Friends Of Pakati

Greetings everyone! I thought this would be a good time to look back at our main acheivements since Friends of Pakati began officially on 16th January 2019. So here goes….

As you may already know, that date – 16/01/2019 – waa significant to me personally, I chose it to start Friends of Pakati to coincide exactly with the 30th anniversay of the day I first set foot in a classroom at Pakati Secondary school.

One of the many things I did at the time of setting up, was to organise some publicity. This I was able to do because of connections I made through the football club I support, Scunthorpe United. These included the BBC Radio Humberside Sport team, who interviewed me that day, and the local newspaper, the Scunthorpe Telegraph who published an article the week after.

The radio interview brought good news the very next day! Driving home from work, Stuart Pine, an IT Manager at the Stephenson Group at the time, was listening. He emailed me the next day to see if I was interested in a few computers his employers were replacing. Not surprisingly, I said Yes Please!

I was able to collect them from the Stephenson Group offices in Leeds & got help to check them out, plus update them with free software to use, before I was able to plan how to get them to Pakati…

With help from a number of small donations, then after a fundraising campaign lead to a matching donation from Scunthotpe United FC (more on fundraising in the next blog), meant we were able to organise what we had – 8 PCs & 2 laptops, plus a number of football tops – into a delivery to Harare, capital of Zimbabwe. This is where just a few days later, I arrived for a visit to take them to the schools.

Delivering the goods to the school was a real pleasure, and their arrival lead to a great celebration within the community. It was a wonderful experience for me, getting the chance to meet many people who had been in touch with me since Friends of Pakati started, many of them had connections to the school including former students. The very first IT lessons took place while I was there too.

We planned more things for 2020, then Covid hit. As students were not going to school for some time, Friends of Pakati teamed up with VaTonatsa Foundation, one of our key allies in Zimbabwe, and produced/funded jointly some revision booklets for 5 schools in Ward 14 of Murewa District where Pakati is located. They were the 2 Pakati schools, 2 Chanetsa schools, and Mapanga Primary.

It wasn’t unti 2022 that we began to reslise that another visit to Pakati was finally possible, so we set up some events to raise funds once more, and were donated a number of brand new Chromebooks, and more sports tops & t-sbirts from Scunthorpe United. So we manged once more to pack them & send them to Harare via Coedma Frieight International once more.

As in 2019, I collected the goods from Harare & went to deliver what we had to all 5 schools in the Ward – 2 at Pakati, 2 at Chanetsa, and Mapanga Primary school. Another memorable time, with amazing receptions at all 5 schools

Lastly, we have been tryong to help both Pakati schools with solar power repairs. We managed to provide funds to get repairs done at the Secondary school, but so far do not have enough to help the Primary with theirs.

So that is what Friends of Pakati have done up to now…and we have more things to do yet! We want to get solar power restored at Pakati Primary, and transport the next round of computers we have in storage out to the schools. We need to raise more funds once again, and that is the focus of our next blog – what we have done to raise funds in the past, & what we might do in the future.

Hi everyone!

In 2022, one of the things we were able to send to Pakati along with the computers were gifts from my hometown football club, Scunthorpe United.

Along with other sports tops & t-shirts, the gifts were warmly welcomed by the two Pakati schools….

…and today Pakati Secondary school girls were playing football on the school playing fields

Back in 2019 I am sure yoi will remember other football shirts being given to the Primary school, and were much apprecisted too…

…and the under 20 boys team beat their counterparts from Chanetsa 2-0 at Pakati tecently in their SUFC tops.

So once more we thank Scunthorpe United FC for their ongoing support on behalf of Pakati schools!

Greetings all! Welcome to this blog, the first in the lead up to the Zimbabwean elections next month – see why here: https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/07/12/announcement-by-friends-of-pakati/

It gives me the opportunity to revisit things we – Friends of Pakati – have done in our first 4 years, & tell or retell some stories about Pakati and its community.

Let me first let you into a little secret…I have never considered myself to be a creative person, yet over this last 4+ years I have managed to keep this blog going, even through the Coronavirus pandemic.

Often I have no idea what I will write about, but then I might receive a message from someone which gives me an idea; other times it might be a picture – such as the one at the top of the school signboard – that will inspire me to create something from nothing, e.g. https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/05/18/not-just-a-school-signboard/

This post is dedicated to my first return to Pakati, using pictures I took there in 2018. The visit is what inspired me to start Friends of Pakati, thanks in no small part to Head Mr Chifaka (pictured above with the Author). His response to my question about what developments he would most like to see at Pakati was one word – Computers! This blog/website, social media presence & fundraising has all flowed from that single word.

In the next few weeks I will revisit out key fundraising efforts, our visits to Pakati in 2019 & 2022, stories I have told before, & meet some of our key stakeholders. Until then, here is a reminder of our important links:

For Twitter, Facebook & Instagram, use @friendsofpakati then for youtube: https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=friends+of+pakati

For fundraising use http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati or http://paypal.me/friendsofpakati

To email us, use friendsofpakati@gmail.com

Greetings everyone!

Friends of Pakati has decided that, following discussions with key stakeholders in Zimbabwe, to pause posting new material. This is because of th upcoming elections in Zimbabwe, due on 23rd August 2023.

We are a non-political organisation, which allows us to work in the area of Ward 14, Murewa District, as long as we follow local protocols.

Once the election is over, we can return to reporting on the two Pakati schools as we seek to continue to support them & their students as we have since 2019.

In the meantime, we will report things which are more UK based news, such as local fundraising, interviews with key supporters, as well as covering things we have done or published previously. We will of course maintain our social media presence too.

Hi everyone – I have been in touch with staff at Pakati Secondary School this week, and have some interesting news…please read on!

The school Administration Block has the staff room & offices for Heads of Department and Senior Staff.

However, when in 2019 Friends of Pakati succrssfully delivred the first few computers we had been donated, part of the staffroom eventually became home to them.

Since 2020, with ongoing problems around the Corona virus pandemic and erratic electricity supplies, the school could only provide a few IT lessons for the students.

Now, as Friends of Pakati hope to send more IT to both Pakati schools, having helped the Secondary restore their solar power supply, they are upgrading the staffroom to be an IT suite. Work is now ongoing inside & out.

It would be wonderful if we at Friends of Pakati can send more IT equipment to both of the Pakati schools for them to be used by more students, and have formal IT lessons – as required by the Curriculum, and for the benefit of the community at large.

Can you help us? Do you know someone who is willing to donate to support our efforts? If so, please point them towards our fundraising http://www.gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati and/or http://www.paypal.me/friendsofpakati

Thank you! Watch out for more news in the near future…

Greetings everyone! Welcome to the Friends of Pakati review of the first half of 2023…our 5th year of existence & still going strong👍

We start, though, with a sad tale, particularly for me (the Author) personally….

In late December 2022 my father passed away aged 92, and we had a funeral for him in early January this year. I paid a personal tribute to him here on the blog https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/01/15/looking-back-a-very-personal-story/

I also talked about him & my Mum with our podcast host, Bradley Mell. Have a listen here: https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/01/15/friends-of-pakati-podcast-episode-14/

We have looked at local Primary schools in the Ward 14 area of Murewa District, as there has been several good news stories recently. There have been new staff toilets, Wifi installations, and a new borehole/water tank. Here are the links to find out more: https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/02/19/latest-news-from-friends-of-pakati-3/ & https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/06/18/pakati-primary-latest-developments/

We have also reported on two of our representatives, Debbie Chadbon & Lorraine Mapuranga, as they met for the first time in 30 years, along with the Author. This waa possible due to former Pakati Secondary student Lorraine’s arrival into the UK. Links to these stories are here: https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/02/05/from-pakati-to-south-east-england/  & https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/08/3-friends-of-pakati-re-united/

I was particularly taken by the collection of photos Debbie has from het time in Zimbabwe, so much so there are a couple of blogs about them: https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/10/debbies-photos/ and https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/06/06/more-of-debbies-pakati-pictures/

One of the great things for me with Friends of Pakati since it started, has been reuiniting with so many people I knew between 1989 & 1991. Obviously the majority are former students, but also some former teachers – particularly former colleagues, not least Mr Takawira Siyawamwaya, seen below.

Mr Siyawamwaya taught at Pakati Secondary school in 1990, and shared accommodation with me. We managed to record a podcast with him not long ago, & posted it here: https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/24/friends-of-pakati-podcast-episode-14-2/

There is always something people can do to support us in our Vision – https://friendsofpakati.com/2020-vision-friends-of-pakati-the-project-continues/ – in several different ways: on social media by sharing & liking our posts – use @friendsofpakati to find us on facebook, twitter & instagram – but also financially via http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati or http://paypal.me/friendsofpakati as we seek to send more IT, sports equipment, and other help to both Pakati schools.

Thank you, please keep following us & spreading the word!

Written by Chris Walker:

 

With my thanks to the Head Teacher, Mr Mahachi, Friends of Pakati are delighted to bring the stories of recent developments at Pakati Primary school. We always want to tell of interesting news about the schools & community, as it is important to show that life in rural Zimbabwe is not static or one-dimensional. 

Today we bring together a number of elements, including more about the installation of WiFi at the school (see https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/05/21/ward-14-primaries-schools-making-progress/ ), the drilling of a new borehole with a water tank & solar powered pump, plus how these things were planned and agreed by the school and its community. 

As seen here https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/05/06/wifi-at-pakati-primary-man-at-ta-and-other-stories/ the WiFi was part of a local initiative to bring rural Primary schools into the digital age. The small number of PCs Friends of Pakati provided in 2019 will help, but getting more IT out to them & the Secondary school is our priority. 

Having a good supply of clean drinking water is also an essential requirement for the students at Pakati Primary; and the school has been proactive here too. See pictures below showing the drilling, the solar panel, and construction of the water tank.

The whole of the school community – staff, students and parents – have been involved in discussions about these developments, as well as on more regular school concerns like the Curriculum. Pictures below show some of those discussions going on.

Written by Chris Walker:

 

Greetings to you from Friends of Pakati! We find ourselves in June already, with things going on in the background to help us raise more funds; which will of course enable us to support both Pakati schools where they need us to.

In the meantime, I found myself looking once more at the photos which Debbie Chadbon shared with me earlier this year. You can read about our meeting here https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/08/3-friends-of-pakati-re-united also you can see more of her pictures here https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/10/debbies-photos/

These are some of the students at Pakati Secondary school in 1992, as photographed by Debbie in class. It is their fellow students now at the school and its sister Primary school, who Friends of Pakati was set up to support, primarily to provide some basic IT equipment. Since then we have also provided sports gear, t-shirts and help to restore solar power. We hope to do much more in the future for the schools.

The pictures below show a number of things which bring back so many memories for me – the state of the school buildings, staff and students relaxing in and around school and the community, Debbie having visits from family & friends from the UK…

I had visits from friends, but most importantly for me, two visits from my parents. I was delighted they had come to see me, to see Zimbabwe, but essentially to see where I lived & worked at Pakati Secondary school. It helped greatly whenever we talked about it years later, they understood far more about my reasons for being there, and what the conditions were like. It became clear to me just what an impact it had on both of them. This was in 2019 when we uncovered my Mum’s written notes about it after she had passed, and again this year as we cleared my parents’ home following my Dad’s passing in late December 2022. We found so much more – photos, slides and memorabilia from their two trips. Both are remembered as Friends of Pakati here on the blog… find out about them here: https://friendsofpakati.com/2019/03/16/saturday-star-a-friend-of-pakati-and-of-zimbabwe/ plus 2 posts about my Dad https://friendsofpakati.com/2022/12/24/merry-christmas-and-other-issues/  and https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/01/15/looking-back-a-very-personal-story/

More to come from the blog soon…

Written by Chris Walker:

In recent months, here at Friends of Pakati, we have reported on a number of promising developments in the area where the Pakati schools lie – Ward 14 in the district of Murewa. It is worth bringing it all together to show what has been going on there. There are 3 Primary schools in the Ward – Chanetsa, Mapanga & Pakati. Their Head teachers have often messaged me with information, stories and photos or short videos. We have been delighted to post much of this material. 

What we have also been delighted about, is the opportunity we had in September/October 2022 to visit all 3 schools (as well as Chanetsa & Pakati Secondaries – we will cover both of them in a separate blog). The Heads are Mr Kadzimu (Chanetsa), Mrs Maenzanise (Mapanga) and Mr Mahachi (Pakati), and we are very grateful to them all & their colleagues for their contributions to the blogs over the years.

 

Having visited &  donated goods to the schools, Friends of Pakati has been keen to follow their progress. In the months since our visit last year, all 3 Primary schools now have affordable Wi-fi – a tremendous development for all Primary school children in Ward 14.

Chanetsa, Pakati & Mapanga have all got new WiFi installations in place in the last 6 months, all the Heads of the 3 schools are delighted. They all see the development as very positive for their students, as they progress through the school systems they will become more IT literate.

All of this is great to hear about, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t problems – there are. For Pakati Primary in particular, the solar power issue is holding back the school from getting the most out of the WiFi & few computers they have. We need people to help us, help them by donating to http://paypal.me/friendsofpakati or http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

Mapanga Primary has also been able to complete a building project recently for flush toilets with a septic tank, which has been going on for some months. More pictures from Mapanga are below:

It is always good to report positive news from the area’s schools, and we hope to bring more good news to you in future blogs. We also look to show things improving, and to show the reality of life at these schools as it currently is, and talk to people who have links to Pakati schools in some way. Keep reading!

 

Written by Chris Walker:

Greetings all…welcome to this week’s blog!

Some very good news! Recently, Pakati Primary school were the recipients of a government initiative, whereby they are trying to provide internet services to rural primary schools. The wi-fi was installed by government parastatal ZARNET/TELONE. Installation is done to schools who apply for the facility. Information & pictures are courtesy of Mr Chorichi of Pakati Primary school.

Also recently, I met with someone who has been a very keen supporter of Friends of Pakati. Yusef Alam was, until this week, a journalist working for my local newspaper  the Bradford Telegraph & Argus (known locally as the T&A). Thanks to Yusef, we had a number of positive articles published in the paper, and we chatted for some time about how Friends of Pakati has benefitted from the exposure.

In the lead up to our fundraising event in 2022 – Get Tied Up For PAKATI – see https://friendsofpakati.com/get-tied-up-for-pakati-3/ the paper promoted our cause, leading to us getting over £1100 donated. Yusef also published articles about our trip to hand over goods donated in September/October 2022 here: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20716095.chris-walker-friends-pakati-return-zimbabwe/

This post is therefore to say a big ‘Thank You’ to Yusef for all his help, and wish him success in his new role as a TV researcher.

Delving into Debbie Chadbon’s photos – see https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/10/debbies-photos/ – has brought back several memories for me. I have recently posted some on our instagram account (@friendsofpakati), but let me include some more on here:

Taken from Gwangwadza hill, where there are some rack paintings dating back at least 1500 years, Pakati schools are barely visible in the distance in the picture above. Below are pictures of the hill & some of the rock paintings. It is a place I visited often myself.

Debbie took many photos of life at Pakati, which took me back to my own time there, but a couple I posted on Instagram reminded me of the small scale development project I was involved in back in 1990 & 91…only the borehole still survives sadly.

This is the only photo I have seen of the water tank we put up, long since dismantled.

Very common in the area, but not popular among residents around Pakati!

More to follow in the next blog!