Education at Harare Children’s Home is in need of a boost. Well-wishers recently organised a five-kilometre walkathon aimed at fundraising for a tutorship programme for the children.

The walkathon took place in Eastlea and was organised by two volunteer tutors at the home – Tafadzwa Ngosi and Dion Sanyanga – as a way of inspiring more tutors to narrow the gap in the learning process offered at the home. “We identified a gap in the learning process at the home, as there is no one interacting with the children. Most of them also do not have anywhere to go after school, hence the need to look for scholarships for the children. We approached the home for partnership,” said Ngosi.

The walkathon was pegged at $5 for Adults and $2 for kids, targeting to raise an amount of $3,000 through participant registration and donations. Only half the amount was raised since there was a poor turnout despite social media advertising.

“Some of the participants who had registered did not show up for the walkathon, although we benefited from their payments. We managed to get donations, but only half the amount was raised. Part of that money catered for transport costs for the volunteers.

“More is still needed for textbooks and possibly a mini bus for the home,” said Ngosi.

Children who are set to benefit from the tutorship programme include 38 at primary level, 12 in high school and two, waiting to proceed to university.

Tutors at the home are few in number, and the walk was aimed at motivating the available volunteers to offer their services, but these require transport reimbursements.

Ngosi added: “We encourage those who wish to apply as tutors. Our selection criteria require services of those aged between 19 and 28. We want to avoid a classroom set up, but have people who can freely interact with the children.”

The legal age of majority set at 18 translates to most young adults who finish their high school education in orphanages finding themselves without support. Those who fail to get scholarships or vocational training to fend for themselves end up on the streets, thus scholarships from well-wishers go a long way in improving their welfare.

Harare Children’s Home urges those who cannot assist in cash, but are willing to spend their time with the children, to visit its offices.

Harare Children’s Home: 2 Daventry Road, Eastlea. Tel: (04)747086.