Online Reporter
Yetsye Chiketo
MY name is Yetsye Chiketo, and I am a Lower Sixth learner at First Class Academy, studying English Literature, History, and Family and Religious Studies for my A-Levels.
I first came to this school in Form Three, but before that, my education was very different. I grew up doing home schooling. After my Form One year, my parents made the difficult decision to pull me out of school. Not because they didn’t want me to learn, but because they were afraid for my life.
You see, I have juvenile diabetes.
I was diagnosed when I was only four-years-old. Since then, I have had more than 8 000 injections. In the beginning, I needed at least four injections every day. Now I am down to two. I will be turning 17 in three weeks, and every birthday feels like a miracle.
My parents tell me that since I was four, they celebrate every single morning I wake up.
The Struggles We Faced
Living with diabetes is expensive and difficult. I cannot miss a single meal. I cannot miss a single injection. I have to watch everything I do carefully. Sports and playground activities are not simple for me—they require extra care that I don’t always have.
Getting into school was never easy. When I tried to enroll in primary school, the nearest Government school refused to take me. They were afraid of my condition. My father, Bernard Chiketo, who is a journalist based in Mutare, had to appeal to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education officials before I was finally allowed to attend.
Even some of my relatives were afraid of me when I was younger. They didn’t understand my condition, and worried about what would happen if my blood sugar dropped too low.
Just this week, I had a low sugar episode in my father’s office, and my brother had to help me. These moments remind me why I need caring people around me.
A Family That Cares
My father has been more than just a parent to me—for over five years, he was also my doctor. He managed everything when I collapsed, when I accidentally gave myself too much insulin, or when I felt unwell. Not because he didn’t trust hospitals, but because our resources have been very limited since the Covid-19 outbreak. Like many families, we have struggled to afford everything I need.
How Everything Changed
Then something wonderful happened. One day in class, I was testing my blood glucose levels. Nonkosi Mushanawani, my class prefect and the vice president of the Interact Club, noticed what I was doing. I shared my story with her, and it touched her heart.
She shared my story with her friends in the Interact Club. The club members include:
President: Michael Muzaeni
Vice President: Nonkosi Mushanawani
Financial Director: Takudzwa Mashingaidze
Project Director: Craig Mukono
Twinning Director: Vongai Makumbe
Tail Twister: Tadiwanashe Komboni
Chief In Jury: Ryan Chingwaro
Female Patron: Mrs Muchiriwesi
Male Patron: Mr Moroni
They asked me to check with my parents whether I could accept their help. My parents said yes. They taught me there is no shame in accepting help from friends, especially when they themselves could not give me everything I needed to stay healthy.
The Blessing I Received
What happened next amazed all of us. The Interact Club raised enough money for me to have at least five medical tests. They found me a dedicated doctor who now manages my health. They got me insulin, testing strips, and other important medical supplies I had been struggling to afford.
The school leadership—Headmaster Mutasa, his deputy, Mr Gwashu, and our Director General, Mr Stephen Gwinyai Mutsongodza—also shared wonderful news. The school decided to give me a partial scholarship.
A New Family
From being feared, stigmatised, and turned away from schools, I now feel I have a family that truly cares for me and supports me.
My doctor told me something important this week.
He said I must embrace life and remember that our Zimbabwean culture is rich with community values. Our culture teaches that you cannot celebrate making it in life when your family and neighbours are struggling.
The learners and staff at First Class Academy have shown me what community really means. They have given me hope and practical help when I needed it most.
These are lessons I will never forget. And I will spend my life passing on this kindness to others, starting with this letter of gratitude.
Thank you, First Class Academy Interact Club. Thank you for seeing me, for caring for me, and for becoming my family.
Yetsye Chiketo is a Lower Sixth student at First Class Academy, studying English Literature, History, and Family and Religious Studies. She is the daughter of veteran journalist, Bernard Chiketo.
Editor’s Note: The Manica Post encourages all learners to share with us stories, articles, poems, or any other contributions about exciting events and developments happening at their schools. Your voices matter, and we want to showcase the creativity, achievements, and everyday experiences of learners across Manicaland.
We also invite schools to form Writers’ Clubs, where learners can nurture their talent and passion for writing. The Manica Post stands ready to assist schools in setting up these clubs, providing guidance and support to help young writers grow.
Together, let us build a vibrant platform that celebrates the ideas and stories of our learners. You can get in touch with us on 0772515970/0719515970 or 0774459669.
