Tafara ECD pupils and teachers posing for a picture at their classroom structure
The Pan African Charity advocate has incredible achievements to share.
In a twenty minute telephone interview, this passionate woman explained what inspired VOAC to continue funding Tafara Orphanage.
“Apart from the assistance being given to Tafara, we felt it’s not enough to help nurturing the needy children without supporting them academically. Having toured the place, I hope you saw for yourself how the school structure is, it’s very pathetic. We were inspired by our need to transform the way orphans live and learn in this remote community. We are going to start by constructing three classroom blocks before developing it into a boarding school,†Mapfuwa said.
The VOAC director challenged those that would want support from their organisation to emulate founder of Tafara Orphanage, Romeo Makara. When The Zimbabwean news crew visited the area Makara explained that their efforts seek to see the kindergarten bailed-out from walking long distances on daily basis to nearer schools which are between 6 and 10 kms. The optimistic leader said construction of the institution at a 12 ha plot is set to resume before end of this year.
Pupils are currently learning at a shack-like structure. “We came up with this idea of building a school in this community because we are at the center, schools are very far away. Our children walk about 6 km to Makotore Primary school.
These children cannot manage walking 12km a day as well as crossing flooding rivers. The Tafara community and Emily’s OVAC organisation were motivated to come up with a school because of the ever increasing number of foster children at our orphanage. We need them to benefit from the project and see no difference between them and those with parents,†said Makara.
In separate interviews parents hailed Makara and OVAC’s efforts to establish a nearer school.
“As a community we are overjoyed by the initiative.
This is indeed the most needed institution in or community. It is in-fact long overdue,†said Moses Mahlahla.
“ You have seen the structures here are rather in a bad state, there is no security fence, as you can see we are on the high-way road, had it not been that our teachers are extra careful we would have witnessed a number of road accidents. We appeal to the corporate world to help us help these needy souls by providing fencing material.
“We are pleading with different organization like CAMFED to donate chairs, tables and desks as our children sit on the floor. We also need boreholes, school-blocks, and indoor and outdoor playing center as well as bicycles for the 10 secondary school pupils who walk long distances to Rusununguko High School ,†said Tafara school development chairperson, Jeremiah Tatisa (69). Contact them at +263 772 771 240 or +263 714 711 977.
Post published in: Education