At the end of 2006 there were 170 children in our programme. One of the biggest developments is the number of children leaving primary school and attending secondary school.

From 2003 the number of children at different school levels has developed as follows:

                                                      2003         2004      2005          2006          2007

• Primary school (Grades 1-7)    65              92          91          106             116
• 0-levels (Forms 1-4)                18              24          34            47              41
• A-levels (Forms 5-6)                 2                1            -              2                8
• University/other tertiary level      -                1            5             5                5
• Total                                      84           118         130         160           170

Altogether 26 older children, six boys and 20 girls at O-level and A-level attend a boarding school in 2007. For talented poor children a boarding school provides a safe, disciplined and a more conducive environment for studies than their home environment. In 2004 the number of children attending a boarding school was thirteen boys and nine girls.

The children attending boarding schools are provided with daily meals and their schedules are more focused on organised studying, even after classes. Homes in Dzivaresekwa are crowded; many times lacking electricity and sufficient furniture. In fact time spent on schoolwork is not always appreciated at home because there may be more pressing duties in looking after the smaller ones, otherwise helping out with housekeeping or even trying to make some money for the extended family by selling vegetables in the busy streets of Dzivaresekwa.

Mainly for logistical reasons the boarding children attend the DeWure High School. The school lies in the Gutu District, some 260 km south of Harare.

In 2007 our remaining 139 children in basic education attend the following schools in Dzivaresekwa:

Dzivaresekwa Government Primary School No. 4, 39 children

Gillingham Government Primary School, 20 children

Gombo Government Primary School, 28 children

Nhamburiko Government Primary School, 16 children

Other Primary Schools in Dzivaresekwa, 13 children

Dzivaresekwa Secondary Schools, 24 children

In 2007 arrangements for boarding school attendance are:

• DeWure Secondary School in Gutu District, 25 children
• Kwenda Mission School, Chivu District, 1 child

One girl has been studying for a Masters degree in Social Studies at Midlands State University, since August 2004. Another girl began studying to be a pharmaceutical technician at Harare Polytechnic in January 2006. Both are due to graduate in 2008. Two girls and two boys are attending vocational schools.