MOSES MADYIRA
CHIKOMBA-Ninety learners gathered at Chivhu Community Hall to take part in the novel Spelling Bee competition which was hosted by Dangwa Initiative Trust.
The competition was held under the Trust’s Dangwa Mobile Library initiative recently.
Participants were drawn from schools that subscribe to Dangwa Mobile Library, namely Little Angels Junior School, Good Hope Junior School, Kudubu Primary School, Runyararo Primary School, Vhiriri High School, Crawford Junior School, Mvuma Primary School, Northwood Primary School, and Liebenberg Secondary School.
It was pomp and fanfare as learners competed in five categories, all with first, second and third places up for grabs.
Category 1 had four winners, namely Culler Riyo (7) from Little Angels Junior School who came first, Mwayiwathu Mikishoni (7) from Good Hope Junior School and Praise Simbi from Chivhu Primary Schools who were tied for second position, Yolanda Saranavo(7) scooped the first, second and third prizes in grade one category respectively. Category two which consisted of grades one and two was dominated by Comfor Dikania (8) from Goodhope Junior School, Prince Mabvoro(7) of Kudubu Primary School, who scooped the first, the second prizes respectively.
Liah Sibanda (11) of Kudubu Primary School scooped first prize in category three which consisted of grades 4 and 5 while Evelyne Shayawabaya(11) of Kubudu Primary School and Tawananyasha Zuze(12) of Runyararo Primary school scooped the second and third prizes respectively in the same category.
Category four which consisted of grades 6 and 7 was dominated by Tinashe Bara (12) of Shining Star Primary School while Sethel Mabhunu of Vhiriri Primary School and Michael Mlanzi of Chivhu Primary School finished second and third respectively.
Category five consisted of forms I and 2 and was dominated by three learners from Liebernberg High School, namely Lorraine Manhando, Chidochashe Mapfudza, and Calistor Chihwehwete who won the first, second, and third prizes respectively.
First-prize winners were awarded a laptop and a dictionary while second-prize winners went away with a backpack and a dictionary with third place place-prize winners walked away with dictionaries.
All 90 participants were given a set of school supplies, a certificate of participation, and a spelling bee competition.
Dangwa Initiative Trust Director, Teresa Dangwa confirmed it was their first competition in Chivhu after the one she once hosted in Marondamashanu and reiterated that the competition promotes a reading culture that helps learners in their academic tasks. She described reading as a skill that crosses all areas of study and life.
“Hosting a Spelling Bee Competition is one way of encouraging children to nurture a culture of reading. Reading is an essential life skill. The event was very successful. Of course, with anything new, there’s always a learning curve but once the children got the hang of the concept, they were on a roll.
“Seeing and feeling their enthusiasm was a great reminder of why I do what I do. It was quite a humbling and satisfying experience even from a spiritual perspective. God giving my team and me the privilege to serve and transform lives is incredible beyond words,” said Dangwa.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch Calista Dhikinya, the mother to Comfort Dhikinya, who won the first category 1 expressed her gratitude to Dangwa for coming up with such an initiative.
“I am happy that my son won first prize in his category, I am proud of my son. I would like to express my gratitude to Dangwa for coming up with such a noble initiative. A spelling competition gives the kids confidence to be able to stand in front of others as well as improving their diction and vocabulary skills, reading and listening skills,” said Dhikinya
The Midweek Watch also spoke to Gracian Bara, parent to another first prize winner, Tinashe Bara who said the competition helps kids to master the English language, discipline, and study which are all valuable traits. He also said it was a good launch of the competition and experts the second one to fix some minor problems that were experienced during the maiden competition.
