adminLiberty Dube Post Correspondent
THE establishment of a state-of-the-art pre-school and recreational park — Oasis — in Dangamvura has brought relief to parents of kindergarten-going children in the high-density suburb who could not afford uptown pre-school institutions revered for quality edutainment.
Situated at Stand Number 9523 along the dusty streets of one of Dangamvura’s new locations, Pegasus, the well-constructed and eye-catching centre offers a wide range of services to cater for all age groups — from kindergarten kids to the elderly.
The spacious centre, which waits official unveiling, is now fully operational. It houses a crèche that provides exciting services for kids such as motor city, waterfalls and aquarium, swimming and water-slide as well as swings and slides.
Though the crèche will start enrolling at the beginning of next term, the excellent facilities have taken Mutare by storm. The facilities have already drawn tens of kids from Dangamvura and beyond especially during weekends and after school hours.
Motor city is a rare feature in most crèches in Zimbabwe and Oasis has stood up to establish itself as a maiden bastion of recreational services with such and more than unique products such as aquarium, water slides (from the ground straight to water). The motor city has a wide range of cars that enables a kid to drive own car, change gears and roam around the park premises.
“The motor city is for all children who weigh up to 30kg and it helps them to learn psychomotor skills. This effectively enhances the coordination of their mind and the body,” said Oasis crèche and recreational park co-director, Mr William Mukuwapasi.
Mr Mukuwapasi, a shrewd educationist who spent the better part of his professional life in the classroom — locally and abroad — said the recreation park is also an ideal place for adults to have special family and interactive time with their children at a relaxed environment.
“There is an assortment of entertainment for adults that include swings, an all-weather swimming pool, a gym, some fish tanks and a pool table. We also urge couples to come and have refreshing moments at the luxurious dining hall or alternatively at the park which has special facilities such as waterfalls and different types of birds at the farm yard. There is a pond that has sharks (Japanese koi) and fresh water fish,” he added.
The serene environment enables couples to relax while being served with different cuisines such as traditional dishes, burgers and different types of vegetables, ice cream and snacks at affordable prices.
There are also braai facilities and food prices range from R5 to $2.
The centre has professional guides who take care of all visitors, particularly kids, during their expedition at the crèche and recreation park.
The park is also ideal for weddings, parties and family gatherings. The prices are affordable.
Mr Mukuwapasi, who is also the brains behind Knowstics Academy, runs the place together with his wife.
The couple said they established the place to educate kids as well as help preserve marriage unions.
Beer and any alcoholic beverages are neither sold nor allowed at the park.
“We have a rich teaching background. We want to teach people of all ages since in our tenure we were not able to change everybody’s life. We feel we have a mandate to give everybody an opportunity to learn. We offer individual skills for both children and adults.
“We do not want our children to start at a disadvantaged position as far as education and skills training are concerned. We believe this will open other avenues and leave us with a greater opportunity to achieve our dream,” he said.
Mr Mukuwapasi added that locals should fully utilise local resource (in this case the recreational park) in line with economic blue print Zim-Asset and be able to mould their future and earn a living.
“Imagine a Dangamvura kid growing up with swimming skills and finesse, frequently doing some swimming sessions here and grow up and later to become a guru in the swimming sporting activity. We want people from low density areas to come to high-density areas like Dangamvura and acquire quality education unlike a situation where privileged kids from the ghetto troop to low density areas searching of better quality education,” said Mr Mukuwapasi.
Online Reporter