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ZAMSOC facilitates school furniture donation to schools at Makuti & Marongora
Zambezi Society
April 10, 2013

The Zambezi Society runs Wildlife Outreach programs in rural schools in the Hurungwe District, which covers a large section of the Zambezi Valley. Leslee Maasdorp heads up this project and also co-ordinates education wilderness programs for the Rifa Education and Conservation Project.

In March last year, accompanied by relatives Judy and Chris Carline, who were visiting Zimbabwe from Hong Kong, Mrs Maasdorp stopped at Karoi and Makuti Schools to drop off her Zambezi Society educational resource materials. Mrs Judy Carline was taken aback that pupils at Makuti School had to work on the floor. She promised to source funding for desks and chairs for them on her return to Hong Kong.

Thanks to her persuasive appeal she raised US$5 000 and through the Zambezi Society 65 chairs and desks were made by the Edison furniture company in Harare and delivered – 50 units for Makuti Primary and 15 units for the Karl and Sabina Pisec School at the National Parks HQ in Marongora (where pupils sit on stones).

On 11th February this year, Mr and Mrs Carline returned to Zimbabwe to hand over the furniture on behalf of the donors. The Ministry of Education’s Inspector met the party at Karoi as did the Head Teacher of Karoi Primary School. Calendars and stationary were donated to them.

The party traveled to Makuti where the Inspector Ephraim Basera had arranged for school and local community personnel to meet the donors. A double classroom proudly displayed the new 65 desk units. The donors were overwhelmed at the huge turnout of leaders, parents, school staff and pupils. Speeches of welcome and “thank you” were given by the Community Leader, the Chairman of the School Development Council, Head of Tsetse-fly Control, the Headmasters of Makuti and Karl and Sabina Pisec School, and an official from National Parks Marongora Station. Pupils ended proceedings by taking their places at their new desks and singing a song.

Not only will these donations make the pupils much more comfortable but they will boost the morale of the schools. Both institutions are in the Zimbabwe Parks Estates and much is expected of them in the conservation field. The hope is that they will now be inspired to work harder in their Wildlife Outreach Programs and become more aware of the threats to wildlife in their areas, as well as gaining more out of their sponsored wilderness camps at the Rifa Educational Camp. The natural environment around them will benefit more from their support and their realization that they are all part of it.

The donors were touched by the gathering and its expression of appreciation.

The Zambezi Society wishes to express its sincerest thanks to Mr and Mrs Carline, Mrs Cheryl Moore and Mr and Mrs Dees all of Hong Kong, who contributed to the procurement of these much-needed goods.

Visit the Zambezi Society fact sheet

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