Former La Trobe MP Jason Wood supports Belgrave teacher Rob Simmons in his quest to build a secondary school in Zimbabwe. 50011
By Casey Neill
A BELGRAVE teacher needs help from the hills to improve education in a poor African village.
Rob Simmons is collecting cash to build a secondary school in Gurambira, Zimbabwe.
He’s been helping the town’s primary school for more than 10 years and now wants to enable students to continue their education and build a better life.
Mr Simmons, who works at Emmaus College in Vermont South, said secondary school students from the village currently walk more than 10 kilometres to classes each day.
“They then have to do all their chores, collect wood and water, tend the fields, and still find time to do their homework,” he said.
“Generally what happens is these kids drop out. By the time they get to year eight the grind wears them down.”
Mr Simmons has worked with authorities in Gurambira for permission to build a two-room classroom, teachers’ accommodation and toilet block.
Workers are clearing land and collecting sand to make bricks. The buildings will emerge over the next 12 months.
“It’s passed all the hurdles in terms of the authorities,” Mr Simmons said.
“It’s just the money now.”
He needs about $20,000 to finish the buildings, but Mr Simmons hopes classes will be up and running this time next year. There are already 80 students enrolled.
“The whole community is excited about the whole thing,” he said.
The primary school’s teachers approached Mr Simmons with the idea for a high school. “They make the decisions. I just try to help them,” he said.
His association with the primary school began in 1999.
“I saw a photo of a cupboard that was going to become their library and it was just bare,” he said.
He sent them some books his children had outgrown.
“And I got this fantastic letter back from the headmistress, Matildah,” he said.
They began to correspond regularly.
“The more I learnt about the school, the more I realised they were in a bit of trouble,” Mr Simmons said.
Student fees fund every aspect of school except teachers’ salaries. Many parents can’t afford the annual $3 per child so Mr Simmons initially chipped in for 11 students.
He now pays for almost 300 and helps others continue on to secondary school.
He funded one student, Mayliess Ncube, to study textiles. She now produces school uniforms to support her family. Her story is in stark contrast to girls who leave school.
“They’re basically getting married at 15 and having children by the time they’re 16,” he said.
“Because of her secondary eduction, Mayliess has been able to put that off.”
Send an email gurambira@yahoo.com or call the Mail on 9736 1044 to help Mr Simmons.
