Learners with disabilities at Fatima get boarding ...

Learners with disabilities at Fatima get boarding facilities

Zim Now Writer

Learners with disabilities at Fatima Primary School in Matabeleland North Province are set to benefit from boarding facilities being constructed at the institution by a Bulawayo-based non-governmental organization.

The NGO’s Italian partners, Associazione Amici Di Padre Savino — Onlus, an association of people living with disability — are funding the project whose aim is to strengthen the country’s drive towards facilitating inclusive education.

Executive director of Uluntu Community Foundation, Sibusisiwe Sithole, said the project will assist with accommodation and learning aids for learners living with disabilities at the institution.

“Uluntu and its partners noted the accommodation challenges affecting learners living with disability and resolved to construct boarding facilities and provide furniture for disabled learners to ensure that they learn in an enabling environment,” she said.

The learners are currently being accommodated at the neighbouring Fatima High School and a local Roman Catholic Church building, a walking distance from the school.

Uluntu Community Foundation communications officer Mandlenkosi Moyo said they will rope in other key stakeholders involved in advocating for the rights of disabled learners.

“A project of this magnitude requires a multi-stakeholder approach and advocacy towards its implementation so that the boarding facility can be sustainable. This is why we will engage stakeholders such as relevant government ministries and other organisations with a stake in disability rights and primary education,” he said.

Fatima Primary School authorities said the initiative will help in promoting inclusive education at community and provincial level.

“Fatima Primary School is a referral centre in the province for learners with disability due to the presence of qualified staff and infrastructure which are disability friendly, but sadly we lacked boarding facilities,” said the school headmaster, Peter Ngona.

Established in 2008, Uluntu Community Foundation focuses on the sustainability of communities through harnessing knowledge, education and resources to alleviate poverty.

It has been operating mainly in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo provinces to facilitate community-led and people-centred development to alleviate poverty, hunger and empower communities in response to pandemics and other natural disasters.