I have been contemplating about this blog post for a few days now.
The struggle lay mainly with how exactly I would articulate this weeks experience in words.
I tried to think of how I would be able to say everything without missing a single detail.
I tried to think of how I would describe each and every beautiful soul I met.
How was I to correctly articulate all the love I received?
In the end I realized I could never do Zimkids justice with my words...it's not possible.
So where my words have failed me my camera has had to step in...
ENJOY!!!!!
The Kids. Out on the Playground. Bright and Early, full of energy!
HELLO Zimkids!!!! This is the entrance to the center. They completed building it last year and this is just a snapshot of what lies inside. It shines bright in the midst of all the other dull scenery. When you see the color you know you have arrived. The walls are filled with murals telling the story of how Zimkids came to being from one end to the other. The hope to paint the inside walls of the center too as soon as they get some paint.
Zimkids. Some art work at the center.
Playtime before the start of the Kids Club. Most of the kids turn up super early so they can have fun on the mary-go-round, swings and slide.
Meet Tinashe. Everybody LOVES Tinashe. He is the Director of Zimkids and to be honest I have never met such an energetic person in my life!!! When he walks into a room he is immediately surrounded by a cloud of shining faces. The thing that astounded me the most was how when you drive through Pumula and the kids see his car you hear a loud chorus of "Tinashe Tinashe Tinashe!!" as they jump up and down and wave.
Hello there! Tinashe peeping in during a home visit.
Tinashe and Pauline carrying some of the food stuffs we delivered during a home visit.
Knock Knock!!! In this picture is Tinashe, Pauline and Philip delivering some groceries during a home visit.
Meet Gogo. One of the things I noticed during our home visits was that most of the children are being taken care of by their old Ambuyas (grandmothers) and Sekurus (grandfathers). Majority of them are too old and frail to work and as a result they face each day as it comes, often with nothing at hand.
Another home visit.
I loved this gogo. She was so vibrant and insisted on giving me life advice (in Ndebele). We had such a laugh and in the end I just had to have a photo with her.
Ntombi (holding the mazoe) and her siblings during a home visit. They all live with her grandmother.
Angel (a volunteer) helping one of the kids out during their lessons. They call her 'Miss'.
Miss Angel busy with the youngsters.
Washington (Washi), an elder, sitting in the library with a friend. They have a small library with some children's books, novels and encyclopedias. They hope to enlarge it to include some more text text books that the kids can borrow for school. Washi is looking to get more training into becoming a certified librarian.
Some of the kids getting water from the tank. The center is located in a very rocky area and one of the main challenges they have been facing that has also hindered the progress for their gardening project (for now) is the water situation. They have drilled three boreholes, however, two have limited water supply and the city council does not allow them to use municipal water for gardening.
Although water is currently an issue at the center they do have a greenhouse that's up and running. In this picture you can see some of the girls watering the keel and some of the pipes for a recently installed drip irrigation system. They hope that soon there will be more water so they can an grow even more stuff that can be used to feed some of the kids and their families. Last batch they had successfully grown loads of tomatoes.
Some of the girls working in the greenhouse. Everyone chips in to every element of the center. They know it is their home away from home, their built and it and they know responsibility for everything is on them too.
Malume doing some finishing touches to the drip irrigation system in the greenhouse.
Philip, the Programmes Director, explaining something to the kids. They all listen very attentively, always. I think it's the closeness and friendship that they have with all the leaders that makes the relationship easier.
Nqa (an elder) taking an art class.
Philip and the kids taking a look at the finished product. A bookshelf that the guys welded. This is part of the vocational programme where the kids are taught skills that they can use and apply in life.
My crew looking cool, calm and collected.
A marimba lesson. These guys literally teach each other.
Some of the girls on the dance floor.
Two of the elders get down (literally) on the dance floor. These guys have some serious moves.
We had a food contest. I lost. :/
The girls practicing for a drama on the performing arts stage.
Soccer Time!!
Vuyo smiles for the camera.
Takudzwa with a swagger, my right hand man. This guy really knows how to rap and dance. Watch out Drake!!!!
This is Bridget smiling for the camera. She was my second translator on the playground even though she insisted she couldn't speak shona and made it a point to laugh at me every time I miss-pronounced something.
Prudence making faces.
Philip (Programmes Director) and Foster (an elder) have a chat in the sun.
Me and Pauline (an Elder). This young lady is just so helpful and hardworking. Not once did I see her sitting down and not doing anything.
ME!! During my final presentation using my hands to get a point through. I don't know why I do that :/
This little Princess in Pink stood up to sing a song for everyone during the Talent Show :) I was inspired by how confident and comfortable all the little ones where as they stood up to sing, dance and recite poems.
Ncosie (an Elder) smiles for the camera during the talent show. If you look closely you can see his 'Pope John Paul' hat.
Toy cars during Play time. This is part of the Kids Club Program.
This is Blessing during play time. She is one of the tiny ones and has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.
The boys serious at a game of draft (a much simpler adaptation of chess)
Ncosie ( an elder who is currently being mentored by Tinashe) giving a computer lesson. The kids LOVE computers!!!
This is part of the final presentation I gave right at the end. Its kind of poor quality because all my gadgets failed me last minute and we had to use a phone. Language was one of my key challenges because everyone speaks Ndebele so in this presentation you'll find me switching between Shona and English. I'm not sure why I thought people would understand me better that way but in the end Philip stepped in and translated the entire presentation to Ndebele! ;)
Home time.... :(
What I loved the most about Zimkids was the spirit of what I would like to call Family. The center is literally Built by Orphans, Run by Orphans, For Orphans. There is so much potential for the future of Zimkids and the need is great too. If you would like to support their work financially please visit their Global Giving page at this link http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/projects/building-girls-futures/ .
I am going to miss Zimkids. I had an awesome week and I wish them all the best. I will definitely be back again to visit one day soon. Many thanks to Tinashe and his team for hosting me.
XOXO Chido Dziva Chikwari
This visit was made possible by Global Giving UK, an online marketplace that supports grassroots projects and charities all over the world, as part of their Volunteer Overseas Evaluation Programme.
Next Week I will be visiting ZOE- Zimbabwe Orphans Through Extended Hands so keep an eye out for my next blog post!!
On the 12th of July 2013 I graduated from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne with a Bachelor of Science with Honors degree in Biomedical Science with Business.
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion...." Philippians 1:6
I strongly believe that the above is one of those iconic moments in life never to be taken for granted and as such I thought I would share a few of the lessons learnt as a result of that which is Graduation.
This day stood as a hallmark not only in the history of my family but also the different stages and seasons of my life. I am the second person to graduate in the Dziva Chikwari clan, after my father, and as you can imagine he was probably the proudest dad in the crowd. His story is one that can bring anyone to tears - a shy and sickly village boy leaving for the city for the very first time, all alone and with money enough only for one school uniform and bus fare. I am the first born child in my family and the journey towards obtaining this degree was a similar one for me too. Just like it was for my grandmother so many years ago who worked as a house help and sold tomatoes the challenge to send her last born son to school and my journey was not much different. We had great expectations, hopes and goals and in the process we faced many obstacles and mountains to the point that we doubted we would see 'the dream' come through. However, three years on through hard work and perseverance we made it. You can read part of this in a previous blog post; God will Provide... a part of my story but the main message here is that this was no simple feat. Gogo planted a seed years ago and I am part of the fruits now budding.
Both my mom and dad were elated to the point of tears and for me one of the most important things I ever wanted and want in life is to make them proud of me and the woman I am becoming. They have done nothing but provide the best for me and doing my best is the very little I can give back. As I looked across at them sitting at the front row with their wide smiles and faces shining with pride I was brought almost to tears too. I am so blessed that they were able to see this day and share it with me.
[ I was also awarded the once in a lifetime opportunity of Student Orator. As a result I was able to share on behalf of the cohort the lessons university had thought us, some of the memories we would hold dear, parts of my testimony as well as our heartfelt gratitude to everyone whose hand and heart had played a role in getting our degrees. This is a link to the ceremony and my speech which starts at 36 minutes: http://nuvision.ncl.ac.uk/Play/982 ]
Although it was just one day and a two hour ceremony it also stood for three years of hard work and sleepless nights, it stood for our ability to finish what we started and reaching greater heights, it stood for a future that had even more in store for us. This brings me to one of the most critical things I learnt at the junction that is graduation, I learnt that sometimes it's critical for us to stop and appreciate the beauty of where we at. For us to bask in the achievements we have made so far because believe it or not oftentimes you are doing much better than you think you are and if you really think of it most times you have made so much progress from where you used to be. In life we often set goals and targets for the higher levels we want to obtain but never give ourselves credit for what we have already done. The truth of the matter is that Life is Now. Not where I plan on being in three years time. My graduation day was for me personally a day set aside to just stop and say Congratulations Chido. Three years ago I didn't even see myself going abroad to university, let alone the one that I wanted to go to and had fallen in love with but I made it.
What I also realized was that although this achievement was great it was only the beginning. Months before graduation I was already filled with panic about how I was going to have to find a job now and start making money because it would be very unacceptable for me to return home to Zimbabwe and just sit. Fear had literally gripped my heart; fear of failure, fear of disappointing my parents, fear of facing a world full of uncertainty. My short term contingency plan (although I didn't notice it for what it was at the time) was to immediately move on to do my Masters. That way I would ward off the real world for at least one more year. As you have probably deduced by now, that plan didn't work out for whatever reason and for lessons I will probably figure out soon enough I am now facing my fears right in the face: The 'tough' job market in Zimbabwe. The time for my Masters will come and well the scripture I am holding onto now that has seen through all the way up until Graduation is mentioned right at the beginning of this blog: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion... (Philippians 1:6).I am a work in progress and this is just the beginning!
Soooo in conclusion:
Never give up on the beauty of your dreams. In life you will often be faced with obstacles and uncertainty but in the end things always work out. God has a plan for you.
Life is now. Never take for granted a moment taken to stop and tell yourself well done for what you have already achieved.
Don't be afraid to face your fears straight in the face. Fight! Most times that's where our greatest strengths are awakened. Fear is a state of mind.
Work Hard. Your reward will come.
XOXO
Chido Dziva Chikwari
P.S. I am so grateful to my friends and family for believing and pushing when I sometimes lost the plot. I made new family in Newcastle and their help and support helped me see this through. Thank you to them all. The importance of those two strongholds can never be reiterated enough. One such friend is Diana Njuguna, who single handedly took me through the all the feats of University. We were inseparable through the study all nighters, confusing practicals, icy 9am lectures, boring business seminars, chilled beach days and dinners for two when we needed a break. I couldn't conclude this post without mentioning this amazing Kenyan sister of mine, Love you Always D!
Ooooh and a song I couldn't wait to play since before I even went to uni is Muchandiona by Audius Mtawarira. Muchandiona means 'You are going to see me' in shona and the song really summarizes part of what graduation means to me in regards to making my mommy and daddy proud :)
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