Nsanje VNMC Rescues Over 50 Needy Learners

One of the learners receiving her share One of the learners receiving her share - pic by Alfred Guta

A Village Natural Resources Management Committee (VNRMC) under Group Village Kalupsya in the are of Traditional Authority Mbenje in Nsanje, has rescued over 50 orphans and vulnerable learners at Chirimba primary school in the district with school uniforms.

The committee's patron, village head Ngaiza, told Zodiak Online on Friday that the children's situation touched them hence the initiative.

"Ideally we started by protecting the shoots and undergrowth in the new village of Ngaiza in 2018.

By this year, the forest is ready for harvest. Strategically we have reserved a portion for beekeeping.

" There's a committee which has an action plan. Like this year, a firebreak had to be cut to separate the real forest and agricultural area of which a big part of it is in forest. It is the firebreak clearance which the committee sold to the community for use. We used the proceeds to buy uniform, "explained VH Ngaiza.

He added "there are plans to have an orchard of mango in the 2022."

He said the community is strictly guided where and when to cut the portion.

"In the near future every portion cut will have to be reafforested.

"Anyone trespassing the forest, the firewood is impounded and either taken to the hospital or prison or taken for sale," said VH Ngaiza.

Christina Kasisi 11, a standard three learner at the school, described the support as timely.

"I am grateful I did not have a school uniform, I am  happy because I have it just like my colleagues.

"The challenges I am facing affect me psychologically, it's hard to concentrate in class and so my performance is thus affected, " explained Christina.

District Forestry Officer, Noel Moyo, has described the initiative as a step in the right direction in forest resources management.

"What the committee has done is an indication that there is a chance that we do better than this with proper management of forests. It's important to conserve the forests.

"Other committees should emulate this gesture. Apart from reaching out to the needy children, we can also use the resources to assist vulnerable communities so that they can also benefit from proceeds realized from forests, " said Moyo.

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