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Foundation fights school dropouts in Makorokoro

Twenty-four-year-old Miclas Ndlovu from Mangwe District in Plumtree, Matabeleland South has embarked on philanthropic efforts to support primary school learners in his community by providing them with stationery, school uniforms and covering school fees. 

Ndlovuย establishedย his foundation in early Marchย to assistย vulnerable children in accessing education.ย 

In an interview, Ndlovu said his motivation stemmed from witnessing the plight of a child whose father was tragically robbed and shot in South Africa. 

โ€œIย launchedย the Miclas Ndlovu Foundation in early Marchย to help vulnerable children, I helpย withย buying stationery, andย school fees which range from US$12, forย now, Iย am focusingย onย fiveย Primaryย school children due to limited resources.ย Philanthropyย doesn’tย need to have a lot of money. When I looked at how children struggle to get basic needs, I realised thatย for meย to make change it does need meย to beย a rich person,โ€ he said.ย 

โ€œWhat gave me the drive is the child whose father was robbed and shot in South Africa. I attended that funeral and overhead villagers talking about how the children are going to suffer following the death of their father,โ€ said Ndlovu. 

Asย theย winterย season approaches, Ndlovu plans toย purchaseย long stockings and jerseys forย the childrenย he supports.ย 

Ndlovu emphasised his commitment to aiding children from single-parent households, particularly those who have lost a parent. 

โ€œWith time I wish toย assistย all underprivileged children but academically gifted.ย For now,ย Iย didn’tย choose basedย on academicย excellenceย but I chose all those who needย assistance. I used toย witnessย the distance we were walking toย school,ย some children are still going to school barefooted aroundย Juneย and theyย have noย jersey. The distance is too muchย as schoolsย are apart, some children walk 7km to school. Their parents can hardly make it as they are trying to make ends meet and some of them are in South Africa,โ€ย heย said.ย 

He said he wishes to include secondary school learners and the elders by next year. 

โ€œThis might seemย likeย a small thing but I want it to go all the way and by next year I wish to move to also include secondary learnersย and theย elderly. Iย don’tย earnย muchย but I learnt that if we help the children today the future will takeย care ofย itself,ย primary education is the most important of them allย and ifย childrenย don’tย have that foundation they will be lost.โ€ย 

Ndlovu said he was concerned with children being turned away from school due to fee arrears. 

โ€œWhat should children do, thus why I felt compelled to step in as I realised that I cannot change the system but I can make a difference in individual lives,โ€ he said. 

โ€œInย Makorokoro,ย we have a problemย that weย don’tย have a secondary school, children walk aboutย 35kmย to the nearest school. There is a secondaryย school thatย is beingย built but theyย haven’tย opened it yet, and that affects children as that leads to highย dropouts. Currently, councillor Mpenduloย Ncube isย trying to workย with theย community to open it,โ€ heย said.ย 

In addition to supporting children, Ndlovu expressed his desire to assist elderly community members caring for grandchildren, especially during periods of hardship such as drought. 

โ€œOneย of the children I amย assistingย is staying with her grandmother and an unemployed uncle so while I amย assistingย the child, I also realized that even the grandmother needsย assistanceย especially now that there is a drought. When it comes to theย elderly,ย I wish to buyย them smallย groceries and even jerseys as we are approaching winter,โ€ said Ndlovu.ย 

Looking ahead, Ndlovu expressed hope that more individuals would join his foundation to enable broader community initiatives, including infrastructure development such as constructing toilets and homes for those in need. 

โ€œMy wish is also toย have peopleย who are going toย join theย foundation so that we can even go as far as constructing toilets in villagesย and withย time we construct evenย decentย households forย villagers.ย I wantย the foundation to go as far as building a two-roomed house and a toilet for villagers inย need,โ€ saidย Ndlovu.ย 

He said his foundation is not yet registered as the government needs US$300, โ€œour immediate priority is to channel resources towards assisting children with their education expenses.โ€

Senzeni Ncube

Senzeni Ncube is an accomplished journalist based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with seven years of experience in hard news, investigative writing, fact-checking, and a keen focus on social development, mining, elections, and climate change. She has extensive expertise in reporting community service delivery issues, demonstrating a deep understanding of politics, human rights, gender equality, corruption, and healthcare. Additionally, she possesses proficiency in video production and editing and is dedicated to providing high-quality journalism that highlights crucial social matters and amplifies the voices of the community. Senzeni is known for her thought-provoking interviewing skills.

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