The ZIMBABWE STUDENT SPONSORSHIP PROJECT

In 2021, we began to sponsor students in Zimbabwe. The purpose of this initiative was increase financial aid for post-secondary school students in Zimbabwe.

2025 UPDATE from Blessing N.

Blessing N. is now in semester 5 of Medical School in Harare, Zimbabwe. There are 12 semesters (6 years). It is a first degree. Blessing is 21 years old, one of 3 children. Her mother works in a hotel and her father is disabled, in a wheelchair, following an accident about 13 years ago.Blessing has been doing well with her medical school. She just had a short holiday.

She writes: “As I’m anticipating to go to school on Sunday [Aug. 31] ….i can say i had a really wonderful holiday where i had to get enough rest following the last semester that was very hard and tiring but managed to pull through. … During my holidays i usually do community service at local hospitals/ clinics depending with where i have been admitted. This is usually just to gain some experience. Also during the holiday just for leisure i offer some guidance and counselling services to students who’d have finished writing their exams  and those that’ll be writing exams in terms of the  programs and combinations that they’d like to do at University and A level respectively.

At school usually there are not lots of activities since my schedule is very tight Our Lectures start at 8 in the morning and end at 5 and as from this semester till semester 6 we’ll be learning at Parirenyatwa ( one of the  big hospital’s in Harare) that is where the faculty of medicine is .

My daily routine is usually like this…. i wake up as early as 5 ….and i just go for a morning jog and do some exercises, just so as for the day to go well and during that time….I’ll be boiling my water…if I’m late i just use the cold water Then i go for breakfast at 6. We board the bus as early as 0630 and then it returns us at campus at 1730 hours so that’s the whole day at school. i Usually have supper at 6 so that i have ample time to read at the library in the evening.

Besides school…..extracurricular activities that I’m involved in are Debate and Public Speaking and also ZMSA( Zimbabwe medical students Association) and also CMF (Christian Medical Fellowship) In these clubs we do awareness campaigns, dinners and   camps ….especially this semester there’ll be a lot of activities

On Saturday and Sunday…i usually take those days to rest since the week will be a busy one and that’s also the time i get to socialise and catch-up with my friends and refresh and then Sunday i go to church everytime. I make sure. i had forgotten to mention that I’m well involved in church activities….it’s also part of my refreshment activities I like to sing and I’m in the praise and worship team…i was given the Music Director post and everytime i face challenges i just sing it out…this is one thing that i enjoy doing.

As for my family they’re all doing well and they’re healthy. I appreciate the support they give me in this  journey and it gives me strength not to disappoint and to lead by example since I’m the bigger sister.My hopes for after graduation are to make a positive in the community first before i impact the  world at large seeing how they struggle and go through a lot because of limited healthcare services and it’d be great if my community would have one of their own they’d be dependent on and won’t have to worry.

Last semester was very hard because of the professional exams that were ahead of me…but i managed to sail through and passed my exams because of everyone who  supports me and i have the same hope that I’ll carry on with the same spirit of doing well till i Finish. I also have professional exams second semester so the sooner i start preparing myself for these exams the better.Med school is very hard but with perseverance, consistency, prayer, support  and hardwork nothing is impossible

Med school has taught me that what we think it is like in the sector and what the reality is are 2 different things and people really need our help as health practitioners,  regardless of their status and this has really moved me and given me the strength to keep going and help my community.

I am looking forward to passing my exams in the next semester because when year 3 is over there’s also going to be a selection process and i believe I’ll make it and pass my exams, which is one of the few ways i can make the people that contribute in my life and well wishers proud.”

Update provided by Blessing N., Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe

2024 UPDATE  Soroptimist International Peterborough (SIP) supports a young medical student, age 19, named Blessing N. She is presently in semester 3 of 12 semesters of medical school at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe. Blessing is doing well and does not have to worry about how she will find the financial means to pay her university fees and living expenses.
SIP has also supported Sandra N through a Dispensary Assistant diploma program so that she can work in a Pharmacy. Sandra was having difficulty finding a position after she finished her course so SIP supported her further in a 3-month Beauty Therapy course so that she could open her own esthetics business. However, recently she has found work as a Dispensary Assistant in Harare and is enjoying her new job. A recent photograph of her in her graduation gown at the ceremony held September 6, 2024 is included below.
SIP is pleased and proud to support these young women in their education, which is the key to a successful future for them. Hearing their updates gladdens our hearts and makes our fundraising work worthwhile. Julaine is a member of SIP and contributed this update. Julaine is the contact between our organization and the students in Zimbabwe.

In 2023, the Soroptimist Board approved funding to suport our second student. Meet Blessing N.

Sponsored Zimbabwean Student 2023-24 – written by Blessing to our club (slightly edited for spelling and format)

So I’m the first born in a family of three. Everything was well from creche until grade 3 where my dad got involved in an accident that made him wheelchair bound. I had to transfer from Hillcrest to Mt Melleray because my parents could no longer fund the fees.

My mom works as a hotelier. So from Grade 4 till grade 7 relatives had to put a hand in trying to help me with the finances. I attained 4 units.

A family friend then offered to pay my school fees for  F1 till form 4. This was God’s grace because I never thought I was going to go to form 4 because the school fees was going to be a burden to my relatives since they also had their own responsibilities. I then went to Kriste Mambo girls high school.

I’d always strive for the best because to be where i was people saw the potential in me so I made it my goal to make everyone who had a positive contribution proud. O level results came out and i had 9As and 3Bs.

Everyone was happy and our family friend offered to continue paying my school fees up to A level due to the good results that I had attained. I then had to pick Maths , Physics and Chemistry as my combination .

It was hard but I had a motivation that I had to make everyone proud because if it wasn’t for them i wouldn’t be where i am now and with all the trust that people have put in me i believe that I’ll become someone great in the future and I’ll be an inspiration to someone out there who thinks that they can’t make it because of financial issues

A level was hard but honestly God will never put your hard work and efforts in the bin.

We didn’t have a physics teacher so is had to teach myself via some tutorials on the internet and i finished the whole A level syllabus on my own because our physics teacher left before we had finished the form 5 syllabus and we spent a whole year and some months without a teacher and realised if I wasn’t going to do something it’d affect my future. I then came out with 15 points when results came out. I had never been that happy even all my relatives and my dad especially.

It was all a struggle but I wanted to make my parents proud and mostly our family friend for all the help that they had given me. Unfortunately they said they cannot keep on funding me as the fees are a little bit higher and due to some responsibilities that they have.

I then applied for medicine at the University of Zimbabwe and I got a place.My hope is that one day I’ll be an inspiration to someone out there who thinks that finances are a barrier but no — taking my life as an example. I’m now were I never thought I would be.

It is also my wish thay my dad sees me aspire and one day I’ll provide him with the life that he deserves and I would want to make him proud and proud and more proud.

It is my hope that I may get some assistance with some financial aid.

Thank you

                                                       

 

THE ORPHANAGE PROJECT  – Peru

In 2014, Soroptimist International of Peterborough partnered with the Hogar Belen Orphanage in Moquegua Peru. We provide financial support to assist with their needs.

Project background

Nestled in the Peruvian Andes mountains south east of Lima, Peru, lie the many small mountain villages of Peru’s poorest, often referred to as “the forgotten people”. Visitors never visit these regions and the government pays little attention to the needs of the poor people. One city, Moquegua – the epicentre of a very destructive 9.9 earthquake in 2001, is the hub for the purchase of all supplies needed by villagers. Unable to travel (very mountainous and no transportation), or purchase supplies, the villagers depend on the support of missionary priests and religious Sisters to identify, purchase and deliver basic needs including basic medications, tools and educational resources. Father Gio Battaglini, a Peterborough Ontario priest volunteered to work in these areas 1990 – 2001 before his death in Peru after the earthquake.

50 years ago, In Moquegua, Sister Loretta Bonokoski of Winnipeg, Manitoba opened up her home with the religious Sisters, to care for abandoned children of single mothers and child victims of political violence, and extreme poverty. When her home became too small, she was offered accommodation in an abandoned military housing unit. This new home was called “Hogar Belen”  meaning “Inn of  Bethlehem”. At the time of the 2001 earthquake in Peru, 250 children, infants to university age, were living in this home. Every child received an education – many excelled at college and university and all honed many skills as they contributed to the chores and all responsibilities of family living at home. The home was deemed inhabitable after the earthquake and everyone had to move to a local farm to live in the stables and makeshift quarters. There was no hydro or running water etc.

When Father Gio left his villagers to visit Moquegua to purchase supplies for them and do his banking, he lived with and administered to the children at Hogar Belen. Whenever he visited Peterborough, he shared his experiences in Peru, and received many, many donations of support for his poor in Peru. These funds and others raised by the Sisters of the Missions in Manitoba, were and are still the funds used to support and educate the children. Father Gio was always proud to say that EVERY penny donated went and still goes directly to the children. Separate donors supported his villagers. All donations go to the “Sisters of the Missions” in Manitoba where they are forwarded to Peru and donors are receipted from Canada. Sister Loretta passed away in 2016 and 2 new Sisters, whose Mother house is in Winnipeg, now very capably administer to the children.

Father Gio’s sister, Maria, of Peterborough has continued fundraising projects for the children since his accidental death. A Soroptomist teacher friend of Maria in Peterborough, introduced this project to the Soroptomist group and Hogar Belem is so grateful for their decision to support the Hogar as one of their many excellent projects of compassion.

The “SCHOOL PROJECT” – Colombia:

Recommended by one of our members, this project supports two girls by the name of Maron and Sara. They are in elementary school. This school is situated in a rural area outside Medellin, Colombia. The funds donated by our club are used for the school’s food program, so Maron and Sara are able to eat breakfast and lunch every day. Any additional funds are used for their uniforms & other much-needed supplies.

Recently, on the occasion of her 50th birthday, our member requested funds in lieu of gifts from family and friends that were attending her birthday party in Bogota, Colombia. She immediately put the donated funds (some of which were from our club members in Peterborough) toward the purchase of two new computers, printers, software and peripherals for the students to use.

Past President Catalina presenting computer equipment to the girls’ school in Medellin, Colombia