Help 100 Underprivileged Kids in Zimbabwe

Hello Friends,

Last year we introduced Elizabeth Musavengana - one of the girls we have been sponsoring for the past six years.  I am pleased to announce that Elizabeth passed her Advanced Level studies with flying colors. She obtained an A in Mathematics,  B in Accounting,  and another B in Business Studies. We are very impressed with Elizabeth's outstanding performance. Although she faced a lot of obstacles that could have easily discouraged her she refused to let these obstacles deter her from obtaining an education.  As I mentioned in one of the progress reports from last year, Elizabeth comes from a polygamous family. Her father doesn't believe in educating girls.

In these rural areas the majority of the girls usually drop out of school after high school due to lack of funds or due to poor grades. These girls find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty – they are not able to continue their education and yet they are ill-prepared to enter the workforce. Unlike their counterparts, the urban youths who undergo skills training, rural youths have no opportunities to learn needed job skills because such services are limited, or in most cases non-existent in the rural areas. Since there is nothing for these girls to do they end up getting married at an early age. 

That's why we are very proud of Elizabeth's accomplishments. However, we realize that despite her tenacity and dedication without your help her effort would have been in vain.

Xhitani Sithole is another student we have been sponsoring for the past 6 years. Xhitani also passed his Advanced Level studies with flying colors. He obtained an A in Divinity and a B in Business Studies.

Both Elizabeth and  Xhitani plan to attend the University of Zimbabwe this fall. 

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for making this possible.  Through your generosity you have unlocked and opened doors of opportunity for these young people. 

Best Wishes,

Thelma

While education is at the heart of The Tekeshe Foundation we are also committed to the social development of young people.  We believe that young people need more than academics, they also need to be taught life's lessons which are not taught at a desk in the classroom. Young people need to be taught to have good moral values, they should be taught to be honest, kind, to respect their elders and to work hard.  Yet due to the deaths of many adults young people in these rural areas have no parental guidance and there is no one to teach them good moral values. Through our Youth Cares program we teach the youth life skills and offer them opportunities for leadership and development.   We envision this initiative producing well-balanced young people who are empowered to utilize their acquired skills to transform their communities and resolve global issues. 

Through our Youth Cares program we work in collaboration with other youth programs ranging from Scouting progam and Youth Ventures to church youth programs to educate and actively engage the youth in a variety of activities that develop the life skills necessary to promote a strong sense of leadership and community awareness.  

The Tekeshe Foundation offers a Scouting program. To date there are over 60 youth participating in the program. The Tekeshe Foundation provides the scouts with the uniforms and the funds to go on camping trips and to host camping events. In addition, The Tekeshe Foundation sponsors the scouts to attend an annual Jamboree held in the city of Bulawayo. 

Last year, the Tekeshe Foundation scouts organized a Scout camping event . They hosted 30 scouts from Mutare, a town 3 hours from the village.  The theme for the camping event was Commemoration of the Day of the African Child. The activities included lessons about History of Scouting,Explanation of  the scout Law and Promise,Scout Signs,Behaviour Change,Environmental Sustainability, Games in which the scouts had time for competitions.

This event really meant a lot to the Tekeshe Foundation scouts. During my visit to Zimbabwe this December, I had a chance to talk to Xhitani Mutseyami, one of the scout leaders. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the donors for making this event possible. He explained to me what an impact the Scouting program is having on the youth in this village.   

Once again thank you so much for making this event possible. Without your support we couldnt have held this event.

Best Regards,

Thelma

Dear Friends,

Thank you for making it possible for the Tekeshe Foundation to provide a free playtime program which promotes early childhood development and learning through play. Our Playtime program is for kids between age three and five. The Playtime program's ultimate goal is to prepare children to successfully enter grade one and to become  successful and lifelong learners. Our playtime teachers focus on providing the children the skills to ready them for success in school. A typical day includes structured playtime, story time, games,  singing and playing with all kinds of toys including educational toys.

We firmly believe that children who receive the best start in life are more likely to succeed in school and to end up as productive members of society. Yet due to poverty and lack of resources the majority of children in the rural areas of Chipinge in Zimbabwe are still being denied the right to reach their full potential. Unlike the urban areas where children have access to early childhood development and learning programs such programs are nonexistent in the rural areas.  Through are Playtime program we are committed to providing the best start in life to children in these rural areas.

We are pleased to announce that this year the pre-school teachers workshop was conducted at our facility. The kids had a wonderful time as you can see from the attached pictures.

Without your support this would not have been possible. The majority of these kids are orphans or they are from single parent homes. Some are being raised by their grandparents who can barely support them. The money you donated helps us provide these kids with school uniforms and we also provide them a free meal.

Thanks again for bringing hope in the lives of these little ones!

Best Regards,

Thelma 

Elizabeth Musavengana is one of the girls we have been  sponsoring for the past five years. She is being raised in a polygamous family. Her father does not believe in Girl Child education. Her father refused to pay for her education yet she is a very intelligent young lady. Many girls in these rural areas are still being denied their right to an education. Elizabeth is now doing her Advanced level studies and she is looking to us to continue to sponsor her.

We are very proud of Elizabeth. She is very focused and she takes her studies very seriously. She is very grateful to the friends of the foundation for providing her an opportunity to get an education. Educating girls is the most effective way of breaking the cycle of poverty in these rural areas.  When girls get an education, not only do their families benefit, but communities and societies also benefit. The following are some of the positive outcomes that are linked with educating girls:

• The likelihood of educating the next generation increases
• Decrease in infant mortality rates
• Improved family health
• Reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDS 
• Improved general economic development

Thank You Letter From Elizabeth Musavengana

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to express my gratitude for your assistance in various aspects of my education. I received the money which you gave us for school fees as well as registration fees. I have no words to express my thanks. May God bless you for ever. Your kindness and generosity is beyond measure.

On my part, I shall try by all means to yield even better results in my Advanced Level studies this year so that your efforts and contributions will not be in vain.

I appreciate your support up to the end of my studies.

Yours faithfully,

Elizabeth Musavengana  

 Maidei Zvotoona completed her Advanced Level studies with flying colors

Another girl who has been receving help from the Foundation is Maidei Zvotoona. We are very proud of Maidei - she passed her Advanced Level studies with flying colors. She has applied to a teacher’s college. Sadly, she cannot afford the school fees. She is looking to the foundation for help. Maidei comes from a single parent home. Her parents separated because of her albinism. She is being raised by her mother who is unable to provide for her educational needs. 

We are appealing to our our friends to help us help these kids. Education is their only hope of breaking the cycle of poverty

 Thanks again for your continued support!

Links:

• Our Education Program

Nomore Mlambo is one of the students from Rimbi School who receives school fees, uniforms school supplies and clothing from the Tekeshe Foundation. His mother Dorah Masikati is in a polygamous relationship and she is the second wife. Nomore's father is among millions of people in Zimbabwe who have been affected by the high unemployment rate. The estimated unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is over 80%. Nomore's mother like the majority of the women in the rural areas is also unemployed. She spends most of her time in the fields tending crops.  Nomore earns money by carrying people’s luggage at the bus stop. He gives the money to his mother to help buy food for the family. The litlle money he earns is not enough to pay for his education. All the money is used to buy food. Nomore has six siblings. Two of his older brothers had to drop out of school and go to South Africa to look for jobs.

In His Own Words - By Nomore Mlambo

I grew up in a poverty stricken family where education is not respected at all. I had to go to school at my own will maybe I can change the plight of my family tomorrow. I need to thank the Tekeshe Foundation and the donors so much for the opportunity they have given me to continue with my Education. It is through the Tekeshe Foundation Care Givers that I was selected to receive help. This is the third year my school fees has been paid for. I also receive clothing. This year when I was given shoes and clothing, some people got into our house and stole all my donated items including my uniform. I’m left with tattered clothes. Our house is not secure enough. I would like to thank the donors, Global Giving and the Tekeshe Foundation so much because now I have to worry about other things but not school fees or school supplies. This year we have also been given exercise books, novels, pens, pencils and also rulers. My family has also benefitted from clothing received from the Foundation