News and Events

BU academia support Zimbabwe book appeal

17 September 2008

BU finance expert Dr Venancio Tauringana

A BU Academic his helping deprived students from his native country Zimbabwe, by launching a university book appeal.

Academics across our schools have been donating text books for deprived Zimbabwe university students as part of a book appeal launched by our Finance expert, Dr Venancio Tauringana.

Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Finance, Dr Tauringana, a former resident of Zimbabwe, wanted to help the university students who can't afford textbooks due to the political, economic, and social turmoil that the country is currently going through.

Dr Tauringana has already supported a book appeal for Zimbabwe school children with local businessman Bernard Roberts, Director of Marben Engineering Ltd, but realised that university students were also being severely affected by the extreme conditions.

Dr Tauringana said: “While the world watches what Mugabe might do next, life for Zimbabweans goes on and educated young people are our future. They will be the next generation of politicians, accountants, lawyers and business figures.

“This is a country suffering real poverty, where families can't find work and university students can't buy textbooks. Even if they save up, by the time they find the money to pay for them, the price has doubled or trebled due to the crippling inflation rates.

“I decided to contact my academic colleagues to see if they had any textbooks they could donate. The interest in my idea was fantastic and I’ve collected over 1,000 books in subjects ranging from Business, Economics, Tourism, Media, Nursing & Computing. It’s staggering just how many BU academics can help and I’m so grateful for their support.”

The first shipment of books is going to be sent to Africa University, a Methodist-supported institution in Mutare. Marben Engineering has agreed to pay all packaging costs and half of the shipping.

To discuss ways you can help and to make a donation, please contact: Bernard Roberts, Managing Director, Marben Engineering Ltd. on 01202 895980