Sir Humphrey Gibbs Training Centre: Giving a Home and Hope to People Living With Disabilities
The institution, which was formally established in 1963, is a result of community efforts of parents of children living with disabilities. It commenced with only 12 children, after their parents felt these special children needed a facility and environment that would enable them to fully express themselves and therefore achieve the highest possible personal growth.
Situated in the suburb of Kumalo, the facility was well built and equipped with most of the necessary requirements. However, there has been deterioration due to prolonged use and lack of refurbishment, which is a direct result of the unavailability of funds. The lack of financial resources is due to the economic meltdown that ravaged the country, incapacitating the relevant Government Departments to render meaningful assistance to such institutions.
However, the centre recently received donations from Government, through the Office of the Governor, as it is registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. It also managed to acquire a gas cooker to assist in the campus kitchen. Previously, the staff were using firewood to compliment the erratic power cuts. The facility is also in the process of devising means to begin utilising the recently repaired electric cookers.
Pic: Lunchtime at the school’s dining hall
The school campus is a labyrinth of classrooms, offices and boarding hostels that were built at the time of its inception. These buildings have however succumbed to the elements and are in dire need of a facelift and refurbishment.
The increased charges for the utilities, such as rates and power, are proving to be a major set-back to the operations of the institution as they gulp the lion’s share of the meagre revenue the school manages to collect from tuition fees of the children.
Currently, there are 72 students, 64 of whom are residing at the school premises. There is gender balance in enrolment as about half of the students are females.
The facility is also in need of a mini-bus to assist in ferrying the students and staff to various destinations. Under normal circumstances, the school would be embarking on numerous educational tours to enable the students to learn from practical examples of normal life and to help them be at ease with their surroundings, hence capacitating them to absorb their lessons much more easily. 
Pic: Some of the wares produced a the centre’s carpentry workshop
However, these tours can no longer be part of the learning process due to the lack of proper and sufficient transport means. The institution only boasts of one minibus, the condition of which has severely deteriorated. The centre is actively appealing for a donation of another minibus or a bus.
The institution offers the normal national primary school curriculum to its students and was recently awarded the Grade 7 Examination Centre status by the Ministry of Education. However, the students are accorded the opportunity to complete the curriculum at their own pace to allow for a deep understanding of their studies.
“We have a basic curriculum, which is being taught to all primary schools nationwide. We recently received a Grade 7 Examination Centre status. It is however important to note that we do not sit for these examinations every year as our pupils learn at different paces. We only have examinations when we feel we have students who are ready for that. For instance, we have not had any such examination in the past two years,” said Reverend Andrew Bafana, the Superintendent.
The Centre, which was named after the then governor of Southern Rhodesia, Sir Humphrey Gibbs, also offers life skills training to adults living with challenges. There are some pupils here enrolled who do not have any known relations.
Some of these were enrolled through the Department of Social Welfare. Having turned 18, they were automatically disqualified to benefit from the Government committal grant, but the institution could not discharge them only to suffer in the street. The Centre engages in skills training programmes for all adult residents/students. These include carpentry, fashion and fabrics, laundry and gardening.
Pic: Rev Bafana gives a hand at the centre’s garden
“There are those who have been here, and will be here, for the rest of their lives. They look at the institution as their only home. Most of these people will not be able to pick up employment. They are involved in our skills training and we would love to expose them to the outside world.
We are currently working on enrolling some of them at places like Ehlekweni Training Centre, whose programmes we hope will enrich their training. Three have already been identified for this. This is set to boost their self-esteem, as it will show them that their disabilities are not a hindrance in exhibiting their talents and prospering in their field of work” he said.
The centre is a member of Zimcare Trust.
Rev Bafana said if the institution had the resources; it would integrate these by acquiring outside accommodation for some of its adult members. This will be to teach and allow them the chance to feel and experience all the responsibilities that come with adulthood. He said this development would enable them to realise their full potential as individuals.
“Our vision is that if they go to these outside institutions and do well, within their (own) parameters, we can then recommend their employment in their own homes, which will allow them an income of their own and further allow for positive integration. In the long run, we may say the institution must have houses outside, so that our people may run them but with some supervision,” said Rev Bafana, who is a clergyman of the Anglican Church.
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