A toast to the First Lady
I come from a not so well-to-do family and as a result my parents have always been struggling to put food on the table let alone pay for my school fees. All has not been well for me at school since I always found myself thinking about the challenges to have my school fees paid.
The situation was made worse when I realised that some of my peers would easily pay up their fees and were never sent back home. The burden was too much for me to shoulder considering that I am also a girl. Hope was fading with each passing day.
My future looked so bleak with no ray of hope at the end of the dark tunnel of misery.
During class discussions, I would lack the confidence to participate. I was now a slave of my plight and it was wearing me down so fast while at the same time tormenting my soul.
However, The Angel of Hope Foundation through the right hand of God intervened. Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa is my saviour. There could have been no better time for her to come to my rescue than on August 10 this year. This is the most memorable date in the history of my existence on this planet, probably till heaven calls me home.
Tears streamed down my cheeks on the day as the good news was broken to me by the school director, Mr Archiford Gwangwadze and the principal Mr Edwin Muronzi.
I was told that I was among the few learners who had been chosen to attend a special function at State House. The philanthropic Dr Mnangagwa, through her network of benefactors, managed to remember the vulnerable girl children struggling with paying their school fees. I am one of the chosen few. The benevolent First Lady hosted us at such a momentous occasion, the first and am sure the best one in my life.
Getting to the State House on its own was awesome and having been offered the scholarship became the icing to the cake. May I take this opportunity to thank Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa for such a generous offer. You did not only
touch my soul, you have overhauled my life, my focus, my vision and am now a completely different creature altogether raring to fly to dizzy heights in life. Your life changing charitable work is greatly appreciated. May you please keep up
the good work and continue to help many needy and vulnerable girls that find themselves in predicaments similar to mine. Allow me to make this pledge Your Excellency: “Handikunyadzisei. Ndichashanda nesimba kusvika kumagumo.
Ndazadzisirwa chishuwo changu chekuzova chiremba munyika yedu yeZimbabwe.”
May the Almighty bless you abundantly. ◆ Florence Mariwo is a 13-year-old Form
One student at Munashe Private High
School in Mutoko. She is one of the beneficiaries of the scholarships granted through a partnership of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation and Merck Foundation.