In Zimbabwe, right now, there are 82 primary and secondary school students who are relying on the support of Bread and Water for Africa® to enable them to realize their dream of attending school – and completing their education – their only hope of a life out of dire poverty.
Our longtime partner, Margaret Makambira, founder and director of Shinga Development Trust in Mutare, oversees our school fees support program (as well as the Lerato Children’s Home) created “to promote access to educational opportunities for needy orphans and vulnerable children.
“This will help ensure these children can continue their education and avoid dropping out due to financial constraints.”
In 2006, we provided our first grant for a school fees support program to Shinga and in the nearly two decades that have followed hundreds, even thousands, of bright and promising children and youth have gone on to graduate secondary school with many proceeding on to higher education or vocational training which enabled them to transform into successful, and self-sufficient adults with families and children they are today seeing following in their footsteps.
In addition to relieving these dozens of students of the fear of arriving for classes one morning and being sent home because their accounts are in arrears, they are able to focus on learning the subject matter and doing their best in their schoolwork.
While that in and of itself is a wonderful accomplishment, the school fees program offers much more to keep kids in school and help them to graduate, including providing them with the “stationery” they need – pencils, notebooks, etc., — to do their classwork and mandatory school uniforms.
For those who are preparing for graduation from primary or secondary school, the school fees program also covers the cost of exam fees they must pass to graduate, which without funding support would be a major impediment to their success as they would never be able to afford the expense.
The program also offers mentorship for determined students who just need that bit of help and encouragement to instill in them self-confidence to realize that they can achieve their dream if they don’t give up and continue to persevere.
“Additionally, the grant would enable the organization to strengthen its comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to track the attendance, academic performance, and overall well-being of the supported children,” says Margaret. “Beyond just financial assistance, the grant would also help us enhance our holistic support services, including access to counseling, career guidance, and skills development opportunities.
“This multi-faceted approach would empower the children to thrive academically and personally, aligning with the organization’s mission to facilitate the needs and rights of orphans and vulnerable children.”
Margaret explained that the beneficiaries are selected using the government’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children Identification form, which gives preference to double orphans (those who have lost both parents) followed by single orphans and then vulnerable children.
Shinga also utilizes the initial beneficiaries to help locate other beneficiaries with similar circumstances. Additionally, the organization involves the beneficiaries in assessing the impact of the project.
She also told us that currently in Zimbabwe there is a large number of school dropouts “due to school fees poverty, teenage pregnancies, drug and substance abuse, child marriage.
“So, the grant will assist children to stay in school.”
Among those who were able to “stay in school” was Tariro, whose name means “Hope” in Shona, a name used by Shona people in Zimbabwe.
Now 20, both her parents died when she was 3 years old, and she was taken in by her grandmother who understood the value of education for her grandchild so when Tariro was 6 her grandmother made arrangements for her to start attending a local primary school.
In Tariro’s words:
That year my grandmother struggled a lot to pay my school fees to an extent that sometimes I failed to be able to attend some lessons.
It was so hard for me to be sent home from school while my peers remained in the classroom.
I did not understand it, and I used to cry all the way home.
The threat of being sent home due to nonpayment of fees was always at the back of my mind.
It was a constant source of stress for me.
When I was in grade 2, I joined the Shinga program where my school fees were paid on time.
Shinga took responsibility for fees payment from grade 2 to Form 6.
I passed my secondary education because I had enough time for my studies.
Thank you so much for taking my burden as your responsibility and gave me a blessing.
I am what I am today because of you, thank you once again.
In 2023, Margaret reported that due to the school fees assistance program 87children were assisted with school fees payment and “none of them dropped out from school,” and of those, 21 were assisted with examinations fees payments.
“An educated child makes informed decisions,” notes Margaret. “The grant will enable children to receive a quality education as education is a powerful tool that equips children with the knowledge and skill that they need to overcome poverty, pursue their dreams and become self-sufficient individuals.”
