adminBeaven Dhliwayo Features Writer
The Chinamhora community is set to receive a 16-seater vehicle and books that will contribute in a meaningful way to their quality of life.
Last weekend, United Kingdom-based, Martha Musonza Holman, who runs Love Zimbabwe charity with her husband, David Holman held a fundraising Christmas dinner at Melville Theatre, Abergavenny, Wales, and managed to raise over £1 000 that will be used to pay for the shipping of the cargo.
The charity has so far raised over £3 000 for the community centre and expects to raise more in the near future.
In 2016, the charity started the process of building a library and learning centre in Domboshava to offer decent quiet places for after school study in the village as the local schools do not provide books for the public.
The library has a sensory room to accommodate children with additional learning needs such as autism.
The community centre welcomes children from all sectors with an emphasis on disability. In September 2018, Martha and her husband held a book launch at the Welsh Assembly where Chief Chinamhora was the guest of honour.
Members of assembly and government ministers including the assembly member of Monmouthshire Mr Nick Ramsay donated a huge amount of books.
Mr Ramsay has supported Love Zimbabwe Charity since 2010 and has mentioned Zimbabwe and the charity several times in the Welsh assembly.
Many books and stationery have been donated to the charity from different schools in Wales and are to be shipped to Zimbabwe to provide an opportunity for after school study for those who are not in school.
The couple are in the process of linking four schools in Chinamhora village and four schools in the UK through the British Council’s connecting classrooms through global learning.
This will foster global educational appreciation through clear communication and collaboration.
In an interview with The Herald on Saturday, Martha Musonza Holman said they have already bought the vehicle and they are working on the clearance needed to ship the consignment.
This, she said is done in anticipation of student trip that they are organising in 2020 where Athropology and Sociology students from the University of Southern Utah will visit centre.
“We are already doing the paperwork which is needed to ship the books and vehicle. We are very grateful for everyone who donated books and participated in the Fundraising Christmas Dinner,” she said.
“This will go a long way in transforming the lives of underprivileged children back in Chinamhora village. I hope all the paperwork will be done soon so that the library starts functioning.”
The learning centre, she said will bring joy to many families because school fees are incredibly expensive and consequently, many children cannot go to school.
“There are no public libraries in Mashonaland East District, which is why the community felt that this project is needed,” she said.
“Apart from accessing books the centre will also provide internet for everybody in the community, including children who are not in school.
The project will provide a platform for community links and social networks between the UK and Zimbabwe.”
Online Reporter