February marked black history month, an annual observance in the U.S, Canada and the UK for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora. Created in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association of the Negro and History announced the second week of February to be “Negro history week”. Americans were urged to ‘seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”.
Pan Africanism on the other hand, is a movement founded around 1900 to secure equal rights, self-government, independence and unity for African peoples. Inspired by Marcus Garvey, to create self-awareness amongst Africans and encouraging the study of their history and culture.
It has been said that Black history month sparks an annual debate about the continued usefulness and fairness of a designated month dedicated to the history of one race. I find myself obliged to think that these historic commemorations and/or movements indirectly serve as vices of inspiration for a typically lackadaisical race. A group of people unwilling to support its fellow kin by coming up with spider web economies that keep wealth in circulation amongst its people for example. Or who decide to stay on abroad after completion of their studies, failing to contribute to their nation’s human capital. As such we now find an entire continent stuck in a quagmire of high unemployment rates, poverty, starvation, poor water sanitation and a dwindling literacy rate.
Literacy, it has been said, is the ability to READ, WRITE, SPELL, LISTEN and SPEAK. Since the ’80s, some have argued that literacy always exists in a context in tandem with the values associated with that content, prior work viewed existing autonomously. It is argued that literacy includes the cultural, political and historical contents of the community in which communication takes place.
Now, many policy analysts consider literacy rates as a crucial measure of the value of a region’s human capital, for example literate people can be more easily trained than illiterate people and generally have a higher socio-economic status, thus they enjoy better health and employment prospects. Literacy increases job opportunities and access to higher education.
I have come to the realization that ‘Peace through Service’ is a call on individuals to give back to their homes, communities, cities, countries and continents, their service (skilled or unskilled). And in so doing, critical national issues such as illiteracy can be addressed and the domino effect leading to high unemployment rate reduced; The simplicity of this mantra cumulatively adding value to a region’s human capital.
This quarter, we saw a massive book distribution by the Rotary Club of Harare Central to institutes of medicine around our country, a selfless act of service to the nation which has contributed to an increase in literacy levels.
As we come to the close of our Rotaract year, we need to think of the impact our current projects have or re-think and strategically come up with projects that get us out of our comfort zone. Significant projects which lure the attention of our policy makers and contribute to socio-economic growth, thereby adding value to the human capital of our nation.
Here’s to our Nation Zimbabwe!
Rumbi Chirumbwana
Public Relations Officer 2012-2013
rumbirumbi@gmail.com
pro@rotaracthararecentral.org