A Safe Learning Space for Zimbabwean ECD Learners

Hello from beautiful Zimbabwe!

Thank you for your wonderful support to the future of students in Zimbabwe. As you know, our ECD focused project looks at providing solutions for the Early Childhood Development (ECD). The ECD is part of the Hwange Main Camp Primary School, situated at the main entrance in the southern part of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. The school along with the ECD serves the children of National Parks employees and their families in a predominantly communal setting. Hwange Main Camp Primary School serves this community of roughly 170 households.

As a part of focusing on the holistic development of the community, one of our main objectives has been to improve hygiene and provide access to safe water and basic sanitation. Up until recently, the ECD classes were sharing a single communally used adult squat toilet located nearby and had no facilities for hand washing. In addition to the current need for good hygiene practices, young children in Zimbabwe have been affected by typhoid and cholera in recent years, both of which can be contracted through exposure to unsanitary conditions, such as crowded communal ablutions and the absence of appropriate sanitary facilities such as hand washing basins. Young children are especially at risk and stand a higher chance of becoming critically ill or experiencing delayed recoveries, which can have long-term negative effects on a child’s development.

 Through your generous donations, we built ablutions for the children including toilets and hand washing basis to support the community to increase ECD admissions and give children a better start in life.  We are grateful for your support in achieving these objectives.

Due to Zimbabwe still being affected by ongoing lock-down restrictions, the official opening of the new facilities has been further delayed and an opening date for schools for 2021 is still unknown, however the new facilities are now in the hands of the school and community and the buildings are ready to welcome the students when they are able to return to school.

We appreciate your support!