- July 10, 2013
Chinhoyi Rural Area School
Whilst searching for children to feature in the film, Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children, the crew came across a very remote rural area school, where they found Obert. The school allowed them to film a very regular occurrence happening that day – desperate young children being humiliatingly sent away, unable to afford the small fee. Only 10% of the hundreds of children in the area, where able to attend school. This was a shocking discovery.
Our approach to this was not merely going in and paying their school fees. We work in partnership with the children, their parents and the teachers. We stretch each child’s levy as far as possible to create a centre of hope and education in healthy survival. 3 years ago 90% of children registered at the school were being sent home each term for non-payment of fees. Now our school and its pupils rate at no. 13 out of 100 in the district for passing exams.
Project Batsirai in Hatcliffe Township
After being approached by two volunteers from a small children’s home in the Hatcliffe Township, who were being inundated with orphan children begging for assistance with school fees, we started Project Batsirai.
We identified 30 of the worst cases of orphaned and malnourished children who have been out of school for long periods of time. Our goal is for their family guardians, who have been left to care for these orphan children and their own children – paying school fees… themselves!
Once we achieve this goal, the number of children back in school within those families will multiply from 30 to approximately 80.
Whilst we assist with the school fee payments in the short term, we have helped the families establish a small business using dormant skills, such as dress making, bicycle repairs, cross border trading, poultry project, hardware and grocery retailing.
With unemployment at 90% it is impossible to find a job in Zimbabwe, so we have provided them with basic training on how to budget and plan their own income generating project
- Building and development
- Educate a child
- Education
- Education for all
- Health and child protection
I am working with a club at my school. I was looking for some of how we can go about the club and what projects we can work on. We are doing a similar thing which is about helping people all around Zimbabwe. Im impressed by the work you are doing and i urge you to continue. Thanks for the ideas, support and keep up the good work !
god bless u guys u are saving not only a nation but more than tht