VentFund comes to the rescue of Copota’s girlchild
Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that taketh; so teaches the Holy Scriptures.
VentFund, a philanthropic group birthed barely six months ago and is still trying to find its feet, has become one of the most active welfare organisations in the country.
Ever since their first donation of personal protective equipment to Masvingo General Hospital which included masks and thermometers worth about R50 000 in April, Ventfund has not looked back in their quest to promote the welfare of the less fortunate members of society.
Their current focus has been Copota School for the Blind in Zimuto, Masvingo, where they have so far handed over 560 litres of sanitiser and masks to help the school’s over 300 visually impaired and other variously handicapped children.
VentFund has also identified a critical need for the girl child at this very old, but largely unknown and forgotten institution situated in rural Zimuto. They have come in with a programme to avail reusable sanitary pads for the girls who have been facing serious challenges in this regard.
Last week representatives from VentFund led by Theresa Marimazhira and Emily Mapfuwa delivered over 800 metres of fabric material for the production of washable sanitary wear. The ladies and their team carried out a quick training workshop where staff and a few selected pupils were taught skills of making good reusable sanitary pads.
“The idea is to give the school a permanent solution to this life need for the girl child. Instead of buying them the sanitary wear, we brought sewing material and, most importantly, the skills to produce this very critical need for the girl child. The vision is to have this skill benefit the school, not only by providing the product to its pupils, but to become a big supplier of this special product and hence an income-generating venture,” said Marimazhira.
The headmaster for Copota Secondary School, Tapiwa Madamombe, was pleased with the benevolence shown by VentFund.
“The donations we have received will help us a great deal in dealing with the Covid-19 challenge. When schools eventually open we will be ready to handle the protection and preventive requirements. The Lord has remembered us as a school. We have received Good Samaritans in our time of need – when we would have been in great difficulty,” Madamombe said.
He said as the nation prepares for schools opening, the donations Copota had received from VentFund, gave them quite a leg ahead of other similar institutions in terms of progress. VentFund had made the task of writing a progress report on school opening easier, just as it would now be easier for the school to be able to bring back its pupils when the time comes, he said.
Clever Madzokere, the primary school headmaster, said VentFund had changed their school and the school administration was now able to come up with different initiatives.
“People look down upon the kids here, but VentFund has proved that there is no discrimination, they have remembered our disadvantaged children when we least expected. The girl child is important and has been remembered through provision of material for making renewable sanitary wear,” said Madzokere.
The school also received an additional 50 litres of hand sanitiser.
Onesimo Nehowa, who was part of the Vent Fund team thatsaid: "We are helping the school in a bid to reduce the spread of Covid-19. We want to provide more sanitisers for the school and it is our wish to do more for the school. The ladies in VentFund wanted to interact with the girl child on issues to do with sanitary wear, but it is unfortunate schools are closed as we want the children to be able to make their own sanitary wear.”
VentFund founder Godwin Sweto said, "The Copota project has touched the hearts of our members beyond belief... And, departing from normal practice where we donate and leave, the team has pushed for a model that provides for sustainability."