Safe Haven Beitbridge

13/06/26 Safe haven hosted yet another men's conference ,
*Safe Haven Men's Conference: Women Included*
*Theme: Responsibility vs Respect*
*Topic: "Responsibility vs Respect: Vana Vekunze/Vana Vekusango - Children Born Outside Marriage in the Home"*

*Sub-topic/Debate: Should men bring children born outside marriage into the marital home?*

*Why this topic heats up homes:*
1. *Trust:* For many wives, the child is living proof of infidelity. Accepting the child can feel like accepting the betrayal.
2. *Resources:* School fees, food, medical costs, space. Wives worry their children’s share gets smaller.
3. *Role:* Culture says “a wife is a mother to all in her home.” But is she obligated to mother her husband’s children from another woman? Tradition and personal boundaries often clash here.
4. *The Child:* The child is innocent. But the situation forces adults to choose between compassion, fairness, and protecting their own family’s stability.

*Safe Haven’s Debate Approach:*
Instead of “Yes vs No,” we’ll frame it around 3 questions:
1. *What does ‘responsibility’ require from a father?* Financial, emotional, moral duty to all his children.
2. *What does ‘respect’ require in a marriage?* Honesty, boundaries, and protecting the dignity of both spouses.
3. *How do we protect the child without breaking the home?* Practical, ethical options that don’t punish the wife or the existing children.

*Our SafeHaven Story 💛*

We didn’t start SafeHaven because we’re rich or had “extra” to give. Honestly, we don’t even have enough for ourselves most days.

We started because we saw a gap that hurt too much to ignore: in our whole district, there was no shelter for survivors of SGBV. Women and children had nowhere safe to run to.

We believe God assigned this work to us. He could’ve picked people with more money, more resources. But He chose us - two ordinary people with willing hearts.

It hasn’t been easy. But God has been faithful through every single step. SafeHaven exists because He saw the need, and trusted us to start.

We’re still answering that call, one life at a time.