TRM’s “Back to school support initiative” benefits 80 Chitungwiza learners

The back-to-school support programme which was recently launched by a youth-led movement, Teen Rescue Mission (TRM) on Saturday benefited 80 underprivileged learners who received a stationery package comprising exercise books, covers, and school fees vouchers.

The initiative came a few days before the Zimbabwe school calendar resumes for the 2025 first-term learning period today.

Speaking at the event which was hosted at TRM Stand in Chitungwiza, the organisation’s director said the move was meant to avoid school dropouts amid heart-rending scenarios of drug and substance abuse which has been in some instances attributed to school dropouts.

“As TRM, we have made it a routine to support vulnerable children and teenagers during every back-to-school period. We have seen a rise in many children dropping out of school due to a lack of learning indispensables such as stationery and school fees. School dropouts usually then engage in drug and substance abuse and some become victims of early pregnancy and crime.

“As an organization, we are committed to fighting these vices through our projects. We managed to raise funds to assist our young people as they return to school, reducing the likelihood of them being driven astray,” said Matuka.

One of the attendees whose children benefitted, Beauty Mudawo, a single mother, expressed her appreciation to TRM saying “We want to thank TRM for coming through to help us with stationery. January is always a difficult month of the year and as a single mother, I was stranded thinking about how I was going to make it for my child, so receiving stationery has helped me to then shift my focus on school fees only,” she said.

Fungisai Marowa, a 14-year-old girl in Form 2 said “As a girl, I am thankful to TRM for donating stationery to us. It is very difficult to attend school without the necessary material. Some girls end up in premature love affairs so that they can get money to buy stationery for themselves yet it puts them at risk of teen pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). As young girls, we thank TRM for rescuing us,” she said.

TRM is not solely assisting school-going children but has been vigorously equipping youth in Chitungwiza and surrounding areas with self-sustaining skills through its Life Skills Hub.

Several economic empowerment programmes are running at their organization. These include welding, cosmetology, baking, hairdressing, and poultry production among others. It also offers scholarships for youths in rural areas to study with local vocational training institutions.

TRM has so far established good working ties with the Government of Zimbabwe, the Chinese Embassy, and the American Embassy all to empower young people and fight drug abuse, youth crimes, and child marriages.