THE Alfred Dondo Foundation in partnership with Impala Car Rental have brought a ray of hope to 15-year-old teenager Sharon Chirata of Elgin Farm in Mvurwi who had dropped out of school in grade six due to her condition.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Sharon and her twin sister Shelter were burnt in a blaze at the age of five while sleeping in a grass thatched mud hut and suffered severe burns that left the former’s face and neck deformed.
Corrective surgery has been the only solution to fix her contractures.
When her aunt Sheila Marimo and uncle Peter Chirata sent an SOS, the Alfred Dondo Foundation in partnership with Impala Car Rental responded to the call and pledged to foot the operation bills.
As a way of fulfilling their pledge, Chirata underwent a successful first operation last week at a private hospital in Harare bringing hope for her imminent return to school probably next year.
The teenager has since been discharged from hospital and was in a jovial mood when Standard Style caught up with her in the company of her sister, aunt and uncle emphasising that she wanted to pursue her education for a better future.
“I am happy that I had successful corrective surgery for my condition that had forced me to drop out of school when I was in grade six. I had no choice as some of the pupils would not tolerate my condition so I felt unloved,” she said.
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“I thank Alfred Dondo Foundation and Impala Car Rental who facilitated my operation, the doctors and all those who have enabled this to happen. I am now hopeful that maybe I will be able to go back to school and continue with my studies in the near future.”
She said hopes of returning to school were high as Alfred Dondo Foundation and Impala Car Rental assured her that she would get their support in her studies. Chirata’s aunt said the successful operation was a prayer answered.
“Glory be to God, the operation was successful. She was operated on last week and this is great work that has been done on her. I believe this is a miracle. Now Sharon is optimistic that she will be able to return to school and continue with her studies,” she said.
“I am relieved after the operation was successful though I was scared before. We want to thank the Alfred Dondo Foundation and Impala Car Rental for the support and the doctors who operated her.”
Impala Group brand manager Tracy Ngoma said they responded to Chirata’s SOS as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes.
“We are happy that Sharon’s operation was successful and she will be back for a review in two weeks’ time. The surgeon who attended to her does not want to be mentioned, but we are grateful for the great job done,” she said.
