Help 100 Underprivileged Kids in Zimbabwe

Dear Friends,

The students in these pictures received school fees, uniforms and school supplies from the Tekeshe Foundation. I would like to thank you on behalf of these students and their families.  Without your generosity this would not have been possible. Most of these students come from low income families. They rely on agriculture and farm income for their livelihood. During the Christmas break these students worked very hard helping their families tend crops.

Sadly, there was a drought again in this area. Without your help these students would have dropped out of school. Students who drop out of school in these rural areas 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.  Students who drop out of school end up being a menace to the community by getting involved in activities such as illegal trading, theft, and vandalizing property and engaging in pre-marital sex.

Empowering girls to acquire an education is at the heart of The Tekeshe Foundation. As you can see from these pictures your donations are making a difference in the lives of girls as well. Life is not easy for girls in these rural areas. Gender disparity is re-emerging as a result of the financial difficulties that poor families are experiencing. They are now faced with making a choice based on economics as to which child to send to school. The preference is to send boys to school and marrying off the girls as this brings money into the family. People in the rural areas perceive girls as a source of wealth for their families, and would rather marry off the girls to raise funds for educating the boys. 

Thanks again for unlocking doors of opportunity for the youth in these rural areas.

Best Regards,

Thelma

Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays from The Tekeshe Foundation! We would like to thank you for your support. Your donations will go a long way in helping us provide school fees and uniforms to orphans like Lovemore, a brave little boy I met on a trip home to Zimbabwe.

Lovemore was orphaned at the age of just 10 years old after both his parents succumbed to HIV/AIDS. After his parents died, Lovemore and his little brother Hebert went to live with their grandmother who is poor. To take care of his brother and grandmother, Lovemore had to drop out of school. Each day he started his morning by going to the township to beg for food. Sadly at only 10 years of age, Lovemore not only had to provide for his family but he also suffered from epilepsy that dangerously went untreated. Lovemore’s grandmother did not have the money to buy medicine or to take him to a doctor. With the help of the Tekeshe Foundation Lovemore’s life has changed. Lovemore is back in school, receiving food, school supplies and lifesaving medical care. 

Thanks again for helping Lovemore and Hebert and many other orphans like them.  

Best wishes,

Thelma

Dear Friends,

You have made it possible for the Tekeshe Foundation to pay the school fees and school uniforms for 48 students in full for the 2011 school year. Thirty pre- school children, two post secondary students, nine secondary school students and seven primary students are the beneficiaries of the school fees and school uniforms.  

The post secondary and primary school students were faced with the possibility of dropping out of school next year because they still owed this year’s school fees.  You can imagine the pressure these students and their families were under not knowing if they will be able to return to school next year.  Life is very difficult for these students. They come from grandparent or women headed households. These families live below the poverty line with their only source of income being subsistence farming. To make matters worse there was a drought again this year.

 This Christmas will be very special for these students and their families. You can imagine the joy that filled their hearts when they received the news that their school fees has been paid for in full for the 2011 school year.  Education is very important to the students in these rural areas.  It is one of the keys for unlocking doors of opportunities for them.

Promoting early childhood development and learning programs is also at the heart of the The Tekeshe Foundation. The early years in children's lives are very crucial. What happens to a child during these early years play an important role in shaping his or her life. Children who receive the best start in life are more likely to succeed in school and to end up as productive members of society. Due to poverty and lack of resources the majority of children in these rural areas are not able to reach their full potential.  Without your help these kids would not be able  to receive the best start in life.  

 We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for making it possible for students in these rural areas to acquire an education. Because of your love and caring the future looks bright for them.

Thank you so much!.

It is with GREAT PLEASURE that we proudly announce — WE DID IT!

With your help and generosity, we successfully raised $4,002  on GlobalGiving’s September Open Challenge— that's $2 more than the $4,000 threshold goal!

This means that our organization now has a long-term presence on GlobalGiving’s website!

You Have made this an incredible campaign.  Twenty seven of generous backers made donations ranging from $2 to $1,500.  You graciously forwarded our messages and posts on social media platforms, giving strong testament to the notion that online fundraising networks work! And, most powerfully, you've given all of us The Tekeshe Foundation great confidence that our project, 'Help 100 underprivileged kids in Zimbabwe'

Thank you, thank you, thank you!