The history of the Daisyfield Orphanage, Bothashof Church School and Eaglesvale School between 1911 and 1991

Abstract

The history of the Daisyfield Orphanage which was continued in the Bothashof Church School and is presently the Eaglesvale School, is described. This mainly covers the period between 1911 and 1991. This development is viewed as a religious phenomenon. The focus is on the major aspects of the religious factors which influenced this history, namely evangelization, education and language. It is shown how these aspects blended and eventually led to the founding and maintenance of the above mentioned institution, the only orphanage and church school under the auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church in Zimbabwe during the twentieth century. It is indicated that the Dutch Reformed piety which led to the founding of the institution was closely related to the Afrikaner worldview concerning education. This worldview developed, in adaption to the changing Zimbabwean society, into a religiosity which became relevant in its new multi-denominational and multi-racial context.