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Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Reporter
AFTER enduring a fair share of challenges that emanated from child labour, Mr Tyrone Havnar (33) decided to start an organisation targeting children who could not easily access education around his community.

He could relate to sad stories from farm workers who could not afford school fees for their children and often recruited them into their daily chores just so they could feed their families.

For the past 14 years, Mr Havnar has, through I Reach Out My Hand Africa, an organisation he founded, single-handedly been paying school fees for children in his community in Selous in Mashonaland West and his social change journey has seen him extend the programme to many rural communities in Zimbabwe.

“I grew up struggling and that birthed in me a desire to see children accessing education despite their background. There are thousands of children involved in child labour around our mines and farms in Zimbabwe and these are most likely to miss out on school,” he said.

“I then decided to start paying fees starting with 14 children whose mothers were farm workers and over the years the programme has reached other communities around Zimbabwe.”

Mr Havnar said he had also helped like-minded youths in other countries who are also working on setting up a similar organisation.

“Since 2018 we have been running small projects like fetching water, clearing land, and rewarding workers with clothes and foodstuff. They move around with their children who are supposed to be in school, but again they cannot afford the tuition and the school is very far,” he said.

“With that concern in 2020, we started a three-day week class called ‘Under the tree school’ and received stationery support from the Zimcare Network. Now as we run the community garden we can simultaneously run the learning centre.”

Stationery

Mr Havnar will from June 1 to July 19 this year embark on a journey to six countries where he will visit 14 organisations to raise awareness on the effects of child labour and fundraise for needy children.

Some of the organisations are in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia.

“As I celebrate 14 years as a social change maker I wish to travel to these amazing countries and meet up with like-minded Africans. Our main aim is to create awareness and get partnerships with local companies to help us provide more children with school fees and stationery,” said Mr Havnar.

“A majority of our beneficiaries had their fees paid through my savings, but I have since realised that I cannot cope without help from organisations, companies, and well-wishers passionate about the education of our youths. Those interested in partnering with me can contact the organization on +263773266050.” -@thamamoe