A GROUP of learners at Watershed College in Marondera, Mashonaland East province, have channelled their pocket money towards constructing a classroom block for pupils at Bromley Primary School.
The beneficiaries have been conducting lessons in a difficult environment due to a shortage of classroom blocks.
The learners at Watershed College, who are part of the Lions International Club, a humanitarian organisation, have taken it upon themselves to build additional classrooms for the school.
Learners at Broomley Primary School are currently taking classes in a challenging environment, characterised by noise, disruptions and confusion, as different grades are forced to share a single classroom.
The school has only two blocks, which make up four classrooms.
Leo Moffat Vuta, the president of District 412A, which incorporates Zimbabwe and Botswana, noted that the Watershed Leos were used to donating stationery to their counterparts at Broomley Primary School, but later realised that they needed a decent learning environment.
“The Watershed Leos decided to take on the project after they had gone to Bromley to donate stationary and realised they could leave a footprint with a bigger project,” Vuta said.
“The students had a challenge of having two different grades sharing one class. So, for example, in one classroom, Grade 3s and Grade 5s would be learning simultaneously in the same classroom. As such, they made it their mission to add two additional classrooms.”
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He described the process they went through in planning and implementing the project, which was characterised by debates on how to solve the situation.
However, they eventually found common ground and decided to build classrooms that have a modern look.
“The Watershed Leo Club members engaged in a series of debates going back and forth about what could be done about the situation they had discovered at Bromley,” Vuta said.
“Finally, they found common ground and decided on building rooms which had the same structure as those that were already there, but with a modern outlook.”
Vuta highlighted that at first, they did not face challenges as they had enough money to take them through the foundation level up to beam level.
However, it became a very demanding process when they had to start fundraising for materials for roofing and additional costs.
Despite facing some challenges, they remained focused and determined to complete the project.
“At the beginning, the members didn’t face much challenges as they had enough money to take them through the foundation level up to beam level,” Vuta said.
“It then became a very taxing process when they had to start fundraising for roofing materials and labour costs. Fundraising was their biggest source of funding, but the challenge was that other clubs had taken slots for fundraising events on the school calendar.
“Overall, the process has been one filled with highs and lows and with every challenge faced whether it’s logistics delays, budget constraints, or unforeseen circumstances there have strengthened the members ability to solve complex challenges and work as a team.”
The project is currently 65% complete, and they are looking to finish it by next April.
The Lions International School Club president at Watershed School, Leo Tiasha Chipika, a Lower Six student, revealed how they used their pocket moneys to upgrade the learning environment at for the beneficiaries.
“So far so good. A lot of work still to be done, but we are trying our best to live up to our legacy. It’s very difficult, you know, to put aside your own money. You say, oh, I have got this amount of money and you know now it has to go towards something else,” Chipika said.
“But at the end of the day, it’s fulfilling. It's about what it does to you as a person, it's about what it leaves you as, you know. So, I think we should just keep moving on. And in the end, you know, we all for a greater cause.”
The group of learners who dedicated their own money to help other learners are led by Lion Matron Chihambakwe, a teacher at Watershed School.
Chihambakwe revealed that they are working tirelessly to fundraise for the project, which they started through fundraising activities at school, such as sporting and movie nights.
“Our target was to complete this block this year. Other clubs were also doing fundraising. It was through fundraising; we do civics days, we do movie nights, we do sales, sporting activities also the club bills, international bills and all these funds will be channelled to this project,” she said.
“We have US$1 500 in our pocket and for the project to be completed, we need at least US$5 000. We thought we were going to finish at this time, but unfortunately, we did not and we thought that it didn’t really come up. But we are here, because as we stand, we embrace one another.”
Chihambakwe also stated that they challenge the community where Broomley Primary School is located to come together and contribute to the project.
The community is providing bricks and sand, while the students are providing cement, roofing sheets and other materials needed.
Chihambakwe added that students from Watershed are involved in the laying of bricks, making it a collaborative effort between the students and the community.
Lion Bothwell Nyajeka, who is the first vice-district governor of district 412A, was also amazed by the efforts and love that have been shown by the youngsters in their organisation in contributing to a great project which will impact many pupils.
