About Peter

Early Years

Peter in 1970 - First Year at UCT

Peter Jenkins was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1951. His parents were both high school teachers - his father taught Geography and English, and his mother taught Maths. (His father ended his career in education as Headmaster of Cranborne Boys High in Harare.) Peter attended Avondale and Blakiston junior schools in Harare, and completed his secondary school education at Prince Edward. He was awarded a government scholarship for the top ten 'A' level results in the country. (You can see his wife is writing this bio, with him muttering 'I don't want to say things like that' in the background!)

He achieved a B Sc Chem Eng Hons at the University of Cape Town with a bursary from de Beers. Thereafter, he completed a compulsory year of national service and began his career as a trainee metallurgist at Koffiefontein Diamond Mine in 1975.

Peter married Vivian Ogden at Victoria Falls in 1976, and they settled in Bindura where Peter was superintendent of the smelter at Trojan Nickel Mine. Their first two sons were born there before they spent two years at CFNI in Dallas, Texas, USA, Their daughter was born in Dallas.

In 1982, Peter and Vivian returned to Zimbabwe and settled in Gweru. They immediately joined a small group of enthusiastic people to become involved with starting Midlands Christian School and Midlands Christian College. Peter was associate pastor in a local church, New Life Centre, and soon became very involved in missions outreaches in Zambia, and later the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was a founder of Africa for Christ Bible College, Zimbabwe, together with Doug Darby and Cyril Ogden.

Peter - Residence Rugby in his first year at UCT.

Their third son was born in 1985. Education, marriage, four wonderful children - a career on the go. The first 35 years were packed full - and fulfilling.

http://www.mcs.ac.zw/

https://www.mcc.ac.zw/

Educator

Vivian taught at MCS and MCC and then became pioneer principal of Midlands Christian Training Centre in 1992. A UNISA Distance Learning Centre, MCTC trained teachers for MCS and MCC and took in many others sponsored by other ATS schools. Peter became involved in missions and spent a lot of time working with church leaders throughout Zimbabwe and Zambia and later, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 1985, Vivian began writing the #SunriseReaders with Chrissie Lewis - published by Longman Zimbabwe. Over the next few years, they completed twenty early childhood readers for Grades One and Two. These are used in schools all over Zimbabwe to date.

https://www.facebook.com/sunrisereaders/