By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare — The Jairos Jiri Centre in Southerton has received a major facelift after the Bridging Gaps Foundation (BGF) completed a comprehensive two-month refurbishment of 23 bathrooms and ablution facilities, restoring dignity and hygiene for the children and staff who call the institution home.
The project, which commenced on 7 September 2026, was handed over on Tuesday during a ceremony presided over by BGF Chief Executive Officer Mr Mberikwazvo Chitambo.
The intervention came not a moment too soon: according to Jairos Jiri Association National Executive Director Mrs Grace Kamanga, the facilities had degenerated into a severe health and safety hazard.
“Before these renovations, the state of the ablution facilities had become a matter of great concern,” Mrs Kamanga said. “The flushing systems had ceased to function effectively, forcing learners and staff to resort to the use of buckets of water to flush toilets. Some learners had no choice but to use dishes and buckets for bathing”.
The scope of the renovation was extensive. Bridging Gaps Foundation replaced all sanitary ware, repainted and re-tiled the facilities, installed water tanks, booster pumps and LPG-powered geysers, resolved electrical faults, and restored the sewer drainage system.
New hand-wash basins, bathtubs, shower cubicles and mirrors were also fitted, alongside internal and external repainting.
Speaking at the handover, Mr Chitambo said the intervention was guided by a precise needs assessment aimed at restoring basic human dignity.
“For children who depend on others for aspects of their daily care, the quality of these facilities matters deeply,” he said, praising the patience of the institutional caregivers.
“When we undertook the needs assessment at this Centre, our responsibility was to listen carefully and understand where our support could make a meaningful difference”.
Background: Who is Bridging Gaps Foundation?
The Bridging Gaps Foundation is a philanthropic organisation founded by prominent businessman and humanitarian Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his wife Sandra.
Based in Milton Park, Harare, the foundation’s mission is to alleviate suffering and improve the lives of the marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Zimbabwe.
BGF’s work spans education, healthcare and social support. In June 2026, the foundation awarded fully-funded scholarships to 20 vulnerable students from across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces to study Law and Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe, targeting double orphans, child-headed households and learners from challenging backgrounds.
In Nyanga, Bridging Gaps Foundation has delivered food aid to over 3,000 households, provided free medical care to 800 patients and drilled 10 boreholes.
At Jairos Jiri, BGF is also working with five partner children’s homes under its Path to Self-Reliance initiative, which helps vulnerable institutions strengthen corporate management and build financially secure futures.
The Jairos Jiri Association itself serves over 16,000 persons with disabilities annually through community-based rehabilitation, specialised education and vocational training, operating 16 centres across the country.
Vision 2030 and “Leaving No One Behind”
The refurbishment project is framed by BGF as an expression of support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the national mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“This is the kind of work Bridging Gaps Foundation is proud to deliver under the Second Republic — inspired by the leadership and vision of His Excellency, President Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, whose commitment to building an upper-middle-income society by 2030 continues to guide national development,” the foundation stated.
Mrs Kamanga echoed that sentiment, commending BGF and Mrs Tagwirei for their commitment to persons living with disabilities, noting that the gesture honours the legacy of national pioneer Mr Jairos Jiri while aligning with Vision 2030.
For the children and staff of Jairos Jiri Centre, the impact is immediate and tangible: clean, functional and reliable sanitation — and with it, the dignity that every child deserves.
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