By Tatiana Mhararira
As learners from across the country are flocking to universities out of the country like Zambia, United Kingdom (UK), India among others, learners from Masvingo recently benefited from a career guidance programme courtesy of India’s Edoofa Scholarship programme which aims to empower students to make informed decisions in choosing career paths.
The learners got the unique opportunity to learn about their career aspirations and how they can take advantage of the programme to study in India on January 21, 2025 at Masvingo Christian College.
Hundreds of learners from schools like host school Masvingo Christian College, Gutu High, Ndarama High, Dewure High and Chibuwe High schools were guided on how they could take advantage of the programme that takes students from across the globe.
Edoofa is a an international work study programme which is based in India and so far it has over six thousands beneficiaries who were taken from countries in Africa such as Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In an interview with TellZim News, Edoofa Founder and Chief Executive Officer Angad Singh said Edoofa offered a number of benefits and opportunities for local students to study in India.
“The Edoofa program is there to alleviate lack of funding and expensive cost of education, problems which learners go through, so we provide learning opportunities with affordable fees as we work with universities reduce the cost to accommodate them.
“The most important part of our program is that we have the work-while-you-learn programme, where students get an opportunity to work while learning. Learners get jobs and businesses throughout their college life through attachment and internships.
“Students are also offered scholarship credits whenever they work which further reduces the burden of tuition fees as they can pay for their school fees especially those on 50 percent scholarship,” said Singh.
Singh said the Edoofa team was glad to engage with learners from across Masvingo province saying previously they used to work with Harare and Bulawayo Provinces only.
“As the Edoofa team we were happy to be in Masvingo province particularly being hosted by Masvingo Christian College where we received a huge turnout with some learners showing interest in the programme. We have always been in Harare and Bulawayo but our journey to Masvingo was one of the best,” said Singh.
Addressing learners, Masvingo Christian School Head and Edoofa Zimbabwe Ambassador Dr Edson Muresherwa said learners should grab the opportunity and use it wisely for their benefit in different careers of their choice.
“I am happy the Edoofa team is coming here with the information that they are taking scholars to study in India. I see a lot of sense in it because they are not giving you fish but rather they are teaching you how to fish so that we will eat fish for the rest of your lives. As you go to study there, harvest knowledge and skills that side, bring them this side and become specialists in various fields of your choice,” said Dr Muresherwa.
Bikita Schools Inspector and Edoofa Zimbabwe Ambassador Aleta Makomeke also encouraged learners to study abroad as they work towards the achievement of the national vision.
“I encourage those who are going to India to take programmes that will facilitate the attainment of Vision 2030 which entails making Zimbabwe an upper-middle income by 2030. We want a powerful workforce and it is the quality of that workforce which determines the quality of development in Zimbabwe.
“As learners, after studying in India and you feel that you are well resourced academically, intellectually and even materially come home and invest in your mother country so that one day the Indians will come to Zimbabwe for medical attention as we will be rich with experts in the field,” said Makomeke.
Chibuwe High school learner Never Sithole said he was interested in the Edoofa scholarship programme as it offers job opportunities.
“I have interests in the programme because for every student going to university the aim is to get a degree but Edoofa indicated that they also offer opportunities for employment,” said Sithole.
Besides offering job opportunities the Edoofa program is linked with world accredited universities, offers academic flexibility, dedicated student welfare and assured employability. Every year a number of students from Zimbabwe are offered 50 percent (half cover on tuition fee) and 100 percent (full cover) scholarships to study abroad.
