I have just heard again from the founder of VaTonatsa Foundation, Vari Mayez. We here at Friends of Pakati have now worked together on three separate occasions with VaTonatsa, and I have no doubt there will be more opportunities to collaborate in the future.
This has been our most recent co-operation, and it is still ongoing. We still need any books for children aged 3 to 18 you have going spare, or are about to throw away, plus any useful school materials – pens, pencils, rulers, maths sets, erasers, card, paper, etc.- so we can send them to VaTonatsa to share in two districts in Zimbabwe. Plesse contact me by email at friendsofpakati@gmail.com or DM me at http://Twitter.com/friendsofpakati
Cash donations are also acceptable for us to buy equipment for the children, either here to send, or to forward on to VaTonatsa to buy locally. Please use http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati and add the words ‘school books’ so I can ring-fence purely for this project.
It is possible to send books/materials direct if you wish. Scarlet Boutique ZW is a shop managed by Vari, and are responsible for receiving the donations on behalf of Vatonatsa Foundation so that there is a central place for collections in Harare. They are located at – shop 11 Whitecroft Building, 57 Central Avenue, Harare.
If you wish to learn more about VaTonatsa, its founder, and how we have worked together before, see the following posts/pages https://friendsofpakati.com/partner-organisations-and-joint-ventures/
https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/04/06/the-plight-of-mapanga-primary-school-not-far-from-pakati/
https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/04/25/saturday-star-vari-mayez-a-friend-of-pakati-under-lockdown-in-harare/ and most recently,
https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/08/29/books-needed/
Friends of Pakati meet VaTonatsa and Councillor Israel Maliki at Pakati Secondary school, Sept 2019
Vari has told me that the two areas we are helping include Ward 14 in Murewa district, where both Pakati schools would benefit, and an area of Mutoko, where one of her school friends comes from. He lives in the UK , but wishes to remain anonymous at this stage, but is looking to help in his own local community back home in a similar way, hence his joining in with us. I spoke to him recently and we plan to collaborate further on this matter.
There have been donations by individuals and businesses, in Zimbabwe and the UK, including (in no particular order) WiseKids, Blitz, Max Bell and several others, below are some of the items given by WiseKids who specialise in materials of children ages 3-6:
Vari is in contact with the local authorities in Murewa, including Dr Gurajena of Murewa Rural District Council and Ward 14 Councillor, Alderman Israel Maliki. They are to discuss the possible setting up of a library in the Ward, or if there is sufficient donations, in each of the 3 school groups – Chanetsa (Pri & Sec), Mapanga (Pri) and Pakati (Pri & Sec).
As her Aunt is Head of Mapanga Primary, Mrs Maenzanise, Vari also discussed the project on a recent visit to her home in Murewa district. Mrs Maenzanise welcomed the idea, and said the school will welcome the development with open arms.
She said it will be great to hear what Murewa RDC propose so that the school can also help pool resources towards the cause. She hoped that due to the distances the three schools are separated by, that it would be wonderful if stakeholders can build libraries at the individual schools so that children have more centralized access.
Another organisation which we here at Friends of Pakati have a partnership with are The TeamCaro Foundation, and they are also looking for donations of books & materials for us to send.
So, can you help? Do you know someone who can? Is there a school near you willing to help? Are there things being cleared out where your children go? Please let us know! friendsofpakati@gmail.com
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