…As parents plead for ICT equipment
Tinaani Nyabereka
Shurugwi- Former Gamwa Secondary School learners this week donated building material to the learning institution as part of efforts to revamp the school and giving back to the community.
The donations handed over to the school by the Alumni Chairperson Osherd Mutunami and Treasurer Conerlia Selipiwe included eight doors, eight keys and security locks.
Speaking after the donation, Gamwa kraal head Aaron Natare said as a community they were happy to receive the donation at the school adding the material was to go a long way in revamping the school’s infrastructure.
“We are very happy with what has happened here at Gamwa Secondary School, as you can see we have received building material for our school and this has been done by our children who were also groomed here at Gamwa. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses and scientists were born and bred here at Gamwa. All these children are now stationed in various countries working across the region.
“I want to appreciate the work that has been done here. We urge the community to embrace such development especially when it comes from our own children whom we struggled to raise. This shows how appreciative our children are to their parents. Well done Gamwa Alumni.
“We want to thank you for this wonderful gesture, for remembering that you have brothers and sisters who are still in need of the same school who are also learning like you did .Today you have also taught them how good it is to give back to the community which made you who you are. Recently we were in a meeting at the school with parents and school staff; we were worried about our doors as most of our classrooms were affected by heavy storms. Some of the blocks had roofs taken away by the wind as you have seen, we were concerned how our children were going to cope this winter,” said Natare.
He however appealed to the well-wishers to continue lending their helping hand as they seek to renovate damaged infrastructure.
“We are also appealing to you our children to help the school to renovate the affected blocks, as well as our toilets as they are in a bad state. We need help at the teachers’ staff quarters in terms of repainting them and tubing the houses so they can have proper electricity connections,” he added.
A parent Edith Maramba said as a community they were requesting for Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment such as laptops, projectors and internet connnections to enable children to adapt to the fast changing digital world.
“Gamwa has history, we are what we are because of this school, these elderly boys and girls who are now coming back to donate.
“We want computers for the school. Please we want computers for your young brothers and sisters. We also need government to chop in on ICT infrastructure, the rural child is lagging behind,” she said.
Another parent from Dendere village Erick Ngwerume said they were looking forward to see young talent rising from the community.
“I am a parent too and have children who are learning at the school now. We are very grateful, now that the Alumni committee have thought of remembering their roots, we also plead for sport facilities and activities to be done constantly. We want sports to help our children to stay away from ill behaviours and to keep them entertained. We are grateful that last time our son Osherd came and donated football kits. We want balls as well,” he said.
Gamwa Student Alumni (GSA) treasurer Conerlia Selipiwe said as a committee they were going to go with feedback to their peers as efforts to help improve areas which are lagging behind.
“This donation has come as a stepping stone, as a committee we have more projects and donations which will come along the way. Our donation is non-partisan and is focused towards developing our home area.
“One of the former students in our stream passed by the school on his way home someday. He saw that most of the classrooms didn’t have doors as they were reportedly damaged during rainy season while some blocks were affected by the wind. So upon receiving the complaint, we then came together as former students and decided to buy doors and keys to have the classroom fixed.
“Today we have also noted that, there is quite a number of areas which need urgent attention, the widow pens need to be replaced, our teachers’ quarters also need to be tubed properly because the electricity connections are not safe. Some houses don’t even have electricity. Going forward we want to work with the School Development Committee (SDC) and teachers so that we address areas of concern.
“More so where teachers access water, we felt it’s a bit far and not conducive at night. So maybe if boreholes are increased it might help them. All the donations which will follow counting this one are part of the Alumni’s Social Corporate Responsibility. We know the economy is not good but we want to push for the rural child to get better education as part of building his/her tomorrow,” Selipiwe added.
Gamwa school authorities expressed gratitude over the donation saying it was going to go a long way in changing lives.
