Staff Reporter
The Bulawayo business community last week hosted a charity golf tournament for King George VI Centre (KGVI), a centre for persons with disabilities.
The Centre is one of Zimbabwe’s foremost disability advocacy organisations, supporting the rights of children with disabilities and those with hearing impairments through access to education, sign language, rehabilitation, independent living, sports, and vibrant performing arts programmes.
KGVI Administrator Lomaswati Mavhangira expressed her gratitude to the business society of Bulawayo who generously supported them.
“Lately we have been struggling to provide adequate food and resources for our children due to financial instability.
“As KGVI, we are grateful to the business community of Bulawayo for coming to our aid at such a critical time,” said Mrs Mavhangira.
The tournament was hosted at Bulawayo Golf Club on Saturday, October 8, 2022. The event was overseen by KGVI staff and students who brought music and dance as part of entertainment for the day.
The Tournament Convener Mr Shlomo Lepar said that the purpose of the charity fund was to support the financial stability and viability of KGVI.
“It was an absolute honour and privilege to help and organize this wonderful charity day. It’s with much thanks to the commercial and industrial sector for supporting us so generously in the sponsorship of holes and prizes.
“Our aim is to ensure that this becomes an annual calendar event because it goes a very long way in aiding the financial stability and viability of KGVI,” said Mr Lepar.
The charity event included a golf tournament, a raffle and an auction; all meant to raise funds for KGVI.
The beneficiaries of the funds raised on the day are going to be children with disabilities at King George VI as well as the centre itself.
One of the organizers of the tournament from KGVI, Precious Ncube also said that the funds will go towards the revival of the independent living programme which had since been stopped due to economic challenges.
“We are so grateful. Independent living is critical in grooming and preparing children with disabilities for social life after school,” said Precious.
Independent living is a programme at King George Centre where children with disabilities are taught about the activities of daily living (Adl) such as cooking, grooming, cleaning and washing among other activities.
Under this programme, children will be given food which lasts for a week and be taught to budget and manage it on their own.
Other companies who sponsored the holes at the tournament included Mine Machines, Cimas, APG, Safeguard RSC Steelforce, Arenel, PolyFoil, BHc, Liquid Technologies, ZB Bank, AutoWorld, Gurus Holdings, ZIB, ICZ, FBC, Cabs and Old Mutual, Edgars Club Plus, Jet and The Butcher Shop.
The Prizes were sponsored by Femina Garments, Pick N Pay, Lemonseed, Arenel, Parker Paints and Fortwell. The Donations at the tournament were made by KB Davies, Mr Anand and Acol.
Profoam also made a donation towards KGVI of 25 mattresses which will be used at the hostels.
Companies that also participated at the tournament include Isuzu Motors.
