Marketers Association of Zimbabwe has successfully completed and handed over a fowl run to Teen Rescue Mission, a non-profit organisation based in Seke as it joined the national fight against drug abuse.
The fowl run project is part of Teen Rescue Mission’s (TRM) projects aimed at keeping youths off drugs through self-sustainable projects in the community.
MAZ through its Annual Charity Golf Day held last year under the theme ‘Rescue a Teen from Substance Abuse’ raised funds which were channelled towards the construction of the fowl run to accommodate 10 000 chickens.
Speaking at the handover ceremony last week, MAZ Executive Secretary Rusike encouraged the youths to take the project serious and abstain from drugs.
“To the youths, we are living in hard and dangerous times. It takes your personal motive and desire to make the right choices that will determine your future.
Drugs and substance abuse are real and they destroy your life, our hope and prayer is that if you spend time here feeding the chickens and doing gardening then you will be able to keep busy and avoid drug and substance abuse that has become rampant in our communities,” said Rusike.
He said the chicken project is meant to benefit the youths.
“Be ambitious young people and you will make it,” he said.
Rusike thanked the golfers and the Marketers Golf Society for the support they rendered that ensured that the project is successfully initiated and completed.
TRM executive director Abraham Matuka appreciated the support by MAZ in ensuring
“They say give a child not a fish but a fishing rod, you have given us a fishing road which we are promising to utilise this project so that it becomes a success,” said Matuka.
He said his organisation is not only fighting the drug abuse scourge but also supporting child headed families, single mothers, orphans in the community through empowerment projects.
MAZ board member and Marketers Golf Society representative, Andrew Tawodzera applauded the two organisations for the initiative which he said will make a lasting impression in the community.
Tawodzera paid tribute to the MAZ for the noble idea behind the MAZ Charity Foundation which spearheads charity initiatives.
“As Marketers Golf Society we pledge to continue working with them to support their charity initiatives.
To the youths here, I say this is a seed that has been sown here. The potential of the seed sown here is very big. Your foundation is food supply. Let’s all take responsibility and work as a team that way we will go far,” said Tawodzera.
Beneficiaries of the project thanked MAZ and committed to ensuring that the project yields the desired results through hard work.
In attendance at the handover ceremony were local head man Besa, MAZ Vice President Liberty Kazhanje, Head Marketing and Operations, Enia Zimunya, MGS executive Alaina Suliwa, MAZ staff, Teen Rescue Mission Board, staff and beneficiaries
MAZ has over the years been involved in different corporate social responsibility initiatives through the MAZ Charity Golf Tournament that include the ‘donate a shoe campaign’ which saw the Association handing over school shoes to Chokera Primary School in Masvingo in 2018 and donated school shoes to Mathew Rusike in Epworth in 2019 as well.
In 2020, proceeds from the Charity Golf Tournament were used to buy sunscreen lotions which were donated to the Zimbabwe Albino Association.
In the same year, the MAZ Charity Foundation responded to the Covid 19 pandemic by donating food baskets and other basic commodities at the Methodist church in Epworth.
The Charity Foundation also donated stationery to Dambudzo Primary School in the Midlands province. The school had its roof blown away by heavy rains and a lot of infrastructure and learning material was destroyed.
Last year, the Charity Foundation handed over food, basic commodities and toiletries to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in Chinhoyi.
The donation was made possible through proceeds from the 2021 Charity Golf Tournament held under the theme ‘Prison Campaign’ as well as groceries donated by National Foods.
MAZ corporate and individual members participated in the annual tournament but it was a Charity tournament open to everyone who is interested in playing golf.
This year’s Charity Golf Day has been slated for July 21 at the ZRP Golf Club. The fundraising objective is to raise funds and acquire bedding for a Paediatric ward in a public hospital.
The target is to raise USD$10 000 which will go towards the purchase of blankets, sheets and bedcovers for a Paediatric ward.