Thanks to Books for Africa, we have started distributing a wide range of books to rural schools in Zimbabwe. Over two shipments, one in late 2020 and one in 2021, 35 pallets (over 1 000 boxes of books) were destined for CITW schools. Due to the sheer volume of books, and schools being closed until March this year, the boxes were stored for us in Harare, and we have been bringing them to Victoria Falls, a few at a time.
We now have both shipments in our warehouse; they have been sorted, and so far 230 boxes have been distributed or collected by other organisations around Victoria Falls, so that the reach around this region can be as widespread as possible.
On a trip to the Tsholotsho region south of Hwange National Park in May, we were able to deliver books to two schools that we have partnered with more recently: Mlevu and Mtshayeli Primaries. Unlike the other schools that we work with in this remote region, these schools are far from others in the cluster, and have not received supplies from Books for Africa before. The teachers and students were extremely excited and grateful for this delivery, and we look forward to delivering more as soon as we can.
With schools back in a temporary shutdown due to COVID-19, our distribution has been put on hold. However, we are ready and raring to complete these for other schools in Victoria Falls, Hwange, Tsholotsho, and Beitbridge as soon as they open again!
With so many lasting benefits, we would like to once again offer our thanks to Books for Africa for their ongoing support over the years. It is very much appreciated, and by generously passing on these resources to schools, children for years to come are given the valuable gift of literary references – opening their minds to thousands of new worlds.
