.
As childcare organisations shift globally and locally away from institutionalisation towards family-based care, Kuda Vana Partnership is leading the change. Through family reunification, integration and structured holiday foster placements, the organisation is laying the groundwork for children to successfully assimilate into family and community life.
Building bridges to belonging
William Pepukai, a family reintegration and reunification advocate, says placing children in foster homes prepares them to blend seamlessly into family structures.
“The placement of children in foster care homes promotes the holistic development of children and lays the foundation for sustainable, long-term family relationships,” he told NewsDay.
Jotina Vambire, a social worker with the organisation, agrees. She says holidays give children a vital window to connect with families, assimilate and learn extracurricular skills.
“Placement from a young age helps to establish and strengthen bonds before a child turns 18, ensuring they leave care with a reliable support system and a clear sense of identity,” she said.
This holiday season, Kuda Vana placed 25 children with foster parents — including registered caregivers, extended family members and individuals approved by the Department of Social Welfare after rigorous safety vetting.
A glimpse of real life and rural roots
Holiday placements offer children hands-on lessons in everyday life. Michele Chaibva, who spent holidays with biological relatives during farming season, remembers tilling the land, fetching firewood and water, sipping morning mahewu and sharing sadza at lunch.
For others, the experience opens doors to community living, local markets and domestic routines.
Kundai Chatora (22), whose family has fostered children for years, recalls the excitement of each holiday arrival.
“You can see their excitement and enthusiasm as they visit for the holidays. We used to share food and snacks, and engage in various activities,” he said.
He now considers the foster children part of his family.
“When the holiday came to an end, it was hard realising I wouldn’t be able to enjoy their company anymore.”
Challenges remain, however. Vambire says some biological parents are reluctant to take children during holidays, sometimes even blocking communication. She continues to encourage families to come forward and to be patient as children adjust to unfamiliar
environments.
Cultivating humility, love and community
For caregivers like Tsitsi Thelma Masenda (48) of Chitungwiza, fostering has become a family tradition. Fostering since December 2024, Masenda welcomed three children this holiday to join her own three daughters.
“The love and the bond with the children drove us as a family to decide to take them,” she says.
The experience has taught her daughters humility and selfless love.
“It has helped my children to realise that it’s not always about them, but also about their siblings.”
Masenda’s household tackles challenges together — such as coping with local water shortages — while exploring the city, making new friends and trying new foods. To shield the children from stigma, she introduces them simply as extended family.
The initiative is also shifting community perceptions. Neighbours who witness the process are learning about fostering and adoption, often stepping up to support the children with toys, treats and affection.
A call to action
Institutional care can provide safety, but a child’s ultimate destiny is a family. Through the dedication of advocates, social workers and compassionate foster parents like Masenda, organisations like Kuda Vana Partnership are proving that every child deserves the chance to belong, heal and thrive within the warmth of a home.
The post Building bridges to belonging: How holiday fostering prepares children for family life appeared first on newsday.
