Telecel involves children in drag racing finale

Children from Shungu DzeVana Trust and Ruvimbo School, two of the institutions that Telecel sponsors, were part of the excitement and action at the last of the 2013 Telecel DragPro Racing Series, which came to an end on Saturday (23 October) at Donnybrook  

Children from these two organisations were invited by Telecel to attend the event. They were given an opportunity to ride around the Donnybrook Raceway track and experience something of the thrill that characterises this event, which attracts thousands of spectators.
 
Drag racing involves two cars or two motorbikes racing against each other over a measured distance, with spectators watching from both sides of the track. The winner of the race is the driver of the first vehicle to cross the finish line. The loser drops out, while the winner takes on a new challenger until an overall winner eventually emerges.

The drag racing event is open to anyone with a driver's licence and roadworthy vehicle. Entrants have the choice of bringing their own cars or hiring one at the race track. Every participant is required to wear a helmet when racing.

Telecel became the first drag racing title sponsor in Zimbabwe, sponsoring all six series this year.

"Saturday's event was the last of the six series this year. We had a tremendous 2013 Series, particularly as a result of the support from Telecel. Its support and sponsorship was generous throughout," said secretary of the Drag Pro Club Susan Zevgolis.

Telecel public relations and corporate social responsibility manager Francis Chimanda said it was great to see the children enjoying themselves.

He said Drag Pro racing was becoming increasingly popular in Zimbabwe.

"We decided, as sponsors of the Drag Pro racing that it would be fun to give some of the children at institutions that we sponsor the opportunity to watch this sport, which is attracting such large crowds," he said.

Shungu DzeVana, which looks after a number of children in need of care and finds foster homes for many of them, as well as paying school fees for other children who might otherwise be unable to go to school, receives a grant from Telecel every year towards the cost of school fees. The grant is disbursed quarterly, .

Ruvimbo School, which caters for children who are mentally challenged and often physically challenged as well, also receives funds from Telecel quarterly. It uses the funds for the operation and maintenance of the school and its 32-seater bus. Many of the children rely on the bus to bring them to school and take them home again, in view of their handicaps.

Other organisations providing facilities for disadvantaged children that Telecel assists include  Jairos Jiri Children's Centre in Waterfalls, Harare, and Sibantubanye Special School in Bulawayo.

The Jairos Jiri Children's Centre in Waterfalls provides schooling for physically challenged children as well as able-bodied children. Sibantubanye Special School caters for children between the ages of six and 18 with conditions such as Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and epilepsy.

Although the main thrust of Telecel's corporate social responsibility programme is assistance to educational institutions that cater for disadvantaged children it has also in the past provided financial assistance to homes for the elderly.

Old people's homes that it has provided assistance to are Bumhudzo Old People's Home in Chitungwiza, Makoni Old People's Home in Rusape, Batanai Old People's Home in Gweru, Sibantubanye Old People's Home in Bulawayo and Sakubva Old People's Home in Mutare.

Apart from providing assistance to educational establishments as part of its corporate social responsibility programmes Telecel also, from time to time, provides ad hoc donations when particular emergencies or cases of special or desperate need arise.