Long-time Global Ministries partner in Zimbabwe, Christian Care, seeks special funding for the Friends-In-Need group. Friends-In-Need is made up of 40 members, including 10 children of whom four are orphans. The group members live in Methods Village, a semi-urban shantytown area on the periphery of Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe. The heads of household of Friends-In-Need are HIV-positive, and some are ill with AIDS. As the health of the members has deteriorated, economic security and unemployment are further threatened.

Global Ministries seeks support for the Friends-In-Need group to establish household projects to grow and sell mushrooms. The group collectively will manage the projects and will decide together about the earnings from the mushroom-growing efforts. The proceeds from this enterprise will allow the families to acquire needed food, medicines, and other basic necessities. The ongoing income from the mushroom projects also will allow the remaining members of a household to care for the AIDS orphans, in the cultural tradition of the African extended family.