Zimbabwe is currently facing serious socio-economic problems, a situation that has resulted in various challenges throughout many institutions including the health and education sector. The situation has been compounded by the COVID 19 pandemic.
According to a 2020 UNICEF report – The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has continued to deteriorate due to multiple natural hazards, including drought and related food insecurity, flooding and the risk of epidemic/disease outbreaks. In addition, the continuing socio-economic downturn, characterized by hyperinflation (481 per cent in the first quarter of 2020), is limiting the provision of and access to basic services. Some 6.7 million people, including 3.2 million children, are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Children are the ones who inherit the worst of this period’s adverse consequences with girls being the most affected; the achievements that had been made with regards to girls have been disproportionately affected by factors such as COVID-19 and economic recession.
COVID-19
Zimbabwe has recorded more than 35000 positive cases and more than 1400 deaths. The coronavirus outbreak created unprecedented events in living memory and the challenges of lockdown have affected us all. Schools (gradually) reopened their doors after months of lockdown while many parents and pupils remain worried and anxious. The loss of livelihoods and the economic downturn means many families won’t be able to afford to send their children to school. Household contributions account for a significant share of education costs in Zimbabwe. Students from poorer households are likely to face increased pressure to drop out of school and work to support the household.
Your Support
Tariro this year is supporting 61 students – 7 currently in tertiary institutions, 4 potential University students, 13 in primary school and 37 in secondary school. Thanks to our sponsors and supporters we will be able to get them back into school.
The school calendar has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the teacher strikes that occurred almost immediately once schools were starting to reopen, following the first wave of the pandemic, have made things worse. Given that the provision of education and educational support is at the core of our mission, it was decided that we must respond in new and innovative ways to ensure learning continuity and ongoing psychosocial support. In the fall of 2020, the Board examined the roster of students, assessed where they are in their schooling and looked at urgent needs and ways forward to address those needs. These are some of the measures put in place:
Your donations can help us fund the above support interventions.
As COVID-19 has shaken our everyday lives, all vital institutions have had to undergo serious changes in the way they function, and the education sector has been no exception and there the continuous distribution of knowledge is shifting to online learning. However, online learning is exclusionary as the majority of our students cannot afford online learning compatible gadgets and the cost of data is prohibitive. Tariro is appealing to its supporters to support our initiative to buy laptops for the students we support.
Donate towards our cause through our website www.tariro.org