On our last trip to Zimbabwe and Zambia, we visited a school between Makuti and Karoi with our socially committed guests to find out more about it on site. The school teaches more than 1000 children from the surrounding area. The school buildings date back to the time when Zimbabwe was still prosperous. Today, the school no longer receives any state support, the buildings are falling apart and are being ruined by termites. The borehole is blocked, the fish pond and the gardens are dry. Repairs can only be carried out with school fees from children or sponsors. The agricultural villages in the catchment area are very poor, have no electricity and almost no water in the dry season. Parents are often unable to pay the school fees. Girls are therefore often not allowed to go to school and child marriage is rampant (see Figure 1)!
Corona has made the situation worse. Anyone who does not have a mask is sent home at the school entrance for fever checks and hand disinfection. Teachers are teaching up to 50 children in classes. They are paid more poorly than well by the state.
Restoring the borehole would be an important project that would relieve the burden on the school. PfAH would like to make a contribution to this!