Rotary supports new project for Henderson School
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The Henderson Primary School project in Zimbabwe, which is being supported by the Rotary Club of Maidenhead, aims to improve the school facilities and build a much-needed toilet block for the pupils.
The school held a Project Launch event last Thursday 22 August, which Past President John Hudson attended. This was a very impressive, and very well organised event, put together by the Headmistress Joan Nyabango and her School Development Committee. Although the school was on holiday, about 200 pupils attended the event, and gave several very good presentations about the project. |
Also attending were some parents and school staff, and various dignitaries and representatives as follows:
Rep. from the Dept. of Education, Councillor from Mazowe District Council, The Head of Henderson Research Institute, Director of Fisheries Dept. Milton Makumbe, the former Head of Henderson, who first suggested this project. The launch was a great success, and the school is now awaiting the first purchase order for materials, prepared by the building contractor. The building programme is scheduled to take 16 weeks. |
Rotary boosts sustainable Zimbabwe school projects
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A partnership between Maidenhead Rotary Club and a Reading charity has boosted projects at two primary schools in Zimbabwe.
The first, a poultry breeding initiative at the Cheza Primary School in Dombashawe, has been expanded following extra support from the club. Initially it had funded the purchase of 200 Sasso chickens for children to raise. Money from the sale of eggs boosted school funds and also helped poor families pay school fees. Now a further £500 donation from the club has funded the purchase of solar-powered incubators to allow the school to expand the project by also rearing guinea fowl and ducks. Rotarian John Hudson said: “The eggs are sold to assist the school’s finances and to give the children a project to be involved in. The school and children are very committed to the project and it provides added interest to the school day.” |
A second primary school is hoping to hear the patter of tiny trotters from a pig-breeding project made possible by Maidenhead Rotary Club.
Earlier this year, the club donated £500 for the Chitakatira Primary School, in Mutare, to kick-start the initiative which had stalled during the pandemic. Financial difficulties forced the sale of all its pigs with the exception of one sow. The donation was used to buy a new boar to give the school a breeding pair. No piglets have yet been produced but the school is hopeful it will see its first new arrivals in December. The aim is to establish a pig-breeding business with the income it earns used to cover the salaries of auxiliary teaching staff not paid by the government. John Hudson said: “The school is very enthusiastic about this project and keen for it to succeed.” |
The sale of eggs boosts Cheza school funds and its poultry-breeding project has been expanded to include ducks and guinea fowl.
Both projects are run by Reading-based charity Creating Better Futures, which aims to lift children in Zimbabwe out of poverty through education and sustainable agricultural schemes.
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Cheza School new classroom
Vincent Jena
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In 2019 we funded the purchase of materials to complete a new classroom at Cheza school (see above).
Cheza is a very rural school with poor facilities, to which many of the children walk miles every day to get an education. A new toilet block was paid for several years ago by Reading Matins Rotary Club. We are also paying the school fees for two boys at the school, George and Vincent Jena, whose father is unable to work due to illness. George is also the boy for whom we have bought special orthopaedic boots, due to his severely damaged feet. |
Letter of thanks from Vincent
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Maunganidze Kindhearted Children’s Orphanage (MKCO)
We have been supporting MKCO for the past 4 years, and will be continuing to do so.
This is an AIDS orphanage, caring for up to 50 AIDS orphans at a time, from babies up to the age of 18. In 2017 we paid for a new freezer, a new gas cooker, the repair of two TV sets, and provision of basic foodstuffs.
Since the orphanage is based in a rented property, it is difficult to support a project that could help them to be more self-sustaining. Our support is now therefore limited to providing essential foodstuffs every month, in order to improve the childrens’ diet.
This is an AIDS orphanage, caring for up to 50 AIDS orphans at a time, from babies up to the age of 18. In 2017 we paid for a new freezer, a new gas cooker, the repair of two TV sets, and provision of basic foodstuffs.
Since the orphanage is based in a rented property, it is difficult to support a project that could help them to be more self-sustaining. Our support is now therefore limited to providing essential foodstuffs every month, in order to improve the childrens’ diet.