Overall targets
The long-term vision for EWB-DK’s engagement in the Lupane district in Zimbabwe is to increase the influence of Zimbabwean citizens acting collectively for more democratic and accountable governance, using strategic service delivery in the educational sector as leverage and entry point.
Immediate targets
The project aims to strengthen the participation and engagement of parents in securing adequate school facilities and learning conditions for their children. To achieve this, the project has three immediate objectives: 1. Well-functioning School Development Committees at all four selected schools, who are able to assess and prioritise needs, develop holistic development plans and mobilise the community 2. Selected communities are mobilised, engaged in renovation projects and aware of children’s educational rights 3. Capacity building of CYVAT in management and project implementation
Target groups
The project will improve the educational conditions at the four targeted schools, working directly with the school development committees and strengthen the capacity of the local partner CYVAT. The project activities target a total of more than 800 schoolchildren at the four schools and the members of the school development committees. SDC: 28 members of the School Development Committees. Ward councillors are given members of the SDC and engagement of the local authorities are therefore ensured. CYVAT: Staff and management – 20 persons Communities: The project will also reach out to the local communities around the school to raise awareness of their rights to free education and at the same time engage them in the school project. An estimated 800 people/parents will be involved in dialogue and awareness raising activities.
Resume
This initiative seeks to strengthen local school governance at four primary schools in the Lupane district in Zimbabwe and improve access to education. The initiative seeks to build civic capacity to address local issues related to education, but also, in a wider perspective, to establish more robust and organised local civic structures that can engage and mitigate the fragile situations many parts of the country face. The entry point being schools and education is thus a means and strategic tool to promote civic education and engagement in the wider development agenda working with local strategic stakeholders at four selected rural primary schools in the Lupane District. The activities will be implemented in partnership between Engineers without Borders Denmark (EWB-DK), Care4People, and local partner Christian Youth Volunteers Association Trust (CYVAT). This application forms part of a strategy to improve learning conditions and secure access to adequate education at selected schools in the Lupane district in Zimbabwe. EWB-DK is currently working with CYVAT to implement a DERF funded project at the four schools that are included in this project. The project partners wish to continue collaborating with the schools aiming to strengthen the capacity of the School Development Committees through support to project management and development of school development plans. The activities in this application include small-scale renovations as a strategic opportunity to work with school governance, capacity building and mobilisation of the community.