MARTIN MAWAYA
Gweru– Leading Gweru businesswoman and philanthropist, Professor Smelly Dube, has treated orphaned children in the Midlands capital to an early Christmas party and provided them with new clothing.
Dube, who is also the brand ambassador for the Multi-Aid Support Organisation (MASO), pays school fees for more than 50 ECD learners at the institution and has pledged to fund the learners who are proceeding to grade one next year.
The passionate CEO of the River Valley Group is also supporting less vulnerable children in the province through the S and M Hand of Compassion charity arm.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch, Dube, who was accompanied by her children, commended her husband, the River Valley Group board chairperson, for allowing the company to extend a helping hand to MASO.
“MASO is our baby that we are supporting as a company through S and M Hand of Compassion,” said Dube, pledging to further pay for the children going to grade one next year.
MASO vice chairperson, Willie Mponda, paid tribute to the River Valley Group and Dr. Dube for supporting the less privileged in the community, noting that the environment at the ECD learning institution has improved since the company’s involvement in supporting the teachers’ salaries.
According to MASO children and youth coordinator, Tinashe Machikano, the children at the school come from different backgrounds, with the majority being in the care of their grandparents.
“Some parents are late, while others have gone to the diaspora and never returned or provided support,” said Machikano.
He explained that some children come from households where the head is chronically ill and unable to provide for them or send them to school.
“MASO also takes in children whose parents are struggling due to economic hardships, ensuring that they have access to early childhood education,” adding that the children at the institution do not pay school fees, as the funding is provided by the River Valley Group through the S and M Hand of Compassion.
