Children drinking mahewu at the Social Center related to the…

Children drinking mahewu at the Social Center related to the Maizelands Farm, in Bindura Waerera, Zimbabwe.

Here is a nice example of how the charity fits in around already existing help for children, and fills in the gaps so that children get a better start in life.

The SOS Primary School at the Maizelands Farm received books and food supplements from SOS supporters.

Many of the children who attend school in this area would not normally be able to do so as they come from families who are barely surviving. But the children get the opportunity of an education because of local authority support.

The SOS social centre has assisted the local schools by painting the classrooms both inside and out and helping to improve student access to textbooks and exercise books. Before the donation of textbooks, students of English, environmental science and social studies had one to be shared by six pupils. Now, just three students need to share a textbook in these subjects.

Every day, each pupil receives a traditional nutritional food supplement called 'mahewu'. Mahewu is a traditional nutritional drink which is being given to these pupils as they frequently only receive one meal a day at home. Nowadays, the healthy drink is available in powdered form to be made up with clean water, but in the past it was brewed from maize meal.