Safe haven for immigrant children escaping from Zimbabwe to South Africa

Lazarus is doing very well at Bonwa Udi School, as his assessment report shows. “I love being at school, and I’m selling sweets and biscuits to pay for my uniform. I’m now top of my class (grade 5) and I would love to be a policeman when I grow up.” Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk Lazarus Chidumwa, aged 13, wants to be a policeman when he grows up. “I left my family in Zimbabwe and crossed the border because a drought happened in my village which meant my family ran out of food. And my school closed because the teachers would not work as they said they were not being paid enough money. I love school and I was really sad when it closed.” Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk Crossing the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa is dangerous. The children have to cut through razor wire to cross the Limpopo river, face being swept away, encountering deadly crocodiles and being abused by predatory men. Photograph: Simon Davis/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Simon Davis/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk South Africa is seen by many from other African countries as offering them greater opportunities, especially with the glamour of the World Cup. Every month, more than 100 unaccompanied children cross the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa. Recently, the Musina project has seen an increase in children arriving, hoping to get their slice of the World Cup dream. Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk Back in Zimbabwe, many families can’t afford to send their children to school as they need them to work. The high costs for uniforms, books and meals also makes going to school difficult. Here, Lazarus cleans his shoes before school at the United Reformed Church/Save the Children shelter. Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk Children are fleeing Zimbabwe for a number of reasons. Many have lost family members (one in four children is an orphan in Zimbabwe), and can’t afford food or schooling. Zimbabwe is one of the poorest countries in Africa and HIV is widespread. The average life expectancy is 34. Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk After school and completing their daily chores such as gardening and sweeping the yard, Lazarus and his friends play football. Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk Lazarus left his village to go to South Africa because he knew he could get a good education. He said: “We met a boy that told us about this shelter where they gave me somewhere to sleep, gave me food and put me in a local school.” Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID Photograph: Dylan Thomas/UKaid/DfID/guardian.co.uk