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Herald Reporter

Local mining company, Baldmin Projects, has sent five students to the United States on full academic and sports scholarship as part of giving back to the community.

One of the beneficiaries, Kelvin Chiku, left Zimbabwe on August 4.

Baldim Projects manager Engineer Costar Takawira Mangwende wished the five well in their endeavours.

They will be at EL Paso in Texas.

The young long distance runner said he was happy and will be starting school on August 24.

EL Paso coaches welcomed him and said they were looking forward to working with him well.

He now joins Bradley Makuvi who dominated in Texas and national college events last year.

Baldmin Projects said it was “proud to be associated with Phil Hanneck, the former Olympian who managed to assist with securing the places for five” Zimbabweans to go and study in US.

“We believe in giving back to the community and supporting young athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds realise their dreams.

“A lot of USA coaches are in discussions with Eng Takawira, a former 400m specialist and national athlete. They want more athletes from Zimbabwe and Southern Africa for placement in the elite colleges and universities in America,” said the company in a statement today.

Up to 10 more athletes are likely to go to the US next year on scholarships.

Eng Takawira believes that for Zimbabwe’s national teams to win medals at international events, “we need to support the grassroots program and send more athletes out there where they will have massive training and competition which will prepare them for bigger events.”

Eng Takawira and Hanneck’s initiative helps young athletes to realise their talents and benefit from the programme.

Presently, Hanneck and Eng Takawira run a special academy at Allan Wilson Boys High where they pay school fees for young athletes who are picked from various rural areas and needy communities.

After high school, the athletes will be sent to the US on full academic and sports scholarship for two to four years.