The ManicaPost
Malven Mugadzikwa
Post Correspondent
FORMER Chirarwe Primary School students have embarked on various projects that are meant to develop both their former school and surrounding communities.
Chirarwe Old Students Association (COSA), formed by Mr Kelvin Rufaro, is defying odds in Chirarwe community as the association has come up with massive projects and youth activities that are going to see development in the area and at Chirarwe Primary School.
“We have formed this association with the purpose of bringing development at our former school and the surrounding Chirarwe community. We are engaging youths in the community through various activities as a way of encouraging them to shun drugs as most youths around the country are having their dreams shuttered through drug abuse.
“We have also embarked in various projects in the surrounding communities to bring development and improve the livelihoods of those who live in communities surrounding our former school,” said Mr Rufaro.
COSA was formed in 2012 and started online activities that saw more members joining the association.
Some of the members of the association are abroad and are actively contributing towards the improvement of their former school and the surrounding community.
In 2016 the association started sponsoring price giving ceremonies at the school.
This has seen many students receiving various prices and accolades.
Mr Rufaro says the prize giving ceremonies are meant to encourage students to excel in their academic endeavours.
In 2021 the association hosted its inaugural prize giving day for both Chirarwe primary and secondary schools.
“Besides these prize giving day ceremonies at our former school, we have also seen it necessary to upgrade the school, especially in terms of technology. We have now secured a computer laboratory at Chirarwe Primary School. We are still sourcing computers from our UK COSA members and funding to install solar power since there is no electricity at the school.
“During our time at the school, we had no computers and we only got to study computers at later stages. We want the current students at the school to tell a different story. They are supposed to be computer literate at their early stages so that they fit perfectly into the global village,” said Mr Rufaro.
The association has also secured a stand for a clinic to be constructed.
Mr Rufaro
The medical facility will be under the jurisdiction of the Government.
COSA will avail some of the materials required in the construction and the running of the clinic.
Mr Rufaro said the clinic will be a positive development in the area as people have to walk long distances to access health services.
The association has also embarked on roads rehabilitation in collaboration with the District Development Fund (DDF) and Mutasa Rural District Council.
The association is equipping villagers with tools to use in repairing roads and drainage systems within the area.
The association has also helped in the construction of bridges within the Chirarwe community.
Besides development projects, COSA has engaged the youths in various sporting activities as a way of reducing drug abuse cases and reducing drop-outs due to child marriages.
“We work hand in hand with parents and village heads to mould our youths. We have formed a soccer and netball team. The teams are sponsored by COSA. These teams are functional through out the year and they have particular days on which they meet for their sporting activities.
At the end of every year we hold a football and netball tournament which involves parents and youths from the community. At the end of the tournament we hold a party. In this tournament we invite teams from Honde Valley, Pafiwa and Newengo, among other areas. This is a way of keeping the youths occupied so that they don’t end up being involved in drugs.”
