Kuda Vana Partnership

Kuda Vana Partnership (formerly Murwira Children’s Home) was officially founded in 2006 by retired church secretary Paula Leen. Paula had lived and worked in Zimbabwe for several years, and in 1997, when she was in her sixties, Paula felt called to help the orphaned children of Zimbabwe. Paula visited Marange, Zimbabwe and was distraught by the hopelessness she witnessed. Driven by her servant heart and undeniable faith, Paula replaced poverty with hope and dramatically altered the lives of the most vulnerable children in the community by providing a home, love, education and a path to self-sufficiency. 

Paula worked tirelessly for the children in her care for many years before retiring in Walla Walla, Washington. 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. 

After several years, it became evident that the water supply at Murwira Children’s Home could not support its operations, nor the agriculture that helped keep it self sustaining. With the help of generous donors a new campus was built, and in December 2015 the children moved to a new location approximately 30 minutes outside of Mutare, Zimbabwe. Our new home is next to a permanent and generous water source, and is equipped with group homes allowing up to 50 children and infants to live in family units with Mama’s and Aunties rather than in a dormitory style rooms. 

In 2015 we changed our name to Kuda Vana Partnership. “Kuda Vana” means “Loving Children” in the local language of Shona, and “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 more than a safe place of refuge. It is a home providing love, nutrition, security, health, education and life skills as well as spiritual and emotional guidance. Thank you for your interest in our work.