Ex-Mighty Warrior Moyo in drive for scholarships

SINCE the start of the new year, former Mighty Warriors Forward Precious Moyo has spent most of her time travelling to different schools, trying to secure scholarships for the orphans that she takes care of.

Of the 53 children under her orphanage, seven of them got educational scholarships at Nyashanu High School in Buhera while eight others were enrolled at Chibi High School in Masvingo.

Although this has given a bit of relief to Moyo who is also a rising farmer in Chegutu, she still has a larger task ahead.

While she has had to enrol countless other orphans in various day schools around the mining town, she is still trying to secure more scholarships.

Her wish is to have all “her” children in boarding schools.

“We still have about 30 more orphans whom we wish to get scholarships for, so far the 15 who were lucky this term started this week when schools opened,” she said.

“I am relieved a bit, part of the burden has been lifted off my shoulders and I am hoping for the best with the others.

“Another school (name withheld) has promised to give us feedback within the first two weeks since schools opened so we are looking forward to something positive.

“I did not enjoy the festive season, pressure weighed me down . . . I was stressed, I wanted these kids to be in school.”

Moyo had to dig into pockets to pay school fees for those who missed out on scholarships.

All the orphans are from around the Chegutu community.

Compelled to reinvent their circumstances and breathe life to a bleak situation, she had to establish an orphanage at her parents’ place before constructing structures at her farm.

Due to poverty, most of these orphans had dropped out of school while others were neglected by their guardians.

Others had to be taken off the streets where they lived.

Moyo went on to set up junior, social football teams and tournaments to keep them busy while she sought a sustainable plan.

“I barely rest . . . it is either I am at the farm, working or I am out and about just to make sure that I give these children a chance at a better life,” said Moyo.

“My childhood was not easy, I understand what they have to go through because I was also in that situation at some point and do not wish for any of them to be in that position.”

Moyo wishes to see all these children enrolled in school, penning a new script for their own lives.

While others have been offered full scholarships, she still has to provide for some who got partial grants.

During school holidays, Moyo will also help them balance school and football.

“I do not want them to sit idle because this is when the devil creeps in, remember that some of these children were rescued from crime and all sorts of deviancy.

“I do not want to be complacent lest they are tempted to go back to their old ways,” she said.

“I am also appealing for psychologists who can come in periodically to talk to them especially during school holidays, I believe it can be teamwork for us to give them a better life.”*