Hand in Hand Zimbabwe on Tuesday held its inaugural STRENGTH in children project primary schools competitions at St Francis Nhemha Primary school in Shurugwi district as part of the organisation’s desire to equip students with knowledge and life skills in the context of health, water, sanitation and hygiene.

The competitions which were held under the School Training for Resilience in Emergencies through Nutrition and Good Health (STRENGTH in children) project come at a time when Hand in Hand Zimbabwe has been actively involved in mobilising primary school children in educative nutrition and health clubs.

The competition attracted 4 primary schools from the district with St Francis Nhema primary school scooping the overall outstanding wash component school and the overall best prize while Zhaugwe primary school clinched the 2^nd prize.

In the poetry competition, Zhaugwe primary school took the first prize, while St Francis Nhema Primary school came second. Vungwi and Chinho primary schools received the 3^rd and 4^th prizes respectively.

Chino Secondary School took the first prize, while Zhaugwe and St Francis Nhema primary schools were a tie in the quiz competition. Vungwi Primary school received the fourth prize.

In the role-play competition, Vungwi primary school took the first prize, Zhaugwe primary the second and St Francis Nhema primary school the third prize.

Winning teams walked away with stationery and prize money, which will go towards scaling up their STRENGTH in children Project activities at their schools.

Various stakeholders from Government Ministries such as The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education were in attendance at the schools’ competitions in support of the initiative.

Hand in Hand Zimbabwe STRENGTH in Children Project Coordinator Hazel Mhembere said the schools competitions contribute to the project’s goal to instill confidence, motivation, and self-esteem amongst school children as a way of equipping them for the future.

“The competition component is an initiative in the STRENGTH project which seeks to motivate, increase exposure and test the knowledge which schools club mentors would have imparted into students at the Hand in Hand Zimbabwe facilitated school clubs.

“Through the STRENGTH Project students are equipped with knowledge on nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation. This knowledge is then tested through quiz, poetry and role play competitions,” she said.

Shurugwi Schools Inspector Junior, Isaiah Chikafu said the schools’ competitions present a good initiative as they motivate learners to improve their performance skills and offer a lot more rewards than just the winning prize.

“Competitions offer a chance for participants to get substantial experience, showcase their skills and uncover personal attitude. These life skills are of relevant in strengthening their future livelihoods,” he said

Chikafu commended Hand in Hand Zimbabwe for the work it is doing in Shurugwi through the project as it is complementing government efforts to impart life changing skills in school-going children in light of the school’s curriculum.

“Our children now know the importance of nutrition, health, sanitation, and hygiene and we are proud of the fact that they have been applying this to their daily lives, at school, and in the community,” he added.

The STRENGTH in children project addresses food insecurity, deteriorating water, sanitation, and hygiene standards, decreasing motivation and lack of hope, due to poor education quality and deteriorating school environments that school-going students are subjected to. It also provides children with life skills and motivation required to overcome the daily struggles in rural Zimbabwe. The project is funded by Radiohjalpen.