News / National
School supplies bound for Zimbabwe
11 Jul 2011 at 06:45hrs | Views
Eight tonnes of school supplies are being shipped to Zimbabwe from Palmerston North to help poor rural schools.
Former Zimbabweans and Freyberg High School teachers Pam Cresswell and Mabel Msopero formed the Silver Lining Africa Appeal in 2009 to send educational resources to special needs and underfunded rural schools in the African country. Yesterday, the shipping container was loaded and began its five-week journey to Africa.
When the idea started gaining legs last year, Mt Biggs School principal Raewyn Marshall and Chris Chimwayange former Zimbabwean and technology and graphic design teacher at Freyberg High School began getting schools and businesses to support the cause.
It has been Ms Cresswell's dream to send books, sports equipment, textbooks and school furniture to under-privileged schools in her home country.
"School [students] on the rural outskirts of Harare sit on hard floors each day and share one textbook between 10 to 15 students," Ms Cresswell said.
"I think a lot of people were sceptical at first about the idea as there's so much corruption in Africa, but we have people meeting the container in Durban to follow it. It's just unreal. I couldn't have done this without everyone else."
Ms Cresswell and her ex-husband Brian owned a special needs boarding school for children on a farm in Centenary, Zimbabwe, but in April 2002, the farm was invaded by men with guns and axes. She and her family were held under siege for six hours, then given 30 minutes to pack and leave. They emigrated to New Zealand five years ago and have never returned.
Once the container reaches Harare it will be unpacked and distributed to the three schools in need, Ms Cresswell said.
"Two of those schools literally have nothing. The sum of resources at these schools of around 200 kids would fit on an office desk."
Mr Chimwayange grew up in a poor community in Zimbabwe and attended a rural school, like the schools set to receive the supplies.
"Parents would provide what they could, but usually five to 10 students would share one textbook," he said.
"That was when things were good there; now there is nothing [in schools]. It's almost inconceivable, but putting that love back into Zimbabwe is touching."
He moved his family to New Zealand after receiving a scholarship to study at Massey University. He said the move was also due to the political situation in Zimbabwe, where his brothers and sisters still live.
The container is full of desks, chairs, stationery, School Journals, maths equipment, balls, bags, shoes, jigsaw puzzles and clothes donated by schools throughout Manawatu. Local businesses have also helped pay the $6400 shipping costs.
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Former Zimbabweans and Freyberg High School teachers Pam Cresswell and Mabel Msopero formed the Silver Lining Africa Appeal in 2009 to send educational resources to special needs and underfunded rural schools in the African country. Yesterday, the shipping container was loaded and began its five-week journey to Africa.
When the idea started gaining legs last year, Mt Biggs School principal Raewyn Marshall and Chris Chimwayange former Zimbabwean and technology and graphic design teacher at Freyberg High School began getting schools and businesses to support the cause.
It has been Ms Cresswell's dream to send books, sports equipment, textbooks and school furniture to under-privileged schools in her home country.
"School [students] on the rural outskirts of Harare sit on hard floors each day and share one textbook between 10 to 15 students," Ms Cresswell said.
"I think a lot of people were sceptical at first about the idea as there's so much corruption in Africa, but we have people meeting the container in Durban to follow it. It's just unreal. I couldn't have done this without everyone else."
Ms Cresswell and her ex-husband Brian owned a special needs boarding school for children on a farm in Centenary, Zimbabwe, but in April 2002, the farm was invaded by men with guns and axes. She and her family were held under siege for six hours, then given 30 minutes to pack and leave. They emigrated to New Zealand five years ago and have never returned.
"Two of those schools literally have nothing. The sum of resources at these schools of around 200 kids would fit on an office desk."
Mr Chimwayange grew up in a poor community in Zimbabwe and attended a rural school, like the schools set to receive the supplies.
"Parents would provide what they could, but usually five to 10 students would share one textbook," he said.
"That was when things were good there; now there is nothing [in schools]. It's almost inconceivable, but putting that love back into Zimbabwe is touching."
He moved his family to New Zealand after receiving a scholarship to study at Massey University. He said the move was also due to the political situation in Zimbabwe, where his brothers and sisters still live.
The container is full of desks, chairs, stationery, School Journals, maths equipment, balls, bags, shoes, jigsaw puzzles and clothes donated by schools throughout Manawatu. Local businesses have also helped pay the $6400 shipping costs.
Choose The Best Home Products With Us on BestHomeSupplies.com
Source - Manawatu Standard
