By Spiwe Chakawa | Director
My name is Shamiso Tirimuta* I am girl aged 13 years. I was born on the 14th of March 1999, in the village of Murewa in Mashonaland East Province, here in Zimbabwe. My father’s name was Nhamo (poverty). My mother was called Grace Tirimuta*. I do not know my father’s surname that is why I used my mother’s surname. We were four in our family, and I am the third born.
I started going to school in 2006 at Chipembere primary school in Murewa. I used to stay with my grandparents. In 2009, I stopped going to school because my grandfather had stopped working. When my grandfather left formal employment, life became difficult and the four of us stopped going to school. The first few days, we continued to go to school but were continuously sent away. The school fees per term were $45/child. My grandparents then moved to Harare town and we are staying in Block 7 at Matapi Flats (this is a high density oldest suburb of Harare characterized by overcrowding and poverty). One of my grandfather’s daughters is helping with rent and our upkeep.
When we moved to Harare, I continued to stay home due to lack of school fees, but because of some miracle, I met Shanty Sasa, who was once learning at Chiedza Child Care Center and told me that they are assisting children who are not going to school due to lack of school fees. I felt very happy and went and told my grandmother. My grandmother sought clarification from Shanty’s granny who accepted to accompany us to Chiedza Child Care Center.
When we got to Chiedza Child Care Center, we saw Mr. Makoni, the Out of School Teacher Supervisor, and we told him our problem and he accepted to enroll me. That’s how I came to Chiedza Child Care Center.
Before I came to Chiedza, I used to feel very sad and troubled but because I am just a child, there was nothing I could do and I felt left behind. I want to thank Chiedza Child Care for accepting me; because if I check on some the girls of my age who are not going to school have already eloped or have children out of wedlock. Now I want to focus on my studies so that I bring change into our lives and look after my grandparents. Of the four siblings, three of us are here at Chiedza Child Care Center.
Lastly, I want to thank you all for the help that you are offering me and my 2 siblings!
For girls like Shamiso to benefit, we need funds to construct a classroom block so that the children can learn under a roof, funds to pay for her school fees to the send her back to a formal school, funds to buy furniture and stationery for teachers and pupils.
*Names have been changed for confidentiality
By Spiwe Chakawa | Project Leader
By Spiwe Chakawa | Director
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