Ray of hope: Some of the Tariro girls with their stationery.

The term started on a bleak note for vulnerable children with the reports that the government is failing to pay for close to a million students under its Basic Education Assistance Module  http://www.herald.co.zw/school-1-million-pupils-priced-out/. This is indeed a very sad development in the struggle to empower the girl child through education.

Fortunately for the students we support we have managed to put a smile on their faces in a time of desperation for most.  Thanks for your support, we could not have started the year any better.

With your support, we have managed to achieve the following.

• Paying up school fees for our beneficiaries
• That’s not all, they received a consignment of assorted supplies that included all their stationery requirements and sanitary ware.
• As if that is not enough we have managed to buy new school uniforms including shoes for each and every one of our beneficiaries.
• Our marimba, which were now in a state of disrepair have been mended and are now as good as new. 
  

  some of the students pose in their new uniforms

The ball is rolling

With the major challenges having been dealt with, we are well on course to write another successful chapter for Tariro. All our beneficiaries will not miss a day of school due to lack of fees and/or supplies. Our dance ensemble is poised for greater heights this year as they are going to have enough and uninterrupted practice. Again, our sincerest gratitude goes out to you our supporters for ensuring that our  programme runs smoothly.

Tariro girls during practice

On behalf of the board, staff and beneficiaries of Tariro, I would like to wish everyone a prosperous 2014. This is a time to reflect on the past year as well as determine our course of action. And a chance to let me also take this opportunity to thank those of you who have been standing with us from the years beyond. We have had a good year in 2013 – a milestone year which saw us reach ten years of committed service to the upliftment and empowerment of the girl child through education.

Our wonderful last year

The previous year ended with us scoring a number of successes. One of our students, Tatenda C, graduating with an Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe. We also had two grade seven students passing with flying colours in their national examinations. A number of our girls also received awards for academic excellence in their respective schools. The year also saw us have the largest number of students enrolled in Universities across Zimbabwe in our history as an organization.

We have also managed to keep all of our girls in school and none has dropped out due to lack of tuition and /or supplies. The students have continued to enjoy the full range of our programme activities.

It’s you who made it possible!

It is at this point that I express profound gratitude to you for the support you have rendered in helping our girls attain these accomplishments. We would not have managed to achieve the aforementioned had it not been for your unwavering support and commitment to the Tariro cause. In the same spirit, I would like to plead with you to continue supporting us as we drive towards the empowerment of the girl child and women through education. Your support has always been vital and will continue being so.

We look forward to another successful year ahead

We are just beginning a new year, 2014, and our mission will remain focused on the importance of women’s education as an effective response to the AIDS epidemic. With the perpetual rise of urban and rural poverty in Zimbabwe, many girls are dropping out of school thus putting them at a higher risk of contracting HIV. We believe education can reverse this negative cycle, since attending school dramatically reduces the risk that a young Zimbabwean woman might have of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. By educating young women, Tariro empowers them to build a future free from poverty and disease.

This year we are looking at strengthening our existing programs and exploring new ones. One area of note is vocational training. We would like those of our girls who do not make it academically to be armed with vocational skills to sustain them and their communities. In addition, we hope to touch more lives by expanding our area of operation to even the remotest parts of Zimbabwe by year end. This year we are bent on unrolling a package of total empowerment for every beneficiary within our ranks and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve this end.

Tariro needs your help

Yet, we know that any year is not devoid of its challenges. The plans that we have cannot be actualised without adequate financial and material resources. Given the harsh economic conditions we are operating in your continual support is much needed. Your donation, whether in cash or kind, can go a long way in empowering a girl child. You will not only be empowering her but also restoring hope to a society that has been ravaged by the HIV/AIDS scourge. With your support, there will not be any challenge that will be insurmountable.

On behalf of all Tariro’s students, families, and volunteers, let me wish you a successful 2014 ahead. Tariro means hope, and hope is what our girls have, hope is what sustains us. Let 2014 be a year of hope, and a year of empowerment for every one of you. Thank you.

Kenny Magwada

Noleen C., pictured with Tariro’s new director Kenny Magwada at St. Giles school

In today’s post, Tariro’s new director Kenny Magwada takes the helm, with an update on our student Noleen C.

For those of you who have not previous met her, Noleen has a medical condition known as spina bifida, which confines her to a wheelchair.  Several years ago, Noleen experienced physical complications from her condition, which required special care.

Thanks to generous donations from YOU, our sponsor, Tariro was able to transfer Noleen to  St. Giles, a school that is capable of attending to her special needs. Since her arrival she has taken well to this environment and her headmistress describes her as a “good, honest and loving girl.”

Recently, we had a few moments with Noleen. She seems a shy and reserved girl (or it could be that she was seeing us for the first time). She smiled heartily when her teacher told her that we were the ones from Tariro and responsible for her education. Noleen expressed her gratitude by thanking us.

Because Noleen had limited access to education before enrolling in Tariro, she is still struggling to catch up in school, and at fourteen years of age she is currently enrolled in grade four. However, Noleen has made great strides with her physical therapy during her time at St. Giles, including taking her first steps unassisted. Noleen continues to face an uphill battle in her studies. She also struggles with loneliness, as her family rarely comes to visit her during the school term. Yet she has particularly enjoyed the opportunity to participate in special activities at St. Giles, and her teachers note that she has become a “pro” in wheelchair racing.

As we approach the beginning of a new school year in Zimbabwe, I encourage you to donate in support of Tariro’s work with students such as Noleen. While the amount we need to raise for 2014 is large – about $40,000 – even a small gift can have a major impact in the lives of our students. For example:

• $30 will provide a student with school supplies (pens, paper, and sanitary ware) for the year.
• $80 will provide a student with a new uniform, including shoes, socks, pants/skirt, shirt and tie.
• $100 will cover the annual cost for a student to participate in Tariro’s music and dance ensemble.
• $150 will enable a student to write her Ordinary Level exams.

It is also worth looking into finding out if the company that you or a spouse works for matches non-profit gifts, as that is an opportunity to make your gift count double!

You can donate to Tariro online, or mail your donations directly to PO Box 50273, Eugene, OR, 97405. Thank you for your support, and happy holidays!!

Introducing Tariro’s new Executive Director, Kenny Magwada!!

Dear friends-

It is my great pleasure to announce that we are now reaching the end of Tariro’s 10^th year of work educating Zimbabwean girls! As we reflect back on our history of an organization, and look toward our future, we are making some big changes in the way we operate, allowing us to extend hope – the very meaning of the word Tariro – to another generation of young women in Zimbabwe.

Sustainability and “Founders’ Syndrome”

Just before founding Tariro in 2003, I was honored to attend a weekend workshop designed to encourage Zimbabwean students studying abroad to contribute to social development back home. I will never forget listening to one particularly inspiring speaker at the conference, who spoke about the pitfalls of “founders’ syndrome,” in which the identity of an organization becomes so wrapped up with one individual’s personality that the organization is unable to sustain a life of its own after the departure of its founder.

Over the years, I have kept this important principle in mind. It has always been my desire to create a structure that will enable Tariro to keep working long into the future, regardless of my own personal involvement. Today, I am pleased to announce one important step in making this a reality, with the hiring of a new Executive Director.

Introducing Kenny Magwada – Tariro’s New Executive Director

After an intensive search process, we are pleased to introduce Kenneth Tafadzwa Magwada, who will act as Tariro’s new Executive Director. With a BA in English from the University of Zimbabwe, Kenny is leaving a teaching job at Eaglerise College, a private school in Harare, and stepping into the role of Executive Director. Yet Kenny isn’t new to Tariro –he has been volunteering with us for more than a year, after initially finding out about us through our blog. Kenny will be filling two big sets of shoes, by taking over many of the responsibilities I have previously held, as well as much of the work that has previously fallen to our program coordinator, Fadzie Muzhandu, who is leaving Tariro for a new consulting job.

The importance of male allies

While it may appear paradoxical for Tariro’s new Executive Director to be a man, Kenny’s powerful dedication to the struggle for women’s education and equality makes him an important male ally in our work. As he wrote in his job application:

As a man, coordinating the activities for an organization for the empowerment of girls, will help buttress the need for men to be actively involved in the gender mainstreaming process…. Gender related myths need to be debunked and current efforts to mainstream gender in every aspect of life need to be given total support by policy makers, private and public institutions as well as by individuals.

Hope for the next ten years…

Please join me in congratulating Kenny as he moves into the role of Executive Director, and in supporting his work with Tariro! If you have any questions about how this transitional process will unfold, please feel free to contact me directly at jennifer.kyker@gmail.com

We’re excited to share that we have several students completing their O and A level exams this year. The exams are taking place right now, from late October to late November, and are a chance for the students to prove their knowledge in various given subjects.

“Ordinary level” exams take place after Form 4 while “Advanced Level” take place after Form 6. A deeper explanation of how the school system works in Zimbabwe can be found here.

This year, we have 5 students taking their A-levels, and 10 taking their O-levels! Please join us in wishing our A and O Level students the best of luck on their exams!

A-Level students

Nicole M.

Jane J.

Edwinner S.

Not pictured: Tracy G., Jestina T.

O-Level

Chido C.

Loveness M.

Gillian M.

Rosa S.

Julia M.

Pride R.

Not pictured: Vimbai C., Rumbidzai M., Charmaine M., Winston N.

Meet Patience, a teacher at Chinhoyi High School:

Photo credit: Diana Green

She was kind enough to let me, as the UR’s student intern, ask her some questions about how education in Zimbabwe is currently working, and how it affects her.  Her comments were enlightening, but it was her persevering spirit that kept me intrigued.

The Government Used to Fund Education for its People

That’s right. Even through the University level, students could receive a free education.  That’s not even something most of the western world has. Patience now teaches students music at the very same high school she attended free of charge as a youngster, but now, those students are charged tuition. Why the change? Well, when the economy fell to pieces it seemed to have affected the educational system disproportionately. The schools were no longer able to cover basic costs like paying the professors and maintaining the schools general upkeep, so they were forced to charge the students.

But the students don’t have money either. Many of them have to choose between food and an education. This is especially true for the nearly 800 students orphaned that attend the school Patience teaches at. She told me how many students would come to school so tired because of their hunger that they would opt to take naps on the grass.

Even though the government is not able to provide assistance, the cell phone provider Econet provides scholarships to ease the burden for some students. But even then, the money only covers tuition, not the additional costs required to attend school, like mandatory uniforms. Even if a student has full tuition paid for, if they can’t afford a uniform they will not be permitted to attend school, and that money goes to waste. This is something Tariro recognizes, and therefore allows funds to be allocated to uniforms and school supplies as they’re needed.

The schools do make an effort to fund-raise, though, but the attempt to raise money often does more harm than good.  The main effort comes from what’s called “Civics Day.” The funds from this are aimed at things like school trips and sports balls, which seem harmless enough, however these things are afforded by having the students pay to wear their non-uniform clothing. This means that if a child doesn’t have untorn and clean everyday clothes they can wear their uniform, and then have it become apparent they have no money, or they can come in their raggedy clothes which would have the same consequence. As a result, many of the poorest students chose to stay home this day in order to spare themselves the embarrassment. When the school encourages its poorest students to stay home, there is a problem. Especially when you take into consideration the whole point of having a uniform is to blend the poor and the rich. Are the soccer balls worth the cost of public shame? I really don’t think so.

Teachers Are Being Held More Accountable

It used to be the case that if a teacher got frustrated with their students they could just walk out with no punishment. Now, students are asked to write down what time teachers leave and if they come in late. But why are the teachers so dissatisfied?  Mainly, their salary is awful. For someone who has 18 years of experience teaching, Patience is only receiving $258 a month. For teaching professionals who have had to take out loans, a portion of their salary gets deducted, so that (after rent is paid for) they’re left with $30-40 dollars a month. The bottom line is if they’re not happy, they can’t focus their energy on their teaching.        

How Has This Impacted the Community?

For Patience, the increased cost of an education just adds to the challenges that come with being in an area where good health is hard to come by. When her brother died in 2010, she agreed to take care of his daughter, because his wife did not have steady work. She’s also been helping with the children from 3 other brothers she has lost which definitely takes a toll. Tariro has been working with her to help her nieces attend school.

One niece, Gillian, also known as Rutendo, is trying to write her exams, but they have no electricity, so as soon as it becomes dark, she has to stop working. Fortunately, she was able to temporarily move in with her sister who has electricity, so she can study. Many students stay up late every night to do their school work and some even wake up at hours like 3 am to begin their studies. But living with her sister comes at a cost, literally. She now has to pay a dollar a day for transportation to and from school, which over time does add up.

Patience teaches mbira at a Zimbabwean high school and recognizes the needs of the students. Recognizing that the students have trouble affording supplies, she has started raising money to help support the students’ education. This year, she was able to raise enough money for supplies for over 700 students. Her motivations? She believes in the healing power music has in the lives of individuals who produce it. Music has the ability to let you forget your everyday challenges and struggles, if only for a short period of time. This emotional release is something that is much needed in lives as stressful as the students. Not only that, but that ability for people to network when they have musical interests in common is great. The communities it produces provides a network that the students can turn to when they are having challenges.

Patience is going above and beyond to provide opportunities for her students and its really inspirational. If you’re interested in learning more about her project, you can find her Facebook page here. 

These two students, from Chembira Primary School, became friends through Tariro’s traditional music and dance program.

Thank you so much for your recent donations! The third term of school is now well underway, and Tariro’s students are off to a great start.

Since the beginning of August we’ve managed to raise almost all of the funds we need to get us through the rest of the term. We’re very thankful for all the support we have received! If you haven’t gotten a chance to give yet, you can still do so here. Even small gifts can add up to make a real change, so please consider helping us reach our goals!

The students are continuing their dedication, with an average attendance rate is at 98% among sponsored schools. As they approach their O and A Level exams this fall, we look forward to updating you more on their progress.

Here are two students who are a part of the traditional music and dance company.

Hello followers of the Tariro blog! My name is Amelia and I’m the new intern.

Some Background

I’m attending the University of Rochester which is home to the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies. Through this department, I am able to help out Tariro and receive University credit.   Although I’m studying for a degree in Biochemistry, I have always been interested in issues of social justice, and have incorporated Women’s Studies classes into my schedule to get a more informed opinion.

Social Justice through Education

It has always bothered me that the family, geographical region, and culture someone was born into has such an influence on their ability to succeed and live comfortably.

Socio-economic differences within the western world alone seem to have quite an effect on the opportunities available to individuals, but being disadvantaged in the western world is quite different than being disadvantaged in the third world. Western teens accustomed to privilege may choose to not take their education seriously, because they have options to fall back on, whether it be support from parents, family, or society.

However, in areas of Africa the ability to attend school may be the only opportunity to improve your family’s socioeconomic standing and to provide your siblings with some security.

My Motivations in Working with Tariro

I’m privileged enough to be receiving an education, and so it only seems fair that I take advantage of my resources to help provide educational opportunities to individuals who weren’t born into the same circumstances.

I think Tariro is particularly effective in addressing social justice because it recognizes the interplay between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and education.  Prior to looking at the Tariro website, I hadn’t realized the extent education plays in combating transmission. Yet this quote from the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS says it all:

Evidence from Zimbabwe shows that among 15-18 year old girls, those who are enrolled in school are more than five times less likely to have HIV than those who have dropped out.

If education can help reduce the spread of HIV, and a reduced impact of HIV means that more teens are able to get an education, then a strong effort should be taken to get this virtuous cycle started if we hope to improve the living conditions of individuals in HIV affected regions. I would very much like to be a part of this effort and am excited to get started working with Tariro to make this change happen.

I plan on updating the blog regularly, so keep a look out for future posts!

In recent days, many of you have responded to our urgent call for donations, and we have raised over $1,200 toward covering the costs of the final term of the Zimbabwean school year. This takes us partway toward our urgent need of $6,000, but we’re not quite there yet.

Here’s how your donations will help Tariro educate girls in some of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable communities.

University students: We need $2,745!

As I mentioned in my last post, part of our increased need for financial support comes from the extraordinary success of our three new university students. Yet attending university in Zimbabwe is still an incredible bargain when compared to the rising cost of a university education in the United States. For full tuition, room, and board, our students require only $915 each per semester. This means that for this entire semester, Tariro needs a total of only $2,745 for our three students combined! It is a modest sum, but we can’t do it without your assistance.

High school students and exam fees: We need $1,557!

Yet most of our funds are still going directly toward our high school students. We’ve covered the cost of new uniforms and supplies, but we haven’t yet raised enough for our total operating costs. This term alone, we’re paying $7,900 to cover school fees for our nearly sixty high school students. In addition, we urgently need $1,557 for our students who are writing their Ordinary and Advanced Level exams, which determine whether they will be able to proceed to the next level of academic study.

Can you help?

We’re almost there! Please help us raise the $4,800 left for Tariro to fully cover our program costs and staff salaries this term! For our students, the opportunity to complete their education is an incredible privilege, and true to their nature, they are making the most of it by succeeding beyond our expectations. Join us in supporting them as they work toward their dreams.

Tariro’s student Tariro (yep!) needs YOUR help to attend university this fall!

As the beginning of September approaches, we need your help to ensure that the Tariro students who have been accepted to the Zimbabwean university system are able to attend! At this point, we are $6,000 short of the money we need to cover the school fees for the sixty students we are sponsoring this term, including our three university students, and time is fast slipping away. Please consider making a donation to help us!

As you may already know, the name of our organization, Tariro, means “Hope,” and is a common names for girls among Zimbabwe’s Shona speaking communities. And today’s featured, university-bound student is named Tariro!

As our program coordinator Fadzie writes, Tariro K. has a passion for helping others. Reflecting the deep influence our program has made in her life, she has decided to enroll in a social work program, with the ultimate goal of working with vulnerable children. She has been accepted to Bindura University, which belongs to the Zimbabwean public university system.

Tariro has been enrolled in our program since 2009, when she was in Form 3. Soon after writing her Form 4 exams, her widowed mother moved the family to a new neighborhood, in search of affordable housing, and Tariro missed a year of school. Finally, we located her and learned that she had passed her Ordinary Level exams. reinstated her file, and paid for her to continue as an Advanced Level student.

We’re very proud of Tariro’s accomplishments, as well as those of her university-bound peers Politeness N. and Melody M. But we can’t help her proceed to university level study without your assistance! Please consider giving to Tariro today to help us cover the cost of sending our students to school!