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THE First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe is one of the leading philanthropists in Zimbabwe. She is a patron of Danhiko Project, which houses and takes care of people with disabilities.

Danhiko is the name of a training centre which was set up in Harare in 1981 in the wake of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, initially to provide education for ex-combatants who had returned from war having sustained injuries.

Danhiko is a Shona word meaning, simply, a stepladder. For many disabled people it has come to symbolise much more of an opportunity to climb up from the ground to meet the summit of their aspirations and abilities.

Today, it provides education and training to students who cannot access other means of learning and training.

Sometime in 2007 Danhiko Project celebrated its 10th anniversary and the First Lady and the then Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Yuan Nansheng were special guests at the celebrations to mark the occasion.

Dr Mugabe was named patron of Danhiko Project on that colourful day.

Danhiko Project encourages underprivileged people to exercise their responsibilities and participate actively and positively in their communities by providing orientation, technical and professional information.

Various professional courses are taught at the institution. The criteria for the courses are that the skills taught must be suitable for students with disabilities and be appropriate for formal or self-employment.

The training must also be practical enough for undertaking production while undergoing training.

The mission and vision of the project is centred firmly on the deliverance of quality education, training and production for the disadvantaged in society by creating employment or self-employment for them.

Danhiko has continued to grow and flourish since 1981.

Several well-wishers and organisations continue to support the project. Delta Corporation is among the organisations which support Danhiko project as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

Danhiko is renowned for hosting the Paralympic games every year in Harare. Dr Mugabe has been one of the supporters of the games showing her zeal for sport for people with disabilities.

The games have become an annual event where people from all parts of the country and beyond come together in support of people with disabilities.

Because of the popularity of the games, the Danhiko Sports Administration has been overwhelmed by a ballooning number of clubs participating every year in the Paralympic games.

The Danhiko games have helped to improve sporting excellence among people with disabilities.