Former Victoria High students donate furniture to school

Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
FORMER students of Victoria High School in Masvingo last week donated 100 chairs and desks to the school to alleviate furniture shortages at the school.

Drawing lessons from the initiative started by the Mzingwane Old Boys in Esigodini, the Victoria High Old students adopted the programme and had been fundraising for the project since last year. They said they are targeting to provide 300 sets of a desks and chairs. Ms Fungayi Chingombe, who is the group’s coordinator in United Kingdom, said they started the initiative last year.

“We have been fundraising for the school since last year and started a replace your chair and desk initiative. This initiative was started by Mzingwane Old Boys and we adopted it. Our target is 300 sets and we have already got donations for the second 100 sets,” she said.

Speaking during the handover ceremony another member Ms Remina Chitengu said that the drive to refurbish the infrastructure at the school is part of efforts to bring back the glory of the school.

“Old Victorians at home in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Canada, Australia, UK, America, United Arab Emirates and all over the world have worked tirelessly to support and improve the learning experience of our current and future students. The class of 1988/90 have also raised enough money for the purchase of 38 sets of desks and chairs.

“Working closely with the school head and his staff Old Victorians around the globe are working tirelessly to raise and fund ongoing and planned projects to ensure the infrastructure of the school is revitalised. This is all in an effort to restore the glory of the school that gave us so much,” she said.

Apart from the desks and chairs the school has also received donations such as in other materials that has seen it painting main school blocks and school hall, install white boards in all classrooms, purchase of some plumbing material for the Les Sharpe hostels and bathrooms, purchase of dining material for Les Sharpe hostel, brand new furniture for the staff room, 100 brand new mattresses for Les Sharpe Hostel, ongoing renovations of the Upper sixth study centre, construction of a new borehole at Fort House hostel, renovation of beds and chairs, delivery of the water project to supply water to the hostels and irrigation of the sports fields.

School head Mr Englebert Chimbwari said the school was slowly repositioning itself as one of the best in the province.

“The recovery path back to the Old Victoria High School is slowly becoming a reality because of the support we get from former students. Through their support we have achieved a lot,” he said.”

Masvingo provincial education director Mrs Shylatte Mhike commended the former students for ploughing back to the school.