Spotlight: Clearwater Primary School, Chipinge, Zimbabwe

Classroom under a tree

Our team recently visited Clearwater Primary School to start a new partnership. The school is in Chipinge, which is in the Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe, nestled within beautiful tea plantations. I have fond memories of school at Clearwater Primary as a kid.

Talking to students

Clearwater is one of the best primary schools in the district. As of September 8, 2023, the school boasts an enrollment of 1,400 students (Grade 1-7), serving students from the surrounding farms and villages. The average classroom of over 50 students. Most of them walk many miles to school on empty stomachs.

Teacher and students under a tree

The school’s infrastructure is dilapidated including, buildings, benches, chairs, and desks. With a large enrollment and insufficient infrastructure, many students learn outside under trees, which is impractical during severe weather.

School buildings

Besides refurbishing the old buildings, desks, blackboards, the school needs at least two blocks of buildings to accommodate for the several classes that are held outside. The teachers also need pens, chalk, erasers, notebooks, textbooks and more to help them teach well. Many students from the villages need financial aid to pay for school fees and other basic school stationary. Some drop out before reaching the 7th grade for that reason.

Students learning under a tree

The students, teachers, and staff at Clearwater are cheerful and disciplined, which is a key factor in the school’s academic success for decades. Our team enjoyed interacting with the students and teachers and we look forward to a bright partnership to ensure students have enough resources to succeed.

With some students and teachers