Paper and Pencils

The focus of this charity is to collect funds to aid in the purchase of school supplies for children at the Sipepa Primary School in the Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe.  We have also expanded to paying the student bursaries so they can attend school and relieve some of the financial burden on their parents.

The schools in Zimbabwe do not have enough school supplies to avoid extreme measures from the teachers and students.  For example, a single piece of paper would be shared by four students and pencils are broken into several pieces in order to allow each student to have one; it is these types of practices that Paper and Pencils hopes to end.   The government is short of funds and, unfortunately, corruption is commonplace.

There are three terms per school year, each being three months in length: January through March, May through July, and September through November.   Each term brings a need for each student to have the following supplies: lower grades would need at least six exercise books and pencils and upper grades will need up to 13 exercise books and pens.  Other standard school supplies, such as paper, are also essential to have in each classroom.

This specific school is not in the more heavily trafficked area near Hwange National Park, so they do not receive many tourists, and the benefits that accompany them.  Unemployment in Zimbabwe is over 90%; consequently, many of the children come from very poor families that struggle to afford the cost of $90 USD for the school year.  Additional expenses include the aforementioned school supplies, as well as uniforms; Paper and Pencils would like to provide the children with these supplies.

Due to the customs restrictions, significant shipping delays, and fees associated with shipping school supplies to Zimbabwe, Paper and Pencils has teamed up with the Imvelo Safari Lodges, who has a team in Zimbabwe who can ensure the supplies are purchased and distributed at the school.   Paper and Pencils will raise money and send it to the Imvelo Safari Lodges to purchase the supplies in Zimbabwe; 100% of the money donated would go to the purchase of these supplies.

Last spring, we were able to pay for any school supplies the students needed as well as cover the bursaries for 53 students.  The need is similar this year and we would love to keep helping the students and even expand to other schools in the area.