Company director and wife support school for the underprivileged
BULAWAYO – Disturbed by the alarming rate of school drop-out cases that occurred during the worst times of Zimbabwe’s decade long economic meltdown, a group of concerned residents decided to take measures that would effectively address the issue.
Thus was born, the Toc H Study Group. Established 2007, the initiative began as a holiday supplementary learning project that engaged retired teachers. But as demand for the school’s services grew, there arose the necessity for it to adopt the status of a full-time educational facility.
The Project currently has 40 children enrolled in the upper forms at its Famona premises. To its credit, the Facility has, since its inception, seen 10 of its students successfully attain their Cambridge O level certificate; an achievement that it is duly proud of.
Yet according to key drivers at this institution of learning, co-directors of safety wear firm WKS Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd., Stephen Shirto and his lovely wife Felicia, the situation at the school has not been entirely plain sailing. Mr. Shirto recalls that during the time when the Nation’s economy was at its worst, the Project had almost stalled on several occasions. “Trustees often had to, quite literally, dip into their own pockets, in order to ensure the school’s survival,” he explained.
Asked whether students paid school fees, Mr. Shirto revealed that the institution required its enrolled members to pay a nominal fee that is subsidised by funding from well-wishers. He added that all students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and would not be able to pay fees demanded by older established schools. “Many of our students are exceedingly bright. It would be a sad thing to allow such talent to go to waste,” said Mr. Shirto.
Describing the motivation behind the School’s creation, Mr. Shirto said the decision to establish it was made due to concern by Trustees, that children from marginalised sectors of society were being overlooked by the Country’s educational system. He went on to say; “As parents it pains us to realise that some children will be forced to miss out on a valuable part of their upbringing because of misplaced perceptions that are unfortunately evident in society. The institution was started in order to address this anomaly.”
Looking to the future, Mr. Shirto said that the Toc H Study Group’s Trustees have plans to establish a fully fledged college, run as a home for such children and added that the objective for this was to ensure that they would be able to achieve their optimum potential. The intention, he said was that besides aiming to establish the envisaged college as a wholly accredited examination centre, the new institution would be moulded around a home style environment comprising classroom blocks complemented by a series of manageable self contained house-hold units. Each one of these units would be supervised by a qualified care giver, he added.
For its continued existence, the Institution relies heavily upon the generosity of well-wishers. The Shirto’s business establishment, together with other businesses, contributes a portion of profits towards the Facility’s upkeep, which includes educators’ salaries, school fees and expenses for students.
However, as Mr. Shirto points out, these are difficult times, with the Nation’s economy still in a shambolic state. He concludes; “In spite of the sterling efforts being made by benefactors, there is still much assistance needed in order to enable the Toc H Study Group to keep its doors open.
Indeed, it would be a sad day should this worthwhile effort be forced to shut its doors for good, due to lack of funding. You the reader through your generosity could make a difference and keep the Toc H Study Group alive.
Contributions may be made by utilisation of the following contact details:
The Communications Officer,
The Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust,
12a Park Road,
Suburbs. Bulawayo. Zimbabwe.
Telephone: +263 9 232616. Email: