My original contribution to the body of knowledge was a response to the main objective of my study, which was to assess the potential of using football to help facilitate the reintegration of the homeless street children in Harare. This qualitative action research study involved more than thirty homeless street children, who joined the project at different intervals between September 2014 and December 2016, and was an attempt to examine the possibilities of changing the children’s behaviours and attitudes before re-integration. Data for my study was collected through individual interviews, focus group discussions, observations, questionnaires and a conference. It was appropriate to have such a number of the children, given how volatile street life is, which meant that it was impractical to retain the same faces over a period of time. Such numbers did not prove a threat to my findings, since I also engaged a non-governmental organisation, a number of assistants, one person who played football at the highest level in Zimbabwe and one who has worked and written extensively on the street child phenomenon. The difference in the background to the majority of the homeless street children also called for a holistic approach, which my study attempted to provide by all means possible.

This study sought to establish the financial, spiritual and social impact of the Coronavirus lockdown among the Seventh-day Adventist community members in Masvingo Urban, Zimbabwe. The study focused on how the households, the informally employed parents and students perceived their financial, spiritual and social status during the lockdown, especially pertaining to the positives and negatives that might have emanated from the period. The study employed the participant oriented interpretive phenomenological approach, which allowed the respondents to share their lived experiences during the period. The four SDA districts in Masvingo have about 4000 members who were all given a chance to participate in the study. From these, 35 members who comprised 20 males and 15 females of between 16 and above 55 years, from the parent and student categories returned the questionnaire within the stipulated two week period directly to the researchers and via their pastors. Collected data was coded according to the financial, spiritual, and social experiences, which were further divided into subthemes. Key findings revealed that members of the church, who were involved in the formal and informal sectors of the economy, were financially affected during the lockdown. Some members were spiritually affected, due to boredom; hence some broke the Sabbath regulations. Some found the alternative radio, television and online Christian programs spiritually uplifting, though. Socially, members were affected by the inter-provincial, inter-district and national border restrictions imposed at the time. Evidently, some members took the time to bond with their immediate family. The study recommends that there be plans in place to address the financial and physical needs of the members on the part of the government and the private sector, including the church during lockdowns; such plans should also include effective distribution methods of these resources to the households. Further, the church needs to introduce more radio and television programs.

This study examined the pedagogic or teaching and learning experiences of institutions of higher learning during the COVID-19 period, with particular emphasis on the Great Zimbabwe University in Zimbabwe. The study was guided by the case study research design. The study involved 37 students and 13 lecturers. Results showed that some respondents missed part of their lectures and submission of assignments some were apprehensive about missing their graduation while others struggled to pay the tuition. Further, it was revealed that while the WhatsApp platform proved cheapest and most popular amongst students and lecturers, a number of challenges were faced, including lack of orientation on the adopted learning platforms, unpredictable power supply and garget breakdowns which might have affected student grades. Results also showed that GZU provided limited data bundles, masks and sanitizers to lecturers during COVID-19. The recommendations of the study include the establishment on an institutional policy that addresses and curbs the negative impact of emergency periods. It is further recommended that loans, bursaries and scholarships be introduced. The study finally recommends that there be a concerted effort of stakeholders towards ensuring adequate provision of resources to curb the impact of lockdowns and other emergencies.

This study purposed to explore the lived-experiences of students and workers at Solusi University, Zimbabwe. Questionnaires were administered amongst 24 participants to gather information, which was interpreted through structured and unstructured themes. The highlighted themes, which have implications on the public and private sectors, included heredity, strength in particular areas, discrimination and suppression as well as the impact of family, religion and culture. Key findings of this study revealed that there is still intolerance of the left-handers using the left-hand for chores, such as cooking, eating and writing. Another finding, which provided more questions than answers, was whether or not handedness is hereditary due to mixed results. In addition, this study found out that the left-handers faced equipment challenges at home and educational institutions. Another finding, which might need further investigation pertained the psychological effects of forced suppression of the use of the left-hand. Recommendations of this study include a need for the use of the international day of the left-handed for awareness and mobilization to support the left handed. In addition, national and institutional policy formulators and implementers should make deliberate efforts towards facilitating for user-friendly equipment and items for the left-handers.