WITH no other swimming pool facility accessible to the Chitungwiza community, especially children, the community now has something to smile about.
By Wellington Zimbowa
Learning institution — Cornerstone Group of Schools — has opened its doors to all children in Chitungwiza for swimming lessons that will be guided by a professional coach, starting next year.
With extra-curricular education being the mainstay of modern education, the initiative is meant to support children from other schools without swimming facilities in a bid to take swimming as a serious pursuit.
On the other hand, noting the high level of drug abuse, sexual misbehaviour and criminal activities among most youth in Zimbabwe, mainly due to unemployment, the school sees the initiative as a way to tap into unidentified talent and keep youth busy.
“From next year every youth and student will be allowed to come for swimming lessons using our internationally-modelled swimming pool which we completed in October,” said Cornerstone director Elizabeth Mukuwane.
“A professional coach will be there to coach them and ensure that where talent is identified, measures are taken to support them through all means possible.
“We are doing this to identify talent since extra-curricular activities can open bright opportunities for many across the globe.
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“We also want to fight the rot which is growing in many youth such as theft, drug-abuse, prostitution and so forth and help in moulding a progressive youth in Chitungwiza.”
She said a very nominal fee would be charged for the maintenance of the pool.
Mukuwane said the school’s commitment to the community could be seen in that most of its staff — from constructors, teachers and administration — are from Chitungwiza, including service providers.
Speaking on the sidelines of the maiden speech and prize-giving day recently, Mukuwane said its multi-purpose court was also open for cricket, volleyball and tennis specialised training by both internal and outside students on selected days.
Chitungwiza Central Hospital CEO Obadiah Moyo and Chitungwiza-based gospel music father Mechanic Manyeruke graced the event.
Pupils and students from infancy, junior and senior schools were crowned at the event for academic and sporting success.
With its vast land of about 17 hectares, the institution is set to introduce community gardens for vegetable and herbs farming for needy mothers, giving technical and some resource support in fighting malnutrition.
Moyo lauded the school for its milestone achievements in a short period of time.
“Chitungwiza has a quality hospital in the name of Chitungwiza Central Hospital, which is the only public hospital to have a world-recognised quality certification, hence we need schools that also offer quality education in the community,” he said.
