The Sunday News
Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life Correspondent
ZIMBABWE and Bulawayo-based youngest motivational writer Marshall Chiza who turned 19 on January 6 celebrated his birthday in style with the less privileged.
Following the success of his books Success in No Time and Poor Billionaire last year, Chiza has decided to share his birthday joy and his so far earned fame with street kids so as to conscientise them to reconsider going to their homes, avoid drug abuse and other ever brewing anti-social behaviours.
In interview with Sunday Life, soon after the heart-touching birthday bash, held at the Bulawayo City Hall car park, Chiza indicated that he is geared more on hearing from street kids themselves on how they can be rehabilitated.
Chiza is of the opinion that street kids are a component of an intricate system so their side of the story can be used also to facilitate on their successful reintegration into society.
“I decided to share my birthday with street kids in a special way whereby my team will be interacting with them as to find out their problems and also at the same time educating them on the dangers of them of resorting to drugs,” said Chiza.
Chiza with his team added that this will be part of his birthday celebrations in future as he is figuring out how to plough back to the community through philanthropic activities.
“My team and my family had seen it to be a good idea to always consider doing something different for the less privileged in a manner which makes a positive difference in one’s life,” he said.
Scores of street kids revealed that a one-on-one encounter with those who want to help them can be the panacea to their woes.
One of the street kids who revealed that he hails from Domboshava, said their life in the streets, while it is an obvious charity case from society, there is a need for society to desist from a “one size fits all” approach in trying to help them.
“Life in the streets is not easy and our lifestyle is now a rigid pattern of churches and other organisation coming to us with their premeditated all-inclusive solutions but we need individual consultations with these people so that we can be helped.
“We come from different places and what makes us prefer to stay in the streets is different so a general approach of treating all of us in the same way is not ideal,” he said, alleging that they are being plagued by evil spirits.
@joelTsvakwi
