Suburban
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
BORROWDALE Primary School prefects on Tuesday donated clothes and toys to Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, in what proved to be an early Christmas cheer for the children at the home.
The students said they felt the need to extend a helping hand and they organised themselves under the leadership of Young Achievers Zimbabwe founder Mr Marvellous Chadyiwa. Mr Chadyiwa assisted the school with leadership training for the prefects and as part of the grooming he emphasised the need for the young leaders to undertake some charitable work in aid of the underprivileged in society.
The students organised themselves without the help of their teachers. They only notified their parents so that they can help them fundraise and did everything including writing letters seeking for donations. The headmaster then stamped the letters for them to take them out to prospective donors.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Andile Manhanga a member of the prefects’ communications and advertising committee said they donated clothes and toys and it was their hope that the donation will bring smiles and hope in the lives of the children at the home.
“As Borrowdale Primary School Prefects we saw it fit to fundraise and donate to this home in the form of clothes and toys. We decided to donate so that these kids can also feel at home. We hope this donation will bring smiles to the kids and make them live the same standards as everyone else,” said Manhanga.
Borrowdale Primary School head girl Praise Nyamande thanked the school officials for allowing them to undertake their charity programme as it brought so much joy to their hearts. She urged students to aim high and work hard in their endeavours.
“We decided to extend a helping hand to the less privileged. We want to thank our headmaster and members of staff who allowed us to be here.
We have been waiting for such an opportunity to lend a helping hand, to be generous, to care, to love. This really made our day. I want to urge the children at this home and everywhere else to be hardworking and plan a great future,” she said
Matthew Rusike Children’s Home officials were grateful and delighted as they thanked the Borrowdale Primary School prefects for the donation.
“We really appreciate what the students have done and this will go a long way in helping our children here at the home.
‘‘Looking at the time we are now heading towards, the festive season, this donation will really come in handy and we truly appreciate them,” said one of the officials at Matthew Rusike Children’s Home.
In 2019 Mr Chadyiwa started the Young Achievers Zimbabwe, which came up with a programme where they groom children into young responsible adults. They trained the Borrowdale Primary School prefects and students in June.
The students elected a committee which led their activities including a cake sale in which they involved their parents as part of fundraising.
The students gave each other tasks to bring clothes which they no longer wear and then chose an orphanage to donate to and they chose Matthew Rusike Children’s Home.
