Young Couple’s Project Transforms Dema’s Zhanje Village

A young couple in the Zhanje area of Dema has defied the odds by setting up a project that has impacted on the lives of the local community who are benefitting from clean and safe water, quality education and improved nutrition.

In an interview with 263Chat, Moses Machipisa and his wife Sharleen Bwakura, who are running Chipochashe Infant School said they set up the project to empower Zhanje Village in Dema.

“What started as a small class of fewer than 15 students has now grown to 84 students (10 on scholarship) and growing. With sustainable projects, a grinding mill, nutritional garden, poultry project (layers and broilers) as well as a Solar powered borehole that provides clean water to the community, the school has become a model for how to sustainably empower a community,” said Machipisa.

The young couple relocated from Harare where they were both working in the formal sector to start an infant school with only two classrooms at their family land in 2020.

In his speech during the official opening of another block at the infant school, Machipisa said the closest public schools in the community are between 6-10kms away making it impossible for young learners to walk the distance.

“At private institutions, the prices are too high and all these factors deprive Children of the Right to Education. Your Excellency, the problems that we face as a community and indeed as a country bus as the saying goes “Where there is hope, there is faith, and where there is faith miracles happen and Chipochashe is for this Community a flame of hope,” added Machipisa.

The school is focused on solving three challenges aligned to three Sustainable Development goals which deals with Good Health, and Wellbeing, Quality Education and Clean Water, and Sanitation.

“The challenges that we face are typical of any rural village in Zimbabwe, limited access to clean water, and stunted growth which affects one in every 4 children according to UNICEF as well as a shortage of schools,” he said.

According to the EMIS report of 2020 40 percent of Early Childhood Development pupils miss school due to long distances.

“I am honored to share that this small project is helping to meet some of the challenges facing the community, from access to clean water to surrounding households and also delivering quality education through our highly skilled and qualified teachers. We also have a robust nutritional program for our learners. Recently the women in the community led by my wife Sharleen have also started a self-project the Virtuous women club with beadwork, and home decor pieces using recycled and locally available materials,” further noted Machipisa.

The project with the support of the Portuguese embassy, Alex and Zi Pedro Brito patrons for the Ruben Fernandes Foundation and Dona Ajuda has created so far seven full-time jobs not to mention the other young people, brick molders, and local builders who have been empowered as a result of this project.