WEST NORFOLK METHODIST CIRCUIT Climate and Justice Group Matjinge Fund
The 16 churches in West Norfolk Methodist Circuit are twinned with Matjinge Methodist Circuit, Zimbabwe, in a mutually supportive partnership. One of our Ministers, Rev. Dr Richman Ncube, grew up in Matjinge and was educated at Matjinge High School, which is run by the Methodist Circuit. We aim to support the Matjinge Circuit as it addresses the many challenges it faces.
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0Matjinge is a rural community in the beautiful province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe.
The Superintendent of the Methodist Circuit is Rev Mufaro Chuma.
Matjinge Methodist Mission runs a Primary School and boarding High School. About 195 children attend the school. Simple dormitories accommodate 120 boarders, 75 girls and 45 boys. Many are orphans.
There are also day scholars; some walk over 20 kilometres every day between home and school.Most of the children’s guardians or parents live and work abroad in South Africa, Namibia, or Botswana, where they can earn more money than in Zimbabwe.
Most good schools in Zimbabwe are unaffordable. Matjinge provides hope to many poor children whose families cannot afford expensive boarding schools.
The Matjinge Circuit faces many challenges and hardships. With climate change, drought occurs almost every year. As a result, the school’s borehole was running dry and children were having to walk about 5 kilometres to fetch water. The headteacher, James Ndlovu, explains how this affected the pupils in this short video.
With support from churches in the West Norfolk Methodist Circuit, a borehole was successfully restored on the school grounds, about 300 m from the girls' dormitory and 200 m from the main school buildings. You can see the spray of water in this short video!
Next, a pump was needed. Together with the school leaders, we chose a solar powered system installed by a local engineering company.
The water is pumped to two storage tanks to provide a regular supply to three taps - one for the school, one for the manse and one for the community.
The School community gathered to celebrate the new system.
In August, Rev Dr Richman Ncube visited the school to see the water system for himself and taste the water! Everything was working well.
We received these wonderful letters of thanks from the school.
Our next project is to erect a 160m fence around the Manse and garden to keep out the goats so the minister and his team can grow vegetables.
Could you help us in our efforts to support the children and families in Matjinge Circuit?