WENDY KOPP COMES TO ZIMBABWE!!!

Teach For Zimbabwe (TFZ) was honored to host Teach For All Co-founder and CEO, Wendy Kopp and her delegation which consisted of Dr. Vongai Nyahunzvi the Chief Network Officer and Head of Region for Africa and Vonesai Muhaso the Senior Program Director for Africa. Prior to launching Teach For All in 2007, Wendy founded and led Teach For America – which has proven to be an unparalleled source of long-term leadership for expanding opportunities for children in the United States – for 24 years. Wendy led the development of Teach For All to be responsive to the initiative of social entrepreneurs around the world who were determined to adapt this approach in their own countries. To date Teach For All has a footprint in more than 60 countries with more countries still in the process of applying to join the transformative movement.

Wendy and her team had an opportunity to meet one on one with some local stakeholders that included Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited, Stanbic Bank and First Capital Bank. These engagements paved the way for possible future areas of synergy with local stakeholders to work towards transforming the lives of marginalized learners and developing diverse leaders who are fully equipped to tackle issues of educational inequity. Wendy also had an opportunity to interact with the TFZ staff and Trustees at a luncheon held in honour of her visit at the TFZ offices in Greendale.

Accompanied by the team from DHL Zimbabwe, the Mutoko District Schools Inspector and the TFZ staff, Wendy and her team had an opportunity to visit three of TFZ’s placement schools in Mutoko. They visited Manhemba Secondary School, St Arnolds Secondary School as well as Katsukunya Primary School. The major objective of the school visits was to give the TFA team a deeper understanding of the TFZ program by showcasing the great work that the fellows are doing in the schools and communities they operate in.  Some of the outstanding impacts witnessed included the work of Enock Mbabvu, a Science teacher, who is writing a Science book in our local language (Shona) for learners to understand better. There was also Faith Chisadza who teaches disabled learners and was able to help one learner who could not talk and after her intervention, she could talk. The young learner actually sang for the TFA delegation much to their appreciation of Faith’s efforts.

Wendy Kopp wrapped up her visit to Zimbabwe by having a breakfast meeting which was graced by various captains of industries and stakeholders from various organizations such as Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries; Schweppes; Econet Wireless; Stanbic Bank; Education Coalition of Zimbabwe; Stimulus Africa; First Capital Bank; UNDP and TFZ Trustees. The TFZ Alumni shared their success stories during their 2-year fellowship before becoming alumni as well as what they are currently doing. The breakfast meeting offered an opportunity to connect the esteemed stakeholders to the work that TFZ and TFA are doing as a network and as Teach For Zimbabwe.