In the heart of Chiredzi, where life’s challenges often burden the most vulnerable, Queen Chauke’s passion for helping others is rooted in her own painful yet transformative experiences.
“I lived a life without parents,” Queen recounts. “Social welfare helped me and my siblings survive. That love and support shaped who I am today. from then, I knew I wanted to give back by helping vulnerable children just like I once was.”
As a Child Care Worker (CCW), Queen’s Queen’s role is to assist children in dire circumstances by using a referral platform. Each case presents unique challenges that demand customized solutions. One case, however, has stayed with her, etched in her memory as a grim reminder of the work still to be done.
“In 2021, I met a 12-year-old girl whose mother sent her to sell vegetables every evening. A 62-year-old man would buy from her and then lure her with promises of money. One day, he locked her in his house for two days and raped her,” Queen says, her voice filled with pain and resolve.
The girl was later diagnosed with HIV. Queen’s swift actions—reporting the case to the police and working tirelessly to ensure justice—led to the man’s arrest. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Now 16, the girl is living with the trauma but receives the necessary support, thanks to Queen’s dedication.
For Queen, this is more than a job—it’s a calling born out of personal experience. Orphaned at 14, she became the head of her household, caring for her siblings and ensuring they completed their education. “I was only a teenager, but I had to step up. Today, my siblings are teachers, and I’m proud of the role I played,” she says.
Queen’s work as a CCW goes beyond rescuing children from immediate danger. Her commitment extends to ensuring long-term solutions. One such story is that of Trust, a boy abandoned by his mother at the age of five. Social welfare entrusted him to Queen’s care, and she raised him as her own.
“I enrolled Trust at Shingai Primary School and cared for him until grade six. While following up on his documents, I discovered his father’s name listed in army headquarters in Gweru,” Queen explains.
Determined to reunite the boy with his family, Queen tracked down Trust’s father. To her surprise, the man revealed he had been paying child support for years, unaware that his son had been abandoned. After formal proceedings, Trust’s father took over his care, ensuring his education through to high school.
“Trust visited me last year to thank me,” Queen says, her face lighting up with pride. “Seeing him grow and thrive is a success story I’ll forever cherish.”
Queen Chauke’s journey from a vulnerable child to a champion for others is nothing short of remarkable. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, compassion, and determination. “I’ve lived through the struggles these children face,” she says. “That’s why I’ll never stop fighting for them.”
Queen’s story is not just one of personal triumph; it also shines a light on the ongoing challenges faced by child-headed households in Zimbabwe, many of whom are excluded from education and social services due to the lack of birth certificates.
For children like 15-year-old Tendai and his 9-year-old brother Tafara, life is a relentless fight for survival. Orphaned and without a birth certificate, their greatest barrier isn’t just poverty—it’s the lack of legal documentation, which would unlock access to school and other opportunities.
“Without a birth certificate, they have no chance to attend school,” says their guardian, 46-year-old Margaret Chingore, who provides them with food, soap, and hope in a society where official systems often fail.
The global issue of birth registration affects millions of children worldwide, with 150 million children remaining unregistered, according to UNICEF’s latest report. In Zimbabwe, where the social welfare system is fragile, many children like Tendai and Tafara are left at the mercy of compassionate individuals like Queen and Margaret.
The lack of birth certificates casts a long shadow on the futures of many vulnerable children, preventing them from accessing basic rights like education and healthcare. But Queen and others like her continue to fight for these children, providing them with a lifeline in a system that often fails them.
In a country where the official systems fall short, the work of those like Queen Chauke offers a glimmer of hope. She stands as a beacon of compassion, demonstrating the immense power of resilience and the importance of community action in securing a better future for vulnerable children.
For Queen, this is more than a job—it’s a calling. “I’ve lived through the struggles these children face. That’s why I’ll never stop fighting for them,” she says.
