EIGHTY-ONE students graduated at a colourful ceremony held at our Frontline Institute project in Shamva following the completion of six-month courses titled “Our Humana People to People and Open Future Together”.
The graduates were students under the Humana People to People projects who demonstrated their dedication to development work leading to their training as global activists and advocates in development issues. The graduates hailed from Botswana, Laos, China, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Together, the 81 students acquired skills and knowledge of coming up with people-centric solutions dealing with local solutions. Staying in rural areas areas, the students were also trained to work in community-based projects upon exhibiting resilience amidst difficult living conditions.
Part of their training course included the Institution’s Trick Cycling programme where for two months, the students and their teachers travelled to the hard-to-reach communities implementing investigative pedagogy as their main method of learning. With this approach, students were nurtured to address real-life issues while the practical exercises boosted their interactive methods of studying, action research, group work and social interactions which proved to be a solid foundation for long-life lessons.
Forty-five students graduated on-site with the rest graduating virtually from their respective countries. Gracing the graduation ceremony were various stakeholders among them government officials, diplomats, local leaders, the media and DAPP staff.
The Frontline Institute is a multi-cultural institution for cultural exchange offering students the opportunity to learn and accept the diversity and oneness of humanity. The Institute also enhanced research skills giving the graduates leverage in coming up with solutions meeting the needs of different communities and current climatic conditions.
Over 60 per cent of the staff trained over the years at the Frontline Institute are still working in Humana projects promoting continuity and sustainability showing staff retention is at the core of the Institute. Around 6,000 people have graduated in 128 intakes at the Frontline Institute since the programme’s inception in 1993.
The report reflects a collective effort that has propelled us to make an impact on people’s lives in Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, and Masvingo provinces. In the year 2023, our presence impacted the lives of 378,675 individuals from all circles of life and we made significant strides, especially in urgent emerging issues like global warming and climate change, as well as the recent cholera outbreak.
My name is Tsakani Lause MJao and I am 43 years old woman staying in Shamva. I am a Water Pump Mechanic at Ponesai Vanhu Technical College (PVTC) in Shamva District, Mashonaland Central province. As a woman who was affected by water challenges I decided to take an active role in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme at the school addressing challenges in easy access to portable water, poor sanitation and hygiene in Shamva district.
The WASH program opened new doors for me to learn Water Pump Management and Borehole Repairing. Together with surrounding community members, we embarked on a 12-day training on water pump management. At first I thought the job was for men since I was the only lady but through theory and practical lessons facilitated by a lady, I discovered that I was equally able to do the job.
My participation in borehole repairing and water pump management inspired other 4 women from the community to join the training. To put into practice my training, I first started by repairing a local borehole which had not been in use for a long time. Borehole repairing is a challenging job because it requires precision and leaves no room for mistakes and the first borehole that I repaired is now working properly, people are even fetching water from it.
I have become a role model to fellow women in Shamva and more women keeps on emulating me. Together with other trained members, we will keep on repairing and managing our surrounding boreholes for community members to have easy access to portable water.
DAPP Zimbabwe has embarked on community Cholera awareness-raising campaigns to improve health and hygiene practices and prevent the spread of cholera in Chimanimani District.
We are working village health workers to conduct door- to door- cholera awareness in Mhandarume, Chakohwa, and Guhune in wards 2, 3 and 4, says Esnath Gunurai the DAPP project leader. “ The village health workers and project volunteers’ work include sharing messages on cholera transmission, symptoms and prevention techniques.”
DAPP Zimbabwe believes that when the affected people know how to protect themselves from diseases, they take action. “Our messages build on local knowledge and through this, we hope to see positive health-seeking behaviors”
DAPP Zimbabwe is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care in implementing the Anticipatory Action for Cholera Outbreak Prevention in Chimanimani District.
Cholera remains a public health emergency in Zimbabwe where an outbreak of cholera was first recorded on 12 February 2023 with cases on the increase in eight out of the ten provinces of Zimbabwe. Manicaland province remains on high alert after recording over 1 500 cholera infections, the second highest cases in the country.
This project is made possible by funding from the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) and Civil Society in Development (CISU) through UFF HUMANA
As Cholera cases continue to rise in the country, Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Zimbabwe has launched an emergency Cholera response program in Chimanimani District Manicaland province which was recently declared a Cholera Hotspot.
Speaking during program launch in Chimanimani, DAPP Programs Director Ruth Makumbe said the Cholera Outbreak Prevention program is in direct response to the call by government to provide comprehensive cholera response actions to curb the spread of the disease.
“The Anticipatory Action for Cholera Outbreak Prevention program which is supported by The Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) and Civil Society in Development (CISU) through Humana People to People UFF Denmark aims to contribute to the prevention of a broad cholera in Wards 2, 3, and 4 of Chimanimani District.”
“Over the next 6 months DAPP will work closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, local health cadres and village action committees to prevent and control cholera transmission and improve access to clean water for domestic use in the targeted wards. We are confident that through this program we will see a reduction in Cholera related infections and deaths.”
Speaking at the same occasion the Chimanimani District Medical officer, Donatas Mugari called for a multi-sectorial approach to stop Chorela in its tracks. “Manicaland is a Cholera hotspot and Cholera cases are on the increase. We need more players to come in to complement the government in efforts to curb the spread of this disease.”
According to the World Health Organization, cholera is an acute waterborne diarrheal disease that is preventable if people have access to safe water and sanitation and practice good hygiene but can kill within hours if left untreated.
