12/11/2020
JAIROS JIRI DAY - 12 NOVEMBER 2020
SPEECH BY THE JJA PRESIDENT DR. A.M. SENDERAYI
Fellow Board members, Branch Chairman and members of the Branch Committee, the National Executive Director Mr. W N Ruvere, the Centre Manager, our partners, the beneficiaries, members of staff, distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed a great privilege my singular honor to address and welcome you all at this epoch making event in the life of our very distinct organisation as we reflect on and celebrate the life and achievements of one of the greatest philanthropists that have ever lived.
It is now 38 years since our renowned charismatic founder the late Mr. Jairos Jiri MBE, MA Hons. breathed his last on 12 November 12 1982. This historic day has been set aside as an open and celebration day to reflect on the legacy of our late founder life president, when our partners, stakeholders and parents are implored to come and witness the very diverse work that is being carried out by the organisation at its various establishments, programmes and projects, through-out our motherland. However, this year’s celebrations should be carried out in a different style in total compliance and observance of the Covid-19 guidelines and protocols.
Ladies and gentlemen, the year 2020 has been extra ordinary in the sense that it has paused new and very challenging experiences among the world populaces from which our own nation has not been spared from the devastating effects of the novel corona virus pandemic from which our organisation has not been spared.
While Zimbabwe closed schools on March 24, 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to protect school populations, school closures have disrupted the education of more than 4.6 million children, with adverse impacts on the protection and wellbeing of children as well as their readiness for school, attendance and participation in learning. Prolonged school closures will likely exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and inequalities among children, especially girls, children with disabilities, and this will thus compel us to make frantic efforts where resources permit, that those children who fail to return to school be followed up and brought back to drink from the well of knowledge and empowerment. This scenario calls for greater commitment and intrinsic efforts by our teaching staff to assist the returning learners to re-focus, quickly adjust and catch up on their studies to move forward on a sound footing.
Ladies and gentlemen, as the organization continues to grow in quest to gain richer experiences in the field of Community Based Inclusive Development, socio-economic empowerment, outreach, advocacy, organisational development, public relations and networking we need to do a lot more to strengthen our documentation and research skills that will bring us even closer to our targeted groups that we are here to serve. Maintenance of coherent and transparent systems in our diverse programmes and projects as well as the administrative and financial spheres has to be upheld to strengthen the integrity and relevance of the Association’s work at all levels, securely underpinned by the organisation’s constitution and conditions of service is our uttermost goal.
In order to safely usher the organisation forward, it is important that we all put our heads together and re-strategise to formulate new activities in the various spheres of our professional work, which will generate much needed funds to finance our various operations towards financial sustainability.
Ladies and gentlemen, it cannot be over emphasized that through the support of socially esteemed citizens of our country and many well-wishers both at home and abroad, today the Jairos Jiri Association serves over 15 000 people with disabilities annually through outreach and follow-up integration programmes. In addition, the Association runs 16 centres where 1 200 children and adults receive treatment care and education. Among its many establishments are schools, clinics, homes, hostels, vocational training centres, income generating projects for people with disabilities, Community Based Rehabilitation programme, Advocacy and Lobby, Scholarship Fund for People with Disabilities, Orthopaedic Workshop, Outreach and Follow-up Integration Programmes. We note with pride that all our projects and programmes have strong ties with their city fathers, urban and rural councils, traditional leaders and the surrounding communities and have as such positioned themselves strongly in the newly adopted Community Based Inclusive Development concept which guarantees the continuity and sustainability of the programmes even long after the phase out process from targeted operational areas has been completed. May I also take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the special involvement and pivotal role played by Branch Committees
The pivotal role played by this great organisation in championing of the disability cause is truly remarkable particularly when we consider the increasingly turbulent socio-economic environment which currently prevails in our country. Please keep up the sterling work National Executive Director and your highly dedicated team.
We also pray that the unique bond of partnership which exists between the parents, progressive communities, partners, stakeholders and the Association will continue to develop for the benefit of thousands of much deserving people with disabilities who go through our hands each year. Let us together make a collective effort to keep the philanthropic flames which were magnificently lit by our late founder 70 years ago glowingly burning.
I thank you all!
