Building Classrooms for Zvamaida Primary School

Dear Friend

Further to my last report in March, the outstanding desks etc have been delivered, and all the children now have a desk in which to learn, which makes such a difference.

Since that last Report we have had to revaluate our priorities. Although refurbishment of the existing toilets was not part of our original project, four years on and things have changed from the existing latrines becoming acceptable, to becoming unacceptable. The walls on the Latrine block are cracked very badly now and have become dangerous. Therefore, our immediate focus is on the toilet refurbishments and adding some more hopefully.

The immediate costs of doing what is required to be done is now being evaluated locally, so right now we do not know exactly where we are for the moment, but we hope to know more by the end of August. 

We will of course need even more funding before we can do the neccessary work on the toilets.

I will keep you posted on developments.

Yours sincerely

Danny

Dear Friend

In my last Report, I indicated that we now had sufficient funding to be able to purchase School Furniture for Zvamaida Primary School.

Virtually all the desks have now been provided, with just one load to come and almost job done. We have provided 60, three-seater desks, plus 25 single seater desks, which altogether amounts to seats for 205 children in total. In the main - together with donated furniture previously by UNICEF, the school has sufficient desks and tables for the moment. We also have been able to provide Teachers with Desks and Chairs. Of course, nothing is easy in Zimbabwe, but as always we usually manage to overcome the difficulties!

Currently, we now are planning on how to raise another USA $50,000+ that we estimate it will cost to finish the project. Building the Library is a key object next. Already we have the foundations laid and so it is from the ground level upwards that’s the priority so the children can benefit from not only having a classroom for learning and shelter from the elements during the rainy season, but also a Library stacked with books to further the children's knowledge and education.

Once the library is completed and books provided (a third party charity from Australia - Aussiebook for Zim - have promised to supply the books) we can then turn our attention to providing Solar electricity for the school and other things like more toilets and water provisions from the borehole for hygiene, and hopefully - if we find enough money, an electric pump delivery of water to replace the current manual system,

Anything more you can afford to send us to help move further forward with the project would be greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Danny

PS – I hope you like the pictures of the delivery and children at their new classroom desks

Dear Friends

I wanted to send to you a short report to let you know that we now have some funding for the supply of new desks etc for the children at Zvamaida School.

With your kind donations, and from Rotary sources as well, we will have enough money to be able to provide for most of the children in the 6 new classrooms with desks. Right now we are working with suppliers in Zimbabwe for a deal to provide what is required to maximise the funds available.

I very much hope that I will soon be able to advise you further on this and thereafter be able to provide some pictures of the desks etc once in the classrooms.

Best wishes for now

Regards

Danny

Dear Friend

Since I wrote to you in July, the children are using the 6 new classrooms and are appreciating not having to learn in the open air, and the teaching staff are enjoying being able to teach the children in suitable accommodation.

We are now awaiting the expected funds in order that we can provide more school desks with seating, so the children have a better experience of learning.

I advised you in the last report of the financial problems we are encountering with the collapse of the exchange rate and the surge of inflation in Zimbabwe. Whilst much of this had been underway over the past year, the War in Ukraine has exacerbated the situation and inflation is running year on year at 260 percent.

To recap where we are now on the project:

• Three classroom blocks (6 classrooms) now completed
• The foundation work on the library has been completed, but not beyond, so completion of this is a priority
• Hopefully, the expected funding we are waiting for will arrive and the school desks etc, can be purchased  
• The solar panels and power for the buildings are to be provided
• An additional number of toilets, wash basins etc
• Some of the training has been done. The most important bit I think - the WASH training (water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programming), but more training is still to be done

I attach some photographs that show the new classrooms being used and also the presentation of some books that we purchased for the school.

As always, thank you very much for your support, and if you can please mention to relatives or friends that may be interested in our project to support us, it would be much appreciated.

Very best wishes

Danny

Dear Friend

When I wrote to you last month, I indicated that the 6 classrooms were almost finished. Well, the good news is that they are and the children are now using the classrooms. Just think about this, around 300 children can now have a desk in a classroom and not have to have lessons out in the open. This alone has brought delight to the whole local community. It will certainly make a real difference for the children.

However, all the headwinds  have meant that we have gone well beyond our budget. On top of the problems along the way, from the bricks problem, Covid, and a variety of other things - the collapse of the Zimbabwean currency and the surge of inflation in the country and shortages of materials have meant that the last stage of the classroom buildings has taken a longer time than expected. 

Here is where we are now with the project. Keep in mind the classrooms were always going to be the first thing (and most expensive) part of the project. 

• Three classroom blocks (6 classrooms) now completed.
• The foundation work on the Library has been completed, but not beyond that (my hope was that this could have been completed, but no money left)
• Some of the training has been done. The most important bit I think - the WASH training (water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programming)

Where does that leave us now?

To provide the necessary school desks etc. They have some desks for the one classroom building they had provided recently by UNICEF, but more is needed.

• Completing the Library building. 
• The solar panels and power for the buildings.
• An additional number of toilets, wash basins etc
• Rest of training

 If I could tell you the costs of these outstanding items then I would. The problem is that the economic situation in Zimbabwe currently makes it difficult for our Rotary club there to get prices on building and materials, but they are working on it. I will continue to try to raise funds from Crowd Funding and any other means possible to try to complete the project.

 I attach some recent pictures including children in the new classrooms.

 Yours sincerely

Danny

PS – if you have the means to make a larger donation GlobalGiving have a special deal for next Wednesday 20^th July. I attach details of this, which you will see that you can get up to a 50 percent bonus on top of your donation!

See below:

 Matching Funds

The 2022 July Bonus Day campaign will have a Matching Fund of $400,000 USD.

While funds remain, the following matching structure will apply:

Note the campaign is on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. That is 2 pm London time.

• Donations of $100 - $499 USD will be matched at 30%
• Donations of $500 - $749 USD will be matched at 40%
• Donations of $750 - $1,000 USD will be matched at 50%

Donations will be matched based on the order in which they are received while funds last.

• Donations above $1,000 USD will be matched on the first $1,000 USD while funds last. The match offer is restricted to donations made by unique donors per organization.
• Each organization can receive a maximum of $3,000 USD in total Matching Funds to benefit as many partners as possible.