Sustainability in Zimbabwe

MAY 2023 NARRATIVE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The month of May was a packed one in terms of activities at BVBIZ. Several developments both in classes and outside the classroom were noted. Besides classes that went on well, training of students in life survival skills and development of the school’s projects base took center stage in the month. These and more are reported below;

1.0 TRAINING

BVBIZ aims to be a college of excellence that produces holistically empowered, highly qualified and competent servants of God through a robust training and development program relevant to the community we are operating in. To achieve this, the school continues to inculcate life survival skills in students. Training of students in a number of areas have been a regular feature in the school’s curriculum as we continue to prepare them for life after school. Some of these are reported hereunder;

 

1.1 ROAD RUNNER AND GOAT PRODUCTION TRAINING

BVBIZ was privileged to have Brother Tatenda Tizora facilitating a workshop on the 1st to the 3rd of May tagged the One Cock Project geared towards the profitable production of free range (road runner projects). The workshop also dedicated time on goat production.  Students, BVBIZ staff and some members of the community attended this workshop. It remains a talk in both the school and community.

 

1.2 SUSTAINABLE GARDENS TRAINING WORKSHOP

From the 15th to the 17th of May, BVBIZ hosted a Sustainable Gardening Workshop facilitated by Healing Hands International. The workshop benefited both the students and the community. The workshop came with several lessons ranging from composite making, use of drip system, preparation of beds, planting, disease control, and marketing of crops among many other notables.

 

1.3 PROJECT PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION TRAINING

In order to drive the schools goal of having viable and sustainable projects, staff members needed training in Project Planning Monitoring and Evaluation. This training successfully took place on the 17th of May and was facilitated by Brother John Dube. Two guest preachers who had attended the sustainable garden workshop were there as well for the program.

2.0 PROJECTS

2.1 APPRECIATION

Praise Chiruka who was our projects assistant cum administrator left BVBIZ on the 5th of May. She had been with the institution for one complete year. The school appreciates her contributions to the school including fine tuning our projects drive. The school wishes her well in her future endevours.

                                        

2.2 HEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL (HHI) DONATIONS

Healing Hands International took BVBIZ to another level by donating funds towards three areas that are key in the school’s drive towards viable projects.

2.2.1 EXTRA STORAGE TANKS AND GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION

Greenhouses are an important component in horticulture. The costs of setting them up is usually prohibitive. A greenhouse has been on the school’s wish list for long. BVBIZ is happy to report that HHI chipped in with funds for its construction. The funds were also to cater for trellising poles, trenching, fencing, laying of drip system, seedlings and initial fertilizers and chemicals. The target was for a 20m x 30m greenhouse. Instead of one, after recommendations and consultations, two were eventually put up with each measuring 10m x 33m. Further to this, a tank stand and 2 x 5000 litre water tanks were also installed.  BVBIZ faculty and all stakeholders are grateful to HHI this gesture. As of the 31st of May, the fence, fertilizers and chemicals were outstanding.

2.2.2 FOWL RUN AND LAYERS PROJECT

The intended layers project sponsored by HHI started taking shape during the last two days of the month with the arrival of 8000 bricks for the construction of a fowl run. The target is to have 250 hens.

 

3.0 OTHER DONATIONS

3.1 FUNDS

BVBIZ is grateful to many brothers and sisters who continue to donate in both cash and kind to ensure the training and development of preachers continue. These donations, despite the size or level continue to make a huge difference in the school’s operations. BVBIZ remains grateful to the Chirenda family who contributed $110 and the Mpofu family (Ngosilathi and Katie) who donated $500. May God bless these two families and all others who have been collaborating the school one way or another.

3.2 ALUMNI DONATION

Individual members of the alumni wing have been wonderful in collaborating the school one way or another. These members took their support to another level when they mobilized resources and bought a 50-inch Samsung Television set, a TV stand and a decoder for students. This huge gap was filled. The present student body is very happy with this development. The faculty wishes to express its profound gratitude to the alumni wing for this great gesture of giving back to their school.

 

4.0 PRACTICUM

The conventional class shall start its field practicum in July whilst those on the parallel program began on the 1st of May as detailed in the previous report. The following areas/congregations are going to benefit from our July – September 2023 program;

Mufakose – Harare

Kuwadzana –Harare

Chisumbanje-Manicaland

Paradise Park-Gweru, Midlands

Chivi-Masvingo

 

5.0 CURRICULUM PROGRESS

The following subjects are under consideration this term; James, Church Growth, Christian Spiritual Formation, Major Prophets, Church History, Advanced Homiletics, Romans, Greek and Church Leadership. The following intended workshops seminars have already been done; Sustainable gardens workshop, roadrunner (free-range chickens) production, goat production and lastly Project Planning Monitoring and Evaluation for staff members.

6.0 WHERE ARE THEY?

Each month BVBIZ endevours to trace the whereabouts of one of its graduates. This month, we focus on Simangaliso Jamela (Class of 2021).

Simangaliso Jamela is married to Synodia chinanga and were blessed with one girl. He grew interest in the word of God back while he was still at primary school when a congregation was planted in his home area. Since then the grace of the Lord has seen him through. He enrolled with BVBI in the year 2018. With the grace of God, he graduated with a diploma in Theology in 2021.

He worked briefly with Sipaba church of Christ in Mawabeni, Matebelaland South, under the work of Zimbabwe missions. He then moved to assist with the work at Amazon church of Christ in 2021 until date. This is a growing congregation that is within the premises of Amazon Christian Academy, a church school that was built by Partners for Africa. Apart from being a preacher of the word, he also teach languages at the school.

 

CONCLUSION

We thank God for what he has been able to do through and for  BVBIZ in the month of May. Our appreciation continues to go to our sponsors and partners for your unwavering support and to many others for your moral and spiritual support. Your feedback and suggestions are always highly appreciated. May God continue to bless every one of you. To God be the glory!

Posted on June 9, 2023 .