The Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust New Zealand will officially launch its Bibliotherapy Project targeting Zimbabwean child survivors of Cyclone Idai at its annual fun run/walk to be held in Hamilton on 7 March 2020. The Mayor of Hamilton Paula Southgate, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East David Bennett and Hamilton City Councillor Sarah Thomson have confirmed their participation. Apologies have been received from Councillor Maxine van Oosten and Anglican Action Chief Executive Officer Karen Morrison-Hume who are other commitments on the day.
Bibliotherapy is healing through reading books or listening to books being read. Evidence is abound that books provide the opportunity for escape and can be strong coping mechanisms in dealing with Post-traumatic stress disorders.
Cyclone Idai hit Southern Africa in March 2019 causing widespread destruction in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. According to UNICEF, in Zimbabwe, more than 130,000 children are estimated to be affected. Support has been provided by many local and international organisations in the form of food, shelter, but many survivors still suffer post-traumatic stress disorders. The Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library believes books will help heal post-traumatic stress disorders in child survivors of school going age, hence the Bibliotherapy initiative.
The March 7 fun run is the sixth for the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust New Zealand. It was initiated by in 2015 by twin sisters Shefali and Shivani Sinha and has raised money which has been used to buy new books in Zimbabwe and ship books collected from New Zealand to Zimbabwe. Over 100 schools have benefited from the efforts of the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust.
A registration fee NZ$10.00 for adults and NZ$5 for children of school going age. Registration can be done through the Trust’s Bank Account number 03-1355-0850295-00, through the Trust’s EverydayHero account accessed on the link https://donate.everydayhero.com/d/8L6Y_2xrWE2X43DBiTomwA/amount or in cash at the venue on 7 March 2020. Donations welcome.
Contact Tariro Kamutingondo on 00 64 22 674 0264 or Patience Ngara on 00 64 20 4020 7503 for further details.
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