Thursday, April 24, 2014

Meet the staff 5.Garikai Makokoro-Logistics Officer


Hello Friends.
 Garikai Makokoro is my name, and I am the resident go to guy at Nhaka Foundation otherwise known as, the logistics officer. I am responsible for making sure that the Corn Soya  porridge and Maheu are delivered to the schools on the feeding programme and that the children have their meals. I work mainly in the field making sure that renovations are underway and meet with the builders and painters. I enjoy my job because I spend a lot of time in the field interacting with the community ,being where the action is and seeing the change first hand that Nhaka Foundation makes at schools and in the community.
I am humbled to be a part of bringing such great change to the communities and to vulnerable children. Seeing the smiles of the children we feed drives me to work even harder. I am passionate about equipping children with different tools and resources they need to live a fulfilled life.
Nutrition is an important part of academic success and physical development. In vulnerable communities children often attend school without having had anything to eat and spend the whole day at school hungry. It is difficult for a child to concentrate when they are hungry and in addition,  malnutrition stunts their physical growth. However in some households there is not enough money or food to ensure children receive the proper food they need. Every child has a right to basic nutrition despite their environment or circumstances.  Nutrition is particularly important to ECD pupils. They are young and are in the middle of crucial physical and mental development. A healthy diet will mean they can be more active and play better therefore they can learn better.
 
It is sad to think that our nation used to be the bread basket of Africa however ,due to economic problems a great part of our population are underfed and malnourished. Nhaka Foundation through our feeding program aims to ensure despite turbulent times in our nation the children are not the ones to suffer.
 
Best wishes
Garikai

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Meet the Staff 4.Shona Musimbe-Media Intern


Hello Friends!
My name is Shona Musimbe and I am the Media Intern here at Nhaka Foundation. Media and technology play such a pivotal role in our modern day society particularly social media. In fact if Facebook were a country it would be the third largest country in the world. Media, is an important part of transmitting the Nhaka message of the importance of Early Childhood Development to a widespread audience .  I feel fortunate to play a part in spreading this message and being a part of changing children’s lives as well as the future of Zimbabwe.
I am passionate about children because I believe that when we are young we are full of endless possibilities, the world is our oyster. We are like pieces of clay that unmoulded undamaged. Childhood is a crucial part of life and it is the starting point of all future success. It is the time when the human being is most vulnerable and requires the most amount of guidance. It is important that the well-being and development of is children made a priority to communities, parents and governments.  I am a firm believer in the principle of equal opportunities. Each person has an equal right to guarantee their own success or failure. Children should not be held back by their circumstances but be given the tools to rise above them. Education is this tool particularly ECD.
Educating one generation means the quality of life of future generations will be better .If each child has an opportunity to attend an ECD centre and gain basic tools for their future education the playing field will be even. Chances of success should not be determined by a person’s background or by the amount of money they have. Success should be determined by who is willing to work the hardest and most diligently for it .All men and women are born equal therefore is it not logical that they have equal opportunities? Children are not reaching their full potential because of extreme poverty, malnutrition and lack of access to health care. At Nhaka Foundation we are trying to give every child a fighting chance particularly those that do not already have one.
 Till next time
Shona.