The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
Save The Children Foundation has offered to provide psycho-social services to St Charles Lwanga Seminary Secondary school children who were affected by Cyclone Idai last week resulting in the death of two learners and the security guard at the school.
The children were marooned at the school for three days after a mudslide released a huge rock from the mountain which hit the school’s dining hall before hitting a hostel where the children were sleeping.
Save the Children programmes officer Mr Shephered Zvidzayi said the students had gone through a traumatising experience after losing their colleagues and enduring the cyclone while stranded at the school.
“We understand that the children have already been taken by their parents so it will be difficult for us to reach all of them now. But when the school reopens, we will be on hand to offer psycho-social assistance, counselling, so that we make sure that they move on from this traumatising experience. We have a partner who we will work with but we are still coming up with ways of carrying out the programme,” he said.
The foundation is among numerous organisations and individuals that have come forward to offer support to victims of Cyclone Idai.
Save the Children donated items that include blankets, water treatment chemicals, sanitary wear, utensils and food items to cater for 200 families.
FBC bank and POSB also joined the list of well-wishers who had handed over their donations to the Provincial Administrator’s office by yesterday.
FBC Bank donated 20 tonnes of groceries and 1 000 litres of fuel while POSB contributed over 200 blankets and groceries valued at $15 000.
POSB acting public relations manager Mrs Dion Mpofu said the bank had engaged its clients and other stakeholders to come forwards with donations which they would continue sending to the victims.
Brands Fresh Mutare also donated one tone of potatoes and another tonne of butternuts to assist the families in Chimanimani.
The University of Zimbabwe has also stretched its hand to help the cyclone victims and to support the family that lost a UZ student who was doing attachment with the Environment Management Agency in Chimanimani.
The institution donated 2000 blankets, 2000 Towels, medical sundries and drugs worth $10 000.
Dean of Students at UZ, Dr Munyaradzi Madambi said they also have a team of clinical psychologists, social workers, engineers who were on their way to Chimanimani and other affected areas.
Net-one also donated food stuffs worth $50 000 towards the disaster.
The mobile network operator has also embarked on rehabilitation programs to restore the network infrastructure that was destroyed by the cyclone.
NetOne executive director marketing communications Dr Eldrette Shereni said they are working flat out to restore network in the affected parts.
“Network has been down in some parts of Manicaland province. Ten NetOne stations from Chipinge and Chimanimani had been affected but we already have people working on some of the accessible stations,” she said.
