Hatcliffe is a sprawling squatter settlement north of Harare, Zimbabwes capital city. The informal settlement is home to more than 100 000 people who all live in makeshift plastic or wooden structures.

 

Tichakunda preschool was started by Mrs. Masaraure and Mr. Hove in the new squatter camp that emerged after Hatcliffe Extension was razed to the ground in Operation Murambatsvina. The new squatter settlement is less than a kilometre from the old one. Mrs. Masaraure and Mr. Hove, residents in the Hatcliffe area, were touched by the plight of the young who spent their days playing in the dust with no one attending to their educational needs. With a group of volunteer teachers they approached city council for land and were allocated a small plot of about an acre. They put up two plastic shacks with dirt floors and Tichakunda preschool was born. The response was overwhelming, a few days later the school had 300 children attending. The number has since grown to 600 ranging in age from 2-9 years.

 

 

The children have classes and are given one meal a day of porridge.

To find out about he projects that the The Tichakunda project is raising money for by visiting this page: PROJECTS.