"Christmas Kindness" - Oprah 2004

This is how this project began.........Christmas 2004 Oprah was in South Africa celebrating with hundreds of HIV orphans, I was celebrating with my family and friends, this Christmas was special because my parents had come from Zimbabwe.As she stood in that soccer field full of children, she reminded her audience that these children had lost both mum and dad and were the "lost generation of Africa". These children would never got to experience their childhood, let alone get the opportunity to go to school. She reminded me of what I had left behind in Africa.

I sat down and started listing all the children I knew by name whose parents were from our immediate families, I was shocked to find that we had well over 80 children in our extended families alone and decided to take action and to find a way to help my immediate family members.  I decided to find a way to make some money I could give away unconditionally, so I wrote my spiritual memoirs - "Born on the Continent - Ubuntu". The book sales is a fund raising tool that generates money to support what is now "The Africa Alive Education Foundation" - we now looks after 350 children.

January 2008 the Africa Alive Education Foundation was officially launched in Shurugwi, Midlands district, Zimbabwe. Our first sponsored school is Mazivisa Primary School, it has 350 children 175 of whom are HIV orphans.

January 2008 the Africa Alive Education Foundation was officially launched in Shurugwi, Midlands district, Zimbabwe. Our first sponsored school is Mazivisa Primary School, it has 350 children 175 of whom are HIV orphans.

We made a decision to adopt the whole school because of the poor conditions all the  children are living in.

 On observing the children during class we found that most of the kids would fall asleep as soon as they sat down. The teachers confirmed that most of the children fell asleep because they were hungry and only get a decent meal every two or three days. This prompted us to start a feeding programme and to ensure that the children get a bowl of porridge to eat everyday before school.

We had to go back to basics, the school has no electricity or running water so we cooked on open fires, it took us 4 hours to prepare the meal.

The boys collected the firewood  

The girls made the fires and…….

Helped with the cooking.

 The little one’s waited with eager anticipation for a feed, most of them had not eaten for 2-3 days.    

Soon it was feeding time and as we handed out the spoons, I realized that some of these kids were 10 years old, the same age as my son Dumi helping me in the picture, they were head and shoulders smaller, stunted growth due to malnutrition.       

The School Day 1 – the attendance rate was very poor, only 150 out of 350 children came to school.

By Day 6 attendance had gone up by 52%, the kids are now coming to school for food. We managed to register 350 children. 

A meeting with the principal Mr Chikwata made me decided to take on the whole school and not just the HIV orphans, all the children are lining in poor conditions and supplies and equipment required by the school will cater for all 350 children. 

The school’s vision statement was very powerful and I could see the dedication of the few teaching staff that remained in the school. There is a need for 14 teachers and Mr Chitwata only had 4 teachers during the two weeks we were there. A teachers strike for higher wages was keeping them away until negotiations with the Ministry of Education were finalized.

Thanks again for all your love and support!!!!