Chronicle Editor
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
TWO Bulawayo women were recently honoured at the Herald Community Heroes Awards, recognising their outstanding philanthropic efforts that are making a positive impact on the lives of the people.
These awards celebrate the unsung heroes within various communities who are dedicated to uplifting the less fortunate and marginalised individuals.
Mrs Sibongille Chingombe and Ms Sazini Tshuma were awarded the prestigious honours at a colourful function that was held in Harare.
Mrs Chingombe, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher at Kumalo Primary School, was touched by the plight of homeless people who reside in one section of the affluent suburb of Killarney including several children of school-going age but were not able to attend because of poverty.
She spends most Saturdays teaching the children using her own resources so as to give them a feel of what it is like to be at a school.
“I am just a teacher, not rich and may not have a lot of things to give the community but as a teacher, I can at least teach them and leave a smile on their faces. I committed myself to going to the settlement on Saturday to teach, there are over 30 children that are there, from 18 years and below,” said Mrs Chingombe in an earlier interview with the Sunday News.
She said the squatter camp is a sorry sight, and on Saturdays when she takes them for lessons, she carries some popcorn or sweets and they sing, have fun and tell stories with the learners.
“I am grateful to be a recipient of the Herald Community Heroes Award. This recognition serves as a great motivator to continue doing my very best for the people I love with all my heart, she said.
Going forward, she said she is looking forward to putting in place projects that will empower them to be able to sustain themselves and be able to change their lives for the better.
“So, I urge all who will read this publication to be part of this noble initiative in any big or small way,” she added.
Ms Tshuma supports vulnerable people from St Peter’s Village on the outskirts of Bulawayo where she grew up.
“I was thrilled to bring the award home; it highlighted the work that I do for the community. I decided to give back to my community where I started a soup kitchen, where we feed the less privileged, mentally ill persons, orphans and other vulnerable children. They eat for six days from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays they go to church. We also have football, netball, choir and gardening activities that we do with the community,” she added.
She said she was elated over the nomination and thanked all who recognise her work and said it gives her strength to work harder for the St Peters community.
Ms Tshuma said the initiative has transformed the community largely with changed behaviour and renewed hope for the beneficiaries.
“They are now more active and hopeful of better days besides the challenges they face. Poverty still remains a challenge in the community such that we are witnessing school drop-outs, early marriages, and other social ills. I recently held a drug and substance abuse campaign to educate the community about drugs too,” she said.–
@NyembeziMu
Online Reporter