Help 30 Zimbabwean women and girls re-enter school

Greetings to you all, dear friends of FAWEZI.

We hope we find you well as we all continue to  adjust to the ‘new normal’ in light  of  the spread of the COVID-19 and subsequent efforts to curb it.

In our last report we shared that the Zimbabwean schools were closed, and we were uncertain on the way forward in terms of re-opening. Our primary and secondary schools closed in March a week earlier than usual, only to have the first phase of re- opening on the 28^th of September. Our beneficiaries and all the other learners lost more than a full term due to the lockdown. 

The phased re- opening has seen nine of our beneficiaries going back to school since they will be seating for their final examination this year.  Next year examination classes will open on the 26^th of October, and the rest of the grades including Early Childhood Development will open on the 9^th of November 2020. We are hopeful that these plans will be met as the pandemic has not gone away.

FAWEZI continues to acknowledge that this is a difficult time for the 2020 examination candidates as they are thriving to cover up for lost time and also catch up with the syllabus.  We are also aware that some of the progress made in terms of giving girls a second chance to education may have been eroded by the global pandemic. Our beneficiaries did not have meaningful access to alternative learning platforms as they do not have gadgets, internet and or electricity. Some have also undergone different forms of   abuse due to the movement restriction and prolonged school closure. Those living with abusive parents or guardians were forced to spend more time with them.

As an organisation we have continued supporting our beneficiaries with learning materials wherever possible in terms of past exam papers and textbooks.  We continue to give psychological support to the girls as they also battle with the new ways that have come with the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19.

In all this global disturbance FAWEZI is very grateful to you our donors for the continued support. We believe that the girls need your support more than ever as the virus has exacerbated the challenges that they face in terms of access to and retention at all levels of education. As they go back to the classroom 6 months after some no longer have stationary, uniforms and as always still cannot afford sanitary wear.  FAWEZI encourages you to continue the good gesture and help us restore dignity to our girls.

As always and above all FAWEZI appreciates each and every one of your donations. All the donations made on this platform make a significant impact in the lives of these girls and young mothers.  We can never thank you enough and we implore you to continue supporting our endeavours to eliminate gender discrepancies in education.

From all of us here at FAWEZI –Thank you.