Now based in Singapore, where he works for a leading international finance institution, His commitment to help youngsters realise their dream of an education saw him join the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Development Programme, formed in 2001 when he was aged just 18.
From modest beginnings, the organisation now generates about £50,000 mainly from fundraising activities. With almost no overhead costs, 99 percent of the money raised goes straight into the project. Over the last six years, more than 1,500 schoolchildren in five schools in the Chidamoyo District and Mpane, about 150km outside of Bulawayo, have benefitted.
The organisation ensures quality infrastructure to accommodate teaching. ZRSDP builds classrooms, toilets, accommodation for teachers and sinks boreholes. In addition, it supplies furniture and books.
“To ensure that the work is sustainable we run income and food generating projects (mainly farming) with the community to subsides the school fees as only approximately 5 percent of children can pay the $10 per term. We also are in the process of rolling out a teacher training programme to up skill the teachers and provide support for them,” said Hess, who travels annually to Zimbabwe to monitor progress.
Post published in: News