One year ago…

…Friends of Pakati published a post which went on to be our most popular by some way. With a current total of 889 views, the next best is 485 – which was a follow up post about the making of the original post!

Below I have recreated that post, and added in the ‘story behind it’ one. I remember the feeling of optimism at the time…we were looking forward to another season of sporting success at both Pakati schools, and planning fundraising events to help us get more IT and possibly other equipment out to the schools that September. Corona virus was only just starting to emerge as a global threat….enjoy the post, as we look forward to the world slowly emerging from its slumbers, and our efforts to improve things at Pakati schools get back on track!

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Pakati Primary – new sports tops on show as they prepare for the Zonal sports competition

Thanks to Mr Chorichi, Teacher and Sports Director at Pakati Primary school, for the pictures and information below.

Pakati Primary school football team, with trainer Mr Gonye, seen in their new Scunthorpe United tops – Up the Iron!

In the last two weeks the Primary school have been training their young athletes for this years Zonal Athletics Competition, due on 28th February.

The trainers for the Athletics team are Mr Mupayikwa, Mr Chakanyuka, Mrs Kupara and Ms Chigumadzi (seen above)

Discus throwers above are Percy Mahachi and Moreblessinh Masiya

As with the Secondary competitions, the Zonal athletics for Primary schools will be held at St Pauls sports grounds in Musami.

Soccer captain Panashe Chinyama with the ball
Blessed Kandikita is the High Jump entry for Pakati Primary

Melgyne Chiroodza will once more represent the school at the Zonal competitions, this time at long jump

Pakati Primary school athletes resplendent in their Scunthorpe United shirts

Amazing…..the story behind our most popular post so far

Wow! The recent post https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/02/17/pakati-primary-new-sports-tops-on-show-as-they-prepare-for-the-zonal-sports-competition/ about sports at the Primary school really took off after a few shares…this blog gets an average of around 25 views per day. The day I posted this it exploded to 603!…. next two days were 151 and 174. The best post recently has had 45 views. This one is now at 860…

I know that fans and staff of Scunthorpe United have shared it, and after speaking to several yesterday at the match, the picture above of the Pakati Primary students sports teams wearing the shirts donated by the club last year was VERY popular. Below is the story behind the picture….

Back in 2018 after I first revisited Pakati Secondary school for the first time in nearly 30 years, I set this blog (and social media presence – http://facebook.com/Friends-of-pakati and http://twitter.com/friendsofpakati ) up with the aim of getting some computers to them and the nearby Primary, all from discussions with the Head of the secondary, Mr Mugove Chifaka.

September 2018

I fundraised (see http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati for details) partly by walking from here..

…to here….

Then I got donated LOTS of shirts to sell…

4 among many donated shirts for sale which raised £100’s for us

…and then more still to take to the schools, not least by Scunthorpe United!

Not just one shirt either…

but 16 of these, and a few more of these too..

All of them were packed in with the donated computers from the Stephenson Group from Leeds…

….which arrived safely in Harare, Zimbabwe….

…shortly before I did in September 2019…

…before being taken to the schools to be unloaded…

….then unpacked, and formally handed over to the schools…

….then tried on by the students….

…then finally put to good use recently!

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At this point, we included a fundraising challenge for 2020 ‘Get TIED UP for Pakati’, to get fans of Scunthorpe United to wear ties to an away game & pay towards our funds accordingly. I will add in here this year’s challenge instead..

https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/01/24/pcs-to-pakati/

https://friendsofpakati.com/merchandise/

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A massive thanks to the Iron – including all who work for and support the club – from Friends of Pakati! THANK YOU

Author:

My name is Chris Walker, and between January 1989 and September 1991 I worked, through VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), at Pakati Secondary School in Murehwa South district in Zimbabwe. I was a Maths teacher for 2 years, the Acting Head for the last 8 months there. I have also taught in Botswana & the UK, had 4 years working for VSO, and have been a Civil Servant in Bradford since 2005.

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