Finding a future in Zimbabwe
Runako, Zimbabwe: “When I was at school I saw things change, my life changed.”
Runako was born in a fragmented family of four boys. His father passed away in 1998 and his mother died in 2001. His stepmother took care of him for five years but then she died and Runako’s troubles began.
No one was willing to look after him, but eventually one of his elder brothers transferred him to their uncle. The uncle was abusive and would not pay Runako’s school fees. The uncle found a job for Runako at a local farm as a herdsman, even though he was still a child. He worked there for two months, before his brother took him to stay with a friend of his step mother. Life seemed enjoyable at first as he went to school like other children, but soon she stopped him going to school. Runako returned to the farm where he had once worked but the situation was worse than before. In August 2009, he started living on the streets of Harare.
Workers from Streets Ahead found him. They talked to Runako and tried to trace his family, but paternal relatives refused to take him and no maternal relatives could be found. So Streets Ahead found a school where Runako could complete his primary education. He continued to secondary level and is now in form three. Despite the sometimes harsh conditions at school, Runako is sailing through and his performance shows hope for a bright future.
Runako says
“In 2010, I was in Form 1, I did well in my learning and achieved many things. In 2011 I was elected to be a Junior Councillor in the local community. I worked well with my community and now have precious life through Streets Ahead.”
With your help in these difficult times, we are there to support our partners: providing funding and advice. In the face of adversity, partners like Streets Ahead continue to deliver the highest quality care. We are proud to support their work.
The British High Commission in Zambia is hosting an event for the Cycle Africa team on 22 May 2012. Representatives from our Zambian partners will be joining Savina (our Overseas Programmes Director) and volunteer Veronique to meet the cyclists and raise the awareness of street children and the profile of our partners. Click on the link above to read more and follow their fantastic blog.
Well done and thank you to Jane, Lisa and Seeta who took part in the London Marathon on Sunday. The picture is of Jane on the course in her Street Child Africa running vest. We appreciate all your efforts for us and the children we help.
Thank you to everyone who bought a chicken. You raised an impressive £1,258, which means over 200 chickens can be bought. An amazing achievement, which will make a real difference.
Well done to the 50 pupils from St John's School in Leatherhead “slept rough” on their school Quad to raise over £8,000 for Street Child Africa. St John's will be supporting our partner in Zambia, Friends of the Street Children, throughout the year. Read more in our school's "Hall of Fame" by clicking the title above.