The Sunday News
Njabulo Bhebe, Farming Reporter
ONE of the country’s oldest disabled children’s rehabilitation centres, King George IV in Bulawayo has set sights on improving the nutrition of its vulnerable learners as well as generating income through embarking in a thriving horticultural project.
In an interview with Sunday News Business after the official handover of a hortnet greenhouse structure last Thursday, King George IV School and Children’s Centre head Mrs Perseverance Hadebe said the climate-controlled farming structure would play a significant part in improving food security and generating income at the institution.
“As an institution we are very delighted to be receiving this donation which will go a long way in providing us with vegetables to improve the nutrition to our learners. We will also sell surplus produce to generate income to assist us in the day-to-day running of the institution.
“There was once an incident in which one of our students fell sick during an examination and was rushed to the clinic where he was examined only to find out that hunger was the cause of the sickness thus with this greenhouse we are optimistic that such situations will be prevented,” she said.
The greenhouse and other irrigation ancillary equipment were donated by Twine and Cordage in July at a cost of US$8 000.
The institution has already started harvesting tomatoes grown from the greenhouse.
“Two weeks back we had our first harvest and it was such an amazing sight and it reflects that what Twine and Cordage has given us is going to change our lives for the greater good and we have started selling some of the produce with a kg (kilogramme) going for $10,” said Mrs Hadebe.
Former student Mr Luckmore Tshuma who is now employed as a gardener at the institution said apart from benefiting the centre the greenhouse would also play a big part in enhancing his farming skills.
“I’m very excited by this donation as it is going to enhance my farming skills with which I will be able to grow produce that will help the school while at the same time I will get to earn money to build my own house back at my rural home,” he said.
Twine and Cordage manager Mr Buz Davies said the donation to King George IV School was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities aimed at giving back to the less privileged members of the society.
“King George IV School and Children’s Centre is close to my heart as is the Bulawayo community and when you walk around the school you notice the passion among the children. They just don’t give up and this moves me to continue assisting the institution to take care of these children,” he said.
King George VI School and Children’s Centre has over the years managed to maintain its well-known reputation of offering education and skills to the physically challenged children and currently it is home to 439 students who are under the care of 49 teachers and 28 non-teaching staff and the institution has made it its mandate to release the children when they are now fit to join the working sector.
Twine and Cordage have also made similar donations to Rucola Orphanage and Zimbabwe Republic Police Marondera.
