Positively a blessing!

Date : 01 August 2013

Blessing Marunga was just 23 when he started his career in teaching as a primary school English teacher. His ambitious nature and dedication meant that he soon established a successful high schoolin Harare, Zimbabwe. Sadly, however, the success did not last when the Zimbabwean economy went intomeltdown.

Blessing decided to move to South Africa, where he faced an uncertain future. Hegave up the dream of having a school of his own again and felt that he hadlittle hope of securing ateaching post. Maintaining his positive outlook, he realised the only way he could earn some money was to provide extra lessons. He began approaching several schools in Port Elizabeth and offering his skills as a tutor. The principalshe met were exceptionally supportive and accommodating and hislessons in mathematics, science and basicreading were extremely popular. Blessing comments: "The principals’ kindness just touched me. When people are nice andkind to you in a foreign country, you really begin to feel the presenceof God around you. I realised God had a purpose for me being here.”

One day, walking along Westbourne Road, Blessing wished he couldafford a venue of his own for his extra lessons, rather than hiring the facilities in public libraries. He noticed a "To Let” sign on athree-storey building, but it was beyond hisfinancial reach. Soonafterwards, when some parents encouraged him to start his own school, he went to aquiet place to pray and the Westbourne Road building came to mind: "I went to see if the sign was still there and it was. So Iwalked into the building with absolutely no money, Iasked the owner if I could have his building.”

The owner told him the cost and Blessing marketed thebuilding to the parents who had approached him. They prayed together and,impressively, the community of parents came up with enough money themselves to rent part of the building. Blessing felt very happy: "The owner understood my vision and has given me theopportunity to start this school.” The school was opened in January 2010 and two years later has 200 students and bigger premises on Cape Road.

The school had no desks or resources to start with, but he approachedvarious schools for assistance and was in awe of the kindness andhelpfulness of the schools, such as Harvest ChristianSchool, Erica and St. George’s. These schoolsgladly provided desks andmaterials and even sent him ‘overflow’ learners that they could notaccommodate.

The Department of Sport welcomed the students to their sports fields. Blessing also hadongoingencouragement and timely financial assistance from ProvidenceChurch. Additionally, a British benefactor sponsored illiterate children who came offthe streets: children who would not normally have access to mainstreamschooling. Today those children can readand write.

Though he remained positive throughout, Blessing says that his love for Jesus and his gratitude grew immenselythrough the experience of being given a school again, against all odds. "Our vision is Christ through education. In addition tooffering sound teaching in a harmonious environment, the schoolregularly invites pastors from different churches to address learnersand their parents." Blessing explains. "I’m completely inspired by the pastors’ willingness to make time forpreaching at the school.”

Eveready sees Blessing Marunga as a true inspiration. With postivity and his belief, his school continues to go from strength-to-strength in achieving its mission of equipping learners with a mastery of academic subjects. As the children expand their knowledge, the school truly strives to increase their understanding of biblical principles, the source of true wisdom.