A philanthropic organisation set up in 1950 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now called

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

) to support and train disadvantaged people. The founder,

Jairos Jiri Jairos Jiri MBE (26 June 1921 – 12 November 1982) was born in the district of Bikita, then Southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe. He was also known respectfully as ''Baba'', which means Father in his Shona culture. History Baba Jiri was born in 1926. ...

, using Christian principles, wanted to help individuals who previously had been marginalized and rejected. Initially the association supported arts endeavors and training and set up craft outlets selling tourist souvenirs, such as carvings, paintings, tiles and furniture. In the 1970s legal representation and affiliate support groups were founded in the UK. Jairos Jiri Associations now house the disadvantaged, support musical and dance groups, and are a powerful advocacy for those who would otherwise have no voice in Zimbabwe.

References

* * * * Arts organisations based in Zimbabwe {{Zimbabwe-org-stub