Taremeredzwa was an 18-years-old secondary school student at Dora High School in Zimbabwe with good grades, ambition and determination with hopes of graduating soon and attending college.

But she was also on the verge of dropping out.

Taremeredzwa, whose name means “We have been honored,” was being raised by a single mother who could barely afford to put food on the table for her children, much less afford the school fees to keep her daughter in school.

“The girl was determined to pass with the hope of going to college,” says Margaret Makambira, founder and executive director of our longtime partner there, Shinga Development Trust.

Even though she worked very hard fetching firewood from the bush to try and sell to help her mother and pay her school fees, it was simply not enough.

When Margaret learned of Taremeredzwa’s dilemma, she came to her rescue by first paying her school fees and then the costs of taking the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations – the results of which would determine her fate for the rest of her life.

“She passed her Advanced Levels with flying colors!” Margaret reported.

Upon graduation, Taremeredzwa was accepted to the Women’s University in Africa located in Harare, Zimbabwe.

But first, Margaret told us, “She had to leave home and work for two years as a housemaid earning $20 per month and saving her wages for college.”

“She kept praying for God’s intervention, and this was fulfilled as she is now in her second year at University earning a degree in Social Work.”

Taremeredzwa is just one of many children and youth just like her who today are in school and studying hard thanks to the supporters of Bread and Water for Africa® who make our school fees assistance program at Shinga possible.

Currently there are 91 children and youth attending school through our school fee support program – approximately 40 girls and 50 boys – who, as Margaret puts it, are being empowered “with the goal of helping them reach their full potential.”

And to the supporters of Bread and Water for Africa®, who but for them Taremeredzwa likely would not have completed secondary school and much less ever to attend college and earn a degree and graduate with honors, pride of her tremendous accomplishment, she says:

“I would like to thank you the supporters of Bread and Water for Africa® for your help. It was difficult to succeed in my life before without you.

“I feel your assistance opened doors for me…and now I am in the first year, second semester at University.

“I will never stop saying ‘THANK YOU SHINGA AND BREAD AND WATER FOR AFRICA®’ because you are the best!

“With your help I will go far, and my life will never be the same again.

“Thank you Bread and Water for Africa® for your support from primary to secondary school as it was your assistance that helped me get to where I am today.

“May God bless you.”