Save the Children refurbishes rural schools

The development NGO Save the Children is to hand over refurbished classrooms to communities in Zimbabwe's Midlands province this week as part of its emergency education programme. Some 10 schools were damaged when a severe hailstorm hit Mberengwa district in Midlands province in September 2002. The roofs and windows of classrooms and dormitories were destroyed, seriously affecting the learning environment of the pupils, the NGO said in a statement. The refurbished classrooms are the final phase of a Zim $40 million (US $49,000) recovery programme, which began with the delivery of education materials and building supplies to the affected schools. "The donation [this Friday] comes as the final phase of our response to the disaster after a needs assessment was carried out by Save the Children, together with the local council and the district education office, which indicated that due to the serious destruction caused by the hailstorm, the community would need a lot of assistance to get the situation back to normal - hence the intervention by the organisation," Save the Children Programme Director Chris McIvor was quoted as saying. Save the Children recently expanded its education programme to include providing school fees and uniforms to children affected by HIV/AIDS, or looking after ill parents. It will also assist in the refurbishment of dilapidated school buildings, as well as the acquisition of materials and furniture for disadvantaged schools in Matebeleland North and Mashonaland West provinces. "As an organisation we are concerned about the welfare of children in marginalised communities. We therefore sourced funds for the purchase of stationery, uniforms and payment of school fees for children affected by HIV/AIDS and those in difficult circumstances, in selected schools in Matebeleland North and Mashonaland West provinces, where we are currently operating. This investment towards the development of education amounts to nearly Zim $2 billion (US $2.4 million). With more funds available, we would hope to expand to other places," McIvor said.