Raymond Jaravaza
FOLLOWING last year’s poultry rearing workshop that targeted teachers and Bulawayo residents, the Brian Samuriwo Foundation has empowered educators from around the city with chicks and stock feed in a programme meant to empower local schools.
The donation was made at Hamilton High School last Friday during a Teachers4ED Bulawayo chapter empowerment training workshop.
Teachers4ED is an affiliate of the ruling party, Zanu PF, that was established to economically empower educators so that they can be active participants in the national economy and help propel the country into an middle-upper class economy by 2030, the Government’s economic blueprint.
Last year in August over 250 residents, youths, and teachers from 12 local schools from Luveve and Emakhandeni suburs gathered to learn the art of raising chickens, transforming ordinary classrooms into hubs of practical education.
Organised by the Samuriwo Foundation and expertly guided by Profeeds, the workshop offered a hands-on masterclass in poultry management.
Participants were shown how to care for road runners, egg layers, and broilers — the foundation stones of a thriving new project.
The proprietor of the Samuriwo Foundation, Mr Brian Samuriwo, said the initiative targets sustainability. School-run poultry units will provide food, income and hands-on learning. His goal is to see every participating school operating a viable enterprise within the year.
“Our goal is simple: we support the vision of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa to empower citizens. We want to equip teachers so they can support their families and strengthen their schools. Empowered teachers create empowered learners, and that drives long-term community growth,” said Mr Samuriwo.
“Investing in teachers is investing in the nation’s future. When teachers have the tools to generate income, they are more secure, more motivated and better able to serve their learners,” he added.
Mr Samuriwo said his other business, KoSamuriwo Pub and Grill, will be the guaranteed buyer of the produce so beneficiaries will not have to worry about finding a market. “KoSamuriwo Pub and Grill will buy the product, so farmers shouldn’t worry about marketing their produce which I’ve seen drive people away from farming. What they must do is increase volumes so they can improve their lives,” he said.
The Samuriwo Foundation, founded by Bulawayo businessman Mr Samuriwo, is spearheading an iniative to disburse 12 industrial hatcheries to Luveve and Emakhandeni schools as well as chicks, along with stock feed and vaccinations.
Mrs Perceverence Hadebe, the Teachers4ED Bulawayo chapter district coordinator hailed the empowerment initiative for uplifting the lives of educators and schools.
“The empowerment programme is still is its infancy but has a tone on the importance of empowering Teachers with the tools to make extra money for themselves as well as helping their relative schools to run successful income generating projects. A society with empowered teachers will certainly thrive because we build and guide the future of our learners and we will certainly work extra hard when we are economically empowered,” said Mrs Hadebe.
Zanu Pf Bulawayo Province chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda, who was the guest of honour at the Teachers4ED Bulawayo chapter empowerment training workshop urged civil servants to be proactive in preparing for life after retirement, warning that many pensioners struggle due to a lack of alternative income streams.
“Let us start preparing for a comfortable life after retirement now so that by the time we retire we have other sources of income that will add onto what we will be getting from our pension. Old age poverty is real.
“Teachers spend their adult life impacting knowledge onto others but it’s also important for them to learn how to start businesses and run income-generating projects,” said Cde Sibanda.
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