Chronicle Reporter

ULUNTU Community Foundation, a Bulawayo-based non-governmental organisation is working towards constructing a boarding facility to accommodate learners living with disabilities at Fatima Primary School in Lupane, Matabeleland North.

The NGO sourced funding from its Italian partners Associazione Amici Di Padre Savino — Onlus, an association of people living with disability and its aim is to strengthen the country’s drive towards facilitating inclusive education.

Speaking during the tour of the site of the project recently, the executive director of Uluntu Community Foundation, Ms Sibusisiwe Sithole, said the project will help assist the school in terms of accommodation and learning aids for learners living with disabilities.

“Uluntu and its partners noted the accommodation challenges affecting learners living with disability and resolved to construct boarding facilities and provide furniture for disabled learners to ensure that they learn in an enabling environment,” she said.

At the moment, learners are being accommodated at the                                                                         neighbouring Fatima High School and a local Roman Catholic Church building, a walking distance from the school.

Uluntu Community Foundation’s communications officer Mr Mandlenkosi Moyo said they intend roping in other key stakeholders involved in advocating for the rights of disabled learners.

‘‘A project of this magnitude requires a multi stakeholder approach and advocacy towards its implementation so that the boarding facility can be sustainable. This is why we will engage stakeholders such as relevant Government ministries and other organisations with a stake in disability rights and primary education,” he said.

Fatima Primary School authorities welcomed the initiative which they said will go a long way in promoting inclusive education at community and provincial level.

‘‘Fatima Primary School can live up to its reputation of being a referral school for the disabled in the province thanks to this project. Fatima Primary School is a referral centre in the province for learners with disability due to the presence of qualified staff and infrastructure which are disability friendly, but sadly we lacked boarding facilities,” said the school headmaster, Mr Peter Ngona.

Established in 2008, Uluntu Community Foundation is an organisation that focuses on the sustainability of communities through harnessing knowledge, education and resources to alleviate poverty.

The organisation has been operating in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo provinces to facilitate community led and people centred development to alleviate poverty, hunger and empower communities in response to pandemics and other natural disasters.

Chronicle Reporter

ULUNTU Community Foundation, a Bulawayo-based non-governmental organisation is working towards constructing a boarding facility to accommodate learners living with disabilities at Fatima Primary School in Lupane, Matabeleland North.

The NGO sourced funding from its Italian partners Associazione Amici Di Padre Savino — Onlus, an association of people living with disability and its aim is to strengthen the country’s drive towards facilitating inclusive education.

Speaking during the tour of the site of the project recently, the executive director of Uluntu Community Foundation, Ms Sibusisiwe Sithole, said the project will help assist the school in terms of accommodation and learning aids for learners living with disabilities.

“Uluntu and its partners noted the accommodation challenges affecting learners living with disability and resolved to construct boarding facilities and provide furniture for disabled learners to ensure that they learn in an enabling environment,” she said.

At the moment, learners are being accommodated at the                                                                         neighbouring Fatima High School and a local Roman Catholic Church building, a walking distance from the school.

Uluntu Community Foundation’s communications officer Mr Mandlenkosi Moyo said they intend roping in other key stakeholders involved in advocating for the rights of disabled learners.

‘‘A project of this magnitude requires a multi stakeholder approach and advocacy towards its implementation so that the boarding facility can be sustainable. This is why we will engage stakeholders such as relevant Government ministries and other organisations with a stake in disability rights and primary education,” he said.

Fatima Primary School authorities welcomed the initiative which they said will go a long way in promoting inclusive education at community and provincial level.

‘‘Fatima Primary School can live up to its reputation of being a referral school for the disabled in the province thanks to this project. Fatima Primary School is a referral centre in the province for learners with disability due to the presence of qualified staff and infrastructure which are disability friendly, but sadly we lacked boarding facilities,” said the school headmaster, Mr Peter Ngona.

Established in 2008, Uluntu Community Foundation is an organisation that focuses on the sustainability of communities through harnessing knowledge, education and resources to alleviate poverty.

The organisation has been operating in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo provinces to facilitate community led and people centred development to alleviate poverty, hunger and empower communities in response to pandemics and other natural disasters.