Term 2 Update – August 2024

Getting into our stride – a great term!

Though busy, this term has been a great one! We felt that students and all projects really got into their stride despite us structuring the term slightly differently. We had a wonderful visit from UK trustee, Nicola and her husband Nick.

Both enjoyed visiting our boarding houses and catching up with staff. Weather wise, Zimbabwe experienced a fairly warm winter which followed on from a drought, the effects of which are evident particularly amongst our students and their families.

Our A-Level students have coped well with a term of exams, intense sport and cultural activities, we are proud of all the effort they put in. Our local university students are currently on holiday after a long semester that kept them busy with frequent exams. As always, we owe the success of this term to staff, volunteers, donors and supporters.

Our Testing Process has moved dates!

We are very excited to have been able to move our A-Level Scholarship testing process from September-December months to May-August months. The testing process is a huge undertaking and we were a little apprehensive about the impact moving dates would have.

We had just over 700 applicants this year, the most we’ve ever had.

As we reflect, we are glad to know that more people are now aware of the scholarship but we are also very much aware of the growing need in our country. At the time of writing this, we have completed our first round of testing at which over 200 applicants were tested and we are about to have 50 students take part in the second round. Past Makomborero students volunteer at both rounds and get to interact with the applicants. We are very happy to report that the whole process has gone well so far!

A-Level students – Residential and Non-Residential

Well done to all our A-Level students for pacing themselves through this term, managing school work, exams, clubs and sport. Particularly Lower Sixth residential students who have adapted well to their new schools and life in the boarding house. 

We had the incredible privilege of hosting Pomona, Swathmore and Williams Universities from the USA at our Boarding house in May.  They were able to share about funding and the application process to all our students and encourage them in the University applications.  What an honour to have them for a few hours.

We celebrated the following students for their achievements this term:

* Tirivashe and Proud won first place as a team with other St George’s College students in the Convent Based Books interschools quiz and received certificates.

* Emmanuel won Best Board 1 prize at an interschools chess tournament.

* Sithabile won a bronze medal in volleyball at the Arundel School Tournament

* Jeoffrey obtained a certificate in Psychology as part of his studies at Hellenic Academy.

* Natasha received a Certificate of Commendation at Watershed College

University Students

Our Alumni gathered together with Mr and Mrs A at the annual Makomborero Alumni Get-together. It was a fantastic event with lots of fun, games and laughter. Students from 2017 to 2024 were represented!

Once again, we are excited to have celebrated a few graduations of past students who studied both in and out of Zimbabwe. At least 20 students from Class of 2022 and Class of 2023 will be going off to university this year, with the majority enrolling into local Zimbabwean universities. We are routing for them for the journey they are about to embark on and wish them the very best!

Our University Residence continues to serve University of Zimbabwe students well and we are excited to be welcoming seven new students into the house in August. The house itself has recently undergone renovations to help accommodate the steadily growing number of students. Bathrooms have been converted to shower cubicles, a new 5000 litre water tank has been added and two new solar geysers connected. We are grateful to donors and sponsors for making this essential work possible.

Other Projects

Mutsidzira -We continue to champion our 2023 winners Noel and Morrison.

Noel is doing well with his honey project which funds education materials for children in Chitungwiza and Morrison who has paused his Biogas project over the semester break and is looking to pick it up again in September.

The Mutsidzira judges are going through the final stages of selecting the 2024 projects. We have three contenders with unique and exciting projects and we look forward to telling you more in the next newsletter.

Girl Child – Our 31 mentees have settled very well into the year long proogramme and we are so proud of them for their consistency in attending and their willingness to learn.

The term ended with a wonderful lunch where Mrs A held a Q and A session with the girls. Their questions highlighted some heartbreaking struggles. They also highlighted how essential this mentorship programme is, the safe space it gives  these girls and the difference it’s making.

Thanks to an amazing local Zimbabwean donor each mentee walked away with 3kg of lentils to share with family. 

Ndeipi! – It was a great term for Ndeipi who held two sessions this term. All of the participants managed to make a profit from their USD$1 that they were given at the beginning of the year and they presented how they did so to the group in a very inspiring session. They have also had the opportunity to practice their business pitches in front of each other and learnt some valuable lessons from this.

Mobile Science Lab – The Mobile Science Lab went very well again this term. Three schools from the high density areas of Harare selected a total of 15 students to attend the programme. The attendance was just under 100% which we are very pleased about. Students benefited from both Biology and Physics practicals and left some great reviews about how the practical lessons had enhanced their learning experiences at their schools.

Round Up

We are often overwhelmed by the kindness of individuals and companies who donate to us, often filling great need at just the right time. This term was no different. We had a donation of matresses and pillows from a UK donor for our A-Level boarding house. Past students continue to donate chickens, rice and treats to current students.   We have also had a wonderful few donations of prom dresses towards our proms at the end of the year!

We are currently distributing donated lentils and epap across all our projects – the effects of a severe drought are beginning to be felt by many and food security for some of our families is becoming harder – this is a welcome addition to their diets.

These are just a few examples of how you continue to change lives of Makomborero students. Not forgetting those who make regular financial contributions.

 

Thank you to all our partner schools for yet another successful term as well as to all sponsors, donors and supporters!