Story by Tafara Chikumira
DADAYA Mission, one of Zimbabwe’s oldest and most respected learning institutions, is pioneering an innovative poultry project that is transforming lives and strengthening the school’s commitment to the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which emphasises innovation, industrialisation, and community empowerment.
The commercial project, which currently runs 3 000 broilers and 280 layers, is meeting the school’s food requirements while generating revenue through sales to the surrounding community. Beyond financial benefits, the initiative is equipping learners and locals with practical survival skills that are reshaping livelihoods.
“For me to be able to support my family, it is because of this poultry project here at Dadaya. I am managing to finance my children’s school fees and welfare,” one worker said.
“I was poor before, but this project made me able to build my four-roomed house after working here for a year. I also got some skills in poultry production; I also imparted the knowledge to my family to start their own project back home,” another added.
For the institution itself, the project has eased budgetary pressures, reducing the cost of providing nutritious meals to students.
“For now, we have 3 000 broilers and 280 layers to feed students at school, then we sell surplus to surrounding markets. Our vision is to grow and be commercially viable. It has been helpful because it is cheaper, since we are producing at a lower cost than buying an end product,” Dadaya Mission High School, Poultry Project Manager, Mrs Vimbai Chikorodondo said.
The initiative underscores the broader Education 5.0 philosophy, which encourages schools and universities to move beyond traditional teaching and research, towards innovations that solve real-life problems and contribute to industrialisation.
With a rich history spanning over 85 years, Dadaya Mission is among the leading secondary schools across the country, offering subjects that promote academic excellence.
