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I was looking through some of the photos I have gathered while putting together this blog in the last 2 years & 5 months, and it all really started when, in September 2018, I stood by the school signboard for the first time in over 26 years.

It was a different signboard to the one I knew in 1989-91 when I was teaching there, on the other side of the tree in the background. It served as the bus-stop for the Njenje family nearby as well as many others. The new one still does.

The signboard has become something more – a meeting place, almost a tourist spot! On my return visit to Pakati in 2019, I was humbled by the warm greetings I had from the Njenje family there. It was where, in 1991, they gave me my totem.

Also, as I was about to stay with my friend Bothwell Riside at his family home next to the school, I had a picture taken with him there too.

Now, when someone I know visits the school, they send me pictures by the school signboard, but also by the relatively new sign by the turn off to Musami from the tarred road..here are some of them I have had…

Below is Vari Mayez of VaTonatsa Foundation on her way to Pakati Primary last year. She was delivering the first batch of study booklets we had jointly produced.

In 2019, former Pakati student Lorraine Mapuranga revisited the school, where I once taught her Maths, when she was on a visit home from South Africa

More recently, another former Pakati student, Rev. Aggie Fombo, was in the area, and sent me this:

Here are some more of my own pics which also appear in the blog..

In addition there is a signboard for Pakati Primary school as you approach the Secondary…

…plus, just after that, is one at the entrance to the Secondary school itself.

There is something about the signboard for me, it signifies I am back in the area where I spent nearly 3 years of my life, time which definitely has had a profound effect on me as a person. It is one of the reasons I keep the project going, to try & do something for the community who accepted me all those years ago.

To help, please donate via http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati

If it asks for it, put the email address friendsofpakati@gmail.com

Or via http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

This particular post is a pleasure to write, as we have started to pick up more donations, some from brand new donors! Before I list all those who have been kind enough to give to Friends of Pakati, the very latest news came in to me on Wednesday, and confirmed just yesterday morning about this: https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/04/23/debbie-chadbon-fundraising-for-friends-of-pakati/

My fellow former VSO volunteer and Maths Teacher at Pakati Secondary school (91-93), Debbie Chadbon, sent me this photo from her local newspaper (Fishponds is a district of Bristol by the way!):

The photo was accompanied by the following message about a new donation:

Hi Chris. The donation was for £120. People are beginning to give me sponsorship for my bike ride. I’ve attached a photo of an article in our local news magazine about the ride so hopefully that will bring some more donations in. Paul and I cycled 31 miles last weekend in preparation and we are planning a similar distance this weekend. I ‘m planning to take it slowly for the 50 miles, take lots of breaks and hope it doesn’t rain too much.

What a wonderful effort by Debbie & her husband Paul. Let us hope the weather is kind to them on 22nd!

What is it all for? This… https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/01/24/pcs-to-pakati/

Donate via http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

The Gofundme page has stopped letting me send a ‘thank you for your donation’ message recently, that is partly why I listed everyone on here.

Buying merchandise is another way to donate – see http://friendsofpakati.com/merchandise for full details.

This year so far….

Below are the names of all donors (including those who have bought merchandise) so far this year, in alphabetical order, without the amounts they gave:

Anonymous – there have been 3 donations made so far by those who wish not to be named

Tony Baker

Max Bell

Neal Campbell

Debbie Chadbon

Liv Chadbon

Sharlom Chaikita

Ross Gibson

Karina Jones

Karen Lee

Gill Makula

David Scott

Lisa Vickers

Chris Walker

Derrick Walker

Terry Walker

THANK YOU SO MUCH👏👏👏 TO ALL OF YOU!!

Between you all, we have raised £888.83 – see how far we have still to go to get more PC’s to Pakati by clicking the link below:

https://friendsofpakati.com/pcs-to-pakati-check-our-progress/

Our total balance as of today stands at £1131.60

Meet Daniel Mususa – he is the latest former student from Pakati to tell his story, and a fascinating one it is too. It begins his home village of Chidawaya, a few kilometres from the two Pakati schools. I have edited his story, but the vast majority is from his own words.

My home at Chidawaya village is about half way between Pakati Primary and Chanetsa Primary schools. I did my Grade 1 and 2 at Pakati, where I was taught by Mrs Kupara and Mr Nyamahohwa. For Grades 3 to 7 I went to Chanetsa, where Mr Muza was my Grade 7 teacher. I remember as a child playing a rural version of football – chukweshe – a ball home-made from plastics. It can still be seen today.

I then went into Form 1 at Pakati Secondary school. I can remember several of my schoolmates, namely Tendai Nemaruru, Ian Mushowo, Lovemore Mhishi and others. I also remember some of my teachers, like Mrs Katonha, and Mr Chifaka (current Head) who taught us Commerce.

I took a practical subject, Fashion and Fabrics, and we were two boys in a class with seven girls. Tendai, my best friend, got the best results in that class.

Fashion and Fabrics block (above)

One of the girls, Josephine Madzivs, sometime later married our History teacher, Mr. Mushaninga. My favourite subject was History, and I got an ‘A’ at GCSE O level, thanks to my teacher.

From my first day, I was aleays earliest to arrive at school, no-one would ever beat me to it. In my second term therefore I was given the school bell to ring at all times every day, up to Form 4.  That is an everlasting memory for me. Even now i always beat the clock!

Assembly at Pakati Secondary school

At school assembly i was the one to sing a church song before the prayer with my young brother Peter Njerere, till the end of school. I was born a singer even at church, I was the one to lead and still do today.

https://youtu.be/Tx_GyT7OcAk

I finished my Form 4 at Pakat in 2008, and now I am an upcoming gospel artist (see my youtube link above), getting on radio and TV in Zimbabwe to become a celebrity. My stage name is Uncle Danny, from a nickname given to me by one of my teachers. it is amazing having come so far from such a humble school.

https://youtu.be/iMuONFC3TW8

It is great to see Daniel making a name for himself in Zimbabwe. Coming from such a background as his shows what is possible…here at Friends of Pakati we will keep an eye on his progress!

Friends of Pakati has been spreading its wings recently, with a number of new things going on…for example, we can now be found at http://Instagram.com/friendsofpakati where I daily post a random photo from Pakati schools and the surrounding area, along with occasional links to the blog. Below is today’s latest example:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Friends of Pakati (@friendsofpakati)

We also were involved in a live facebook chat recently – see from about 3 minutes in to the video here https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/04/11/full-video-of-facebook-interview/

Now, our latest venture is on YouTube, the video sharing site… Just go onto YouTube, search for friendsofpakati and subscribe to our channel…it is free to join, and you can see any videos we have posted! There are out-takes from the ones we are producing, as well as short videos sent by the school which we use here on the blog. I have just added the one form our recent blog https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/05/05/thank-you-scunthorpe-united-video-from-friends-of-pakati/ so I hope word will get around.

If you can help support us, then you can donate to http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati

I am hearing from someone who would like to be our first regular, monthly donor – Zimbabwean now living in the UK. If this comes to fruition, I will let you kmow here & on social.media.

Or you can buy some if our goods – see https://friendsofpakati.com/merchandise/

Just like my Dad did!

Continue reading “‘Thank you Scunthorpe United’ – video from Friends of Pakati” →

It is now a few weeks since students returned to school across Zimbabwe. Thanks to Deputy Head Mrs Pindura, here are some photos and information about what it is like at Pakati Secondary school now.

As can be seen here, the students are able to maintain good hand hygene at various different points around the school.

Classes are in full swing, and social distancing is being adhered to at all times in the classrooms.

Mrs Chingoriwo with her form 2 Agriculture class – all are wearing masks.

A form 4 student in Mr Chizenya’s History class doing a presentation.

Form 3 students in Mr Ediyeti’s Building class doing their thing.

It is great to see the school back in action, the staff doing their best, in difficult circumstances, to provide a good education to the students.

Almost ready…

Our first video is almost completed…

Find out who this man is, and what he has to say about the Author of Friends of Pakati when the video is released sometime next week!

Our second video is being prepared also…here is a taster of what might be in this one!

Donate: http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

Buy merchandise:  https://friendsofpakati.com/merchandise/

Friends of Pakati is currently involved in two separate fundraising campaigns, and I though it useful to bring everyone up to date with both. Firstly though, a brief outline of the two campaigns would be useful, each followed by the current status of funds raised.

Friends of Pakati has, since 16th January this year, been running its own campaign – PC’s to PAKATI https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/01/13/pcs-to-pakati/

So far, we have now raised a total of £728.83 towards our goal, with a mixture of donations and sales of merchandise helping us on our way – see https://friendsofpakati.com/merchandise/ for more details.

To donate, please use either http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

Our second campaign is part of a joint venture with a partner organisation, VaTonatsa Foundation. See https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/04/06/the-plight-of-mapanga-primary-school-not-far-from-pakati/ for full details. We are hoping to help one of Pakati’s neighbouring schools regain an electricel power supply, this time solar powered.

As can be seen below, thus far we have jointly raised US$600 towards the total required of US$2260, the cost of installation.

To donate, please use either http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati but remember to include the word ‘Mapanga’ in the notes so I can keep that money separate.

I recently heard again from Debbie Chadbon, fellow former Maths Teacher at Pakati Secondary school. She tells me her plans to do some fundraising for Friends of Pakati are coming along well.

Here is what she emailed me:

Friends of Pakati and VaTonatsa Foundation have joined together for the second time in a year. In 2020 we co-operated to provide revision materials for exam classes at all five schools in Ward 14, Murewa District (see full story here https://friendsofpakati.com/partner-organisations-and-joint-ventures/ ).

Now we have joined forces again, this time to help one of those schools once more, Mapanga Primary school. We reported recently about their power supply problems (see here https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/04/06/the-plight-of-mapanga-primary-school-not-far-from-pakati/ ), and decided to donate some of our own funds – US$100 – towards their target of just over US$2300. This would allow them to have solar power installed at the school.

Together we are happy to report donations have reached US$600.00 so far, more than a quarter of the total needed. Thank you/Tatenda to all who have contributed towards the project, every cent/penny raised is welcomed by Friends of Pakati, VaTonatsa Foundation and Mapanga Primary school👍

Please keep spreading the word, and lets hope others are willing to help. If you or someone you know wishes to donate, here is how:

Through http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati but remember to include the word Mapanga in the notes so I can keep the donations separate.

For donations in Zimbabwe, VaTonatsa Foundation FBC account number 1070244440127 Nelson Mandela Branch, or Ecocash to Varaidzo Mayenzanise 0775 012 162

Why indeed? Here is why I think it’s a great idea…both Pakati schools do their best to provide a good education to their students, but are often hampered by circumstances beyond their control. We want to help them improve what they can do, in terms of basic facilities that we take for granted here in the UK.

Our Vision (full details here: https://friendsofpakati.com/2020-vision-friends-of-pakati-the-project-continues/ ) explains our main aims, but briefly they are:

1. To help provide items such as IT equipment, internet access and other materials as required by both Pakati schools

2. Should funds permit, extending those in 1. to the three other named schools in the Ward

3. Should funds permit, provide scholarships to those deemed most in need

4. To help in other ways as deemed relevant/necessary

How to help? Here is how…

Donate money to Friends of Pakati either through http://Paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://Gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

Buy some merchandise! See https://friendsofpakati.com/merchandise/ for full details

Offer practical support by emailing friendsofpakati@gmail.com

Spread the word by sharing our posts on http://Facebook.com/Friends-of-Pakati or http://Twitter.com/friendsofpakati

Look out for us on Instagram @friendsofpakati where we post random daily photos of/from Pakati

Coming soon….

Watch out for our videos – will be publshed across social meda in the near future!