‘To be educated means… I will not only be able to help myself, but also my family,
my country, my people. The benefits will be many.’
These touching words were said by Meda Wagtole, a schoolgirl from Ethiopia and they are full of promise and hope for improved individuals, families, communities and the world at large.
In today’s post, I am quite happy to note that most of our beneficiaries carry the same sentiment. Let me introduce to you one of our promising star, Rufaro M. Rufaro stays with her father who is also struggling to make ends meet as a vendor in Zimbabwe’s constricting economy.
Rufaro is doing her grade 7 at Chembira primary school. While in Shona language “rufaro” means happiness Rufaro’s story has been a capricious one with her missing out school due to non-payment of fees, lacking food and adequate clothing.
Fortunately, Rufaro is bright in school and last term she got an award for academic excellence. Rufaro is also active in Traditional dance and last year her team at Chembira reached the traditional dance provincial finals where they emerged on position 3. She is also an integral member of the Tariro dance ensemble.
Rufaro wishes to be a doctor and help other less privileged children in her situation. She is thankful to Tariro for the help she is getting and has never missed school due to non payment of fees or uniforms ever since.
At Tariro, we are glad to be assisting her as we know that odds against her are being lessened with each year of basic education that she gets.
Rufaro M in her traditional dance regalia, after a performance.You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi, you are doing good work, however i have noticed that you send these teenage girls to formal schools for basic education, which is good. my question is, don’t you come across teenage girls who might be in need of vocational skills training like, cookery, baking, hairdressing and tailoring? it will be good to get them start self help projects after attaining some sort of a skill so as not to look at getting married and sex as a means of survival. Here i am refering to girls who will be 17, 18 and 19. By this age most girls in Zimbabwe will be out of school pondering what to do next.
I would be glad to get a response.
Hello Susan
thank you for your interest in our work. Thanks again for the concern regarding vocational training. Next year we should have our first batch of girls starting school in vocational centers. We also have workshops and projects that equip the girls with vocational training.