Written by Lift4Life by Rutendo Victoria Makumbe
Children in the community at Makusha farm with textbooks in hand, given to them from Rue, with support from Lift4Life.
My name is Rutendo (Rue) a Zimbabwean citizen. I live at Makusha farm in Harare together with a community of people who either rent, work on the farm or are relatives being supported by the farm workers. During the Covid-19 lockdown period I began helping underprivileged children in my community with their school work. Our current daily schedule with these students has been more than I imagined when I first started. Thanks to the contribution from Lift4life the impact has been huge, not only to the children but also to our community and myself.
Background
Due to the economic challenges we have been facing as a nation, the majority of Zimbabweans are living in poverty. A majority of the working age are unemployed and the informal sector contributes (vendors, informal public transporters etc.) over 60% of employment. Since the beginning of the lockdown on the 30th of March to date the informal sector has been shut down by our government as a measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The families in my community are no exception to this since all except the farm workers work in the informal market. Aside from worrying about how and what food to put on the table they also have to worry about the education and wellbeing of their children. Though it has always been a struggle in these uncertain times the problems are magnified. Now more than ever I realize that not having to worry about how and where I’ll get my next meal has is a privilege that cannot be taken for granted especially during these Covid-19 times.
Like their parents, the children have been home. They have no access to any form of education. Most of the children in my community do not have access to books let alone smart phones or the internet. Ordinarily when they are in school a whole class has to share a few text books, so that cannot take the books home with them. This means learning or studying from home is nearly impossible. In some of their schools because of lack of space there are none to minimum sporting activities.
How it all began
Before the pandemic I used to read stories to these children weekly. Before the beginning of school term, I would buy them some stationery to use at school. However, I realize now that wasn’t enough. Spending a lot of time at home has meant spending more time with these children and understanding more of the daily challenges they face. With more free time during this pandemic period I then decided to start teaching these children using resources I found on the internet and a few books I purchased or already had. When Nicola from the Lift4life team noticed what I was doing for these children she reached out to me asking how Lift4life could assist. We met last year when she was in Zimbabwe through Audrey one of the Lift4life ambassadors Zimbabwean. Audrey has also helped by sharing books online.
The Impact
Textbooks that Rue has used to help educate the children in her community.
With contributions from Lift4life we managed to buy mostly text books for each student. This has also allowed us to begin creating the Makusha Farm Library. From now on any student who lives on the farm will have access to these text books for years to come. The parents will not have to worry about buying new text books each year. We’ve also had teen girls who had quit school to enter into child marriages decide they would like to give it another try. Through the contribution we have also managed to provide a healthy meal a day for these children also bought washable face masks for each of them.
My favorite contribution from Lift4life and most probably the kids’ favorite too are the online workout sessions we conduct with Lift4life Ambassadors. Weekly, we have Skype calls with Stephanie, Miranda and soon with Nikita too. They all look forward to the workout sessions and are always asking me when the next one will be. The reason these sessions have become a favorite is because of the huge difference they have brought into our lives.
Firstly, it is some form of physical activity which was missing in their lives and mine too. While the kids are working out my brother and I join the sessions. As I mentioned some of the children do not have any form of sporting activities at their schools. Secondly, the sessions are well organized and easy to follow such that the teens have taken it up to exercise every evening. When the teens exercise each evening they are now joined by others in the community including their parents and other young adults. Most importantly these workout sessions have opened their eyes to a world of so many possibilities. Through the few conversations they’ve had with Stephanie and Miranda the have become exposed to a world other than that which they have known for most of their lives. They are more curious and are now aware that there is a whole different world out there and despite there being miles apart they are able to connect with people from different parts of the world. Through my project Funda Africa (Which means Learn Africa), I have taught the ambassadors Shona (Our local language) and helped them understand a little more about our local culture. This has made the children connect with them more and has made them even more curious to want to ask them questions which we try to make time for.
Their week day schedules at home now involve the following: Lessons or studying from 11 am to 1 pm, a lunch/snack break at 1pm then on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays they have the work out sessions with Lift4life ambassadors from 4 pm to 5pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I read stories to them once in English and the other day in Shona. Instead of playing and house chores only.
Appreciation
What we have contributed has had a greater impact than I could have imagined and this will hopefully help these children for years to come. I really hope more underprivileged children can get such an opportunity especially during these uncertain times. One of the teens who always said she wanted to be a teacher but didn’t think it was possible asked me this question, “Do you think it is possible to be a Physical Education teacher?”. That question made me I realize that this is not in vein because though her dream is still the same her perspective has changed because she has been exposed to a new world. With their parents working in low income sectors they mostly don’t think they could do any better.
My hope is that this project can continue to help these children and hopefully open them up to opportunities they didn’t imagine were possible for people like them. Though this might seem over ambitious. I’m just glad that for now they are better off than what they were when we started. Their parents are constantly coming to express their gratitude and they mention the positive impact this has had in their children’s lives. I couldn’t have done it alone. Many thanks to the Lift4life team and to anyone who contributed, you have managed to bring a smile to these children’s faces without living your home. And to quote Lift4Life Ambassador Stephanie, this is “Happiness Delivered”.
Want to help support community members like Rue? Consider a donation to our COVID Relief Summer Campaign and help us reach our goal of raising $2,500.
Have a question for Rue? What do you want to know about the project or Zimbabwe? Write it in the comments below or head over to our Instagram, @Lift4Life_worldwide, to let us know! All questions and inquiries will be used for a followup blog.