A New Dawn for Education in Tshabili
By Isheunesu Gwasha (Programmes Communications Officer)
When the sun rises over Beitbridge District, it brings with it an unforgiving heat that lingers throughout the day. Known as one of the hottest districts in Zimbabwe, Beitbridge often experiences temperatures soaring between 35°C and 40°C during peak summer months (Weather Atlas).
For years, children from Tshabili village endured this scotching heat as they walked over 25 kilometers to Chitulipasi Secondary School that was the nearest secondary school from their village. The journey was long and exhausting, leaving many too tired to concentrate in class. Others simply gave up along the way.
In those days, early marriages were common, especially for girls, because completing Grade 7 was often seen as the end of the road for education. Boys faced a different fate. With no secondary school nearby, many crossed the border into South Africa to work on farms, seeking to support their families. Tshabili community, discouraged by the lack of options, were resigned to a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities.
For Petros, a resident of Tshabili and now the School Development Committee (SDC) Chairperson at Tshabili Secondary School, this was not just a community story, it was his personal story.
“When I was growing up, I endured the pain of walking long distances under this burning sun just to acquire education,” he recalls, his voice tinged with emotion.
“Some of my friends never made it to secondary school. They got married too early or went to work in South Africa. We all dreamed of having a school right here in Tshabili, and today, that dream is finally a reality.”
The transformation began in 2020, when World Vision Zimbabwe, with generous funding from World Vision Hong Kong, partnered with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), Beitbridge Rural District Council and the Tshabili community to construct Tshabili Secondary School in Tshabili Village, Matibe Operational Area. What began as a bold dream has blossomed into a future filled with hope and possibilities for hundreds of children and their families.
Over the course of two years, up to September 2022, the partnership brought to life a fully functional secondary school equipped to deliver quality education. Four modern classroom blocks, each with two fully furnished classrooms, were constructed to accommodate learners from Form 1 to Form 4. Three staff cottages were constructed to house teachers, two with three bedrooms and dining areas, and one with two bedrooms and a dining area. Students have access to adequate sanitation facilities, with separate toilets for boys and girls, including girl-friendly toilets to ensure dignity and privacy.
A borehole was drilled to provide safe, reliable water for drinking and school projects. The community also invested in sustainability initiatives by establishing four fishponds and a thriving nutrition garden. The garden now supports a school feeding program that provides nutritious meals to learners three days a week, while proceeds from fish sales have helped launch a goat-rearing project to fund other school needs.
Today, Tshabili Secondary School has an enrollment of 251 students, and seven dedicated teachers live and work within the school compound. For the first time, learners can complete their secondary education without leaving their community. The school is now officially registered with both Zimbabwe School Examination Council and MoPSE, and its first batch of Form 4 students is preparing to write their examinations on home soil, a proud moment for the entire community.
As Petros stands in the schoolyard, imagining the laughter and energy of children filling the classrooms, his face lights up with pride and hope. “Who knows?” he says with a smile.
“From here, we will have government ministers, doctors, nurses, engineers, and business professionals. This school will uplift our entire community.”
World Vision Zimbabwe remains deeply committed to ensuring that children in vulnerable communities have access to quality education. Guided by World Vision’s global vision of “life in all its fullness for every child,” the organization works to break barriers that keep children out of school, whether due to poverty, distance or social norms. By supporting the construction of schools like Tshabili Secondary School, World Vision is creating safe learning spaces where children can thrive academically and grow into leaders who will transform their communities for generations to come.
For the people of Tshabili, this is more than just a building project, it is the beginning of a new chapter filled with possibilities. The once distant dream of accessible, quality education has now become a reality, bringing hope and opening doors for generations to come.