Opinion / Columnist
Mopane Foundation International BLACK-TIE launch
01 Sep 2015 at 06:57hrs | Views
Mopane Foundation International (MFI) is a recently formed community group seeking incorporation as a charitable incorporated organisation. Its aim is to invest in children's education targeting less privileged young learners especially orphans in rural areas of Zimbabwe beginning with south western Zimbabwe provinces of Matabeleland. Ahead of its registration as a charitable incorporated organisation by the Charity Commission, MFI is holding its official launch at a glittering event taking place on 17 October at the Hilton Hotel Sheffield. Significantly the launch event takes place in the Black History month of October symbolising our narrative that we are foremost Africans imbued by a collective force of African values of compassion, hospitality and humanity otherwise known as "UBUNTU"
The Mopane Foundation International Black-tie Fundraising Inaugural Launch, a red carpet-style event is taking place at 1800 hours at Hilton Hotel, Victoria Quays in Sheffield on 17 October. . The advance only tickets for the event which include a 3-course meal (catering by the Hilton Hotel) are sold at £35/person (deadline 30 September) contact below for ticket sales. The funds raised from the event will go towards a scholarship fund targeting academically gifted less privilege orphaned children of school-going age. Each scholarship award will cover learning resources, school fees and other school essentials like stationery to empower individual learners to achieve desired levels of literacy and life skills required to enhance their income earning potential.
The recently founded foundation is largely made up of Zimbabweans mostly graduates who are passionate about children education. The Mopane Foundation which started as a one person's vision to assist the less privileged orphans in the area has been communicated and now is being shared by over than a dozen of Zimbabweans from all over Matebeleland. The Foundation's initial scholarship recipients are in Matobo district (Matebeleland South, Zimbabwe) from Zamanyoni Primary School who have school fees being paid for direct to school, receiving basic school uniforms and stationary.
Head of Mopane Foundation International Nomsa Neke originates from Zimbabwe. She did both her primary and secondary education at Zamanyoni School - a remote and under-resourced school located in Matabeleland South Province. Despite having both parents alive, she never had the experience of living with either or both of them. As a result, she grew up under difficult conditions marred by uncertainty in relation to who was going pay for her school essentials. The little support that Nomsa received from her grandparents inspired her to turn adversity into opportunities and to adopt a positive attitude of life. Today, despite a bleak start in life, she now holds a BSc in Built Environment and an MSc in Project Management. In 2012 Nomsa anonymously started a pioneering initiative to support the education of disadvantaged orphaned school children at her former Zamanyoni School. This she did as a personal project to give back to the community from which she originated in order to make a difference to selected school pupils from poor backgrounds - an ideal that chimes well with both Christian and African values of UBUNTU Over time it became increasingly clear the project potential reach was far greater than anything one individual could sufficiently shoulder. Today the vision is widely shared among a group of six trustees who now volunteer their time and resources to make this dream come true. The foundation's trustees include a good mix of talent comprising 3 Project Managers, teachers and a range of healthcare professionals among others.
Blighted by years of underdevelopment, Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe has an unusually high population of orphaned children many of whom are dropping out of school due to lack of funding. Historically this region was plagued by the impact of a government sanctioned genocide code named Gukurahundi which occurred soon after independence from British rule in the mid 1980's and left behind a trail of destruction, deaths and orphans without a voice. As if this was not enough, the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been debilitating. The number of child-headed families in Matabeleland and other parts of Zimbabwe has not been formally interrogated but is known to run into thousands. A direct result of this in many instances is early pregnancy for girls who find nothing else worthwhile to do. Equally, the boys begin an odyssey of searching for sources of livelihood moving from various cities and towns and across the southern border into South Africa to find job opportunities. To say the situation is dire is an understatement. It is estimated that 4 out of every 5 young adults of school going age in Matabeleland, are not able to advance their education; neither are they able to find paid work in Zimbabwe. This is a massive problem far beyond the scope of MFI scope of work and certainly requiring state intervention. MFI is however determined to play its part and make a difference in a small way wherever it can.
A recent monitoring and evaluation exercise undertaken by MFI has shown an increased demand for scholarship from the area and across the entire nation state of Zimbabwe due to the fact that per capita income in rural areas is notoriously low and the communities themselves have less access to information about available scholarship opportunities. MFI is therefore determined to fundraise as widely as it possibly can to try and meet the demand for scholarships and to reach out to as many school-going children as it possibly can.
Mopane Foundation International has been privileged to get a very good response from Zimbabweans in the diaspora who demonstrate their spirit of UBUNTU in words and deeds. Among those walking the talk and supporting the Foundation in the preparations for the launch event are the likes of Ezra Tshisa Sibanda (Icons of Africa), Lindani Moyo (BAWR), Lucky Moyo (Ngwana Development Trust), Na Ncube (The Global Native), Thandiwe Khumalo and little 12 year old Samantha Ndebele who recently volunteered to go and met the kids on the programme in her trip to Zimbabwe over Easter holidays. These and many other stalwarts are volunteering their time to deliver inspiring motivational messages at the event. Zimbabwean born lass Busi Mhlanga is set to provide entertainment for the day whilst others such as Ejive Dance and Performing Arts will provide supporting acts. Butho Oscar has offered to capture those priceless moments for free. Calvary Apostolic Assembly has always and continues to be supportive of MFI's cause and senior Pastor J. Mpofu is taking time off his extremely busy schedule to come and grace the event for a few hours. Above all, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield will also be gracing the event.
Are we fit to fly? With your support Yes we Can!!. It is for this reason that we are appealing to organisations, companies and individuals to support and sponsor this great community event. While some of the tickets sales' contributions will go to the orphans' initiative, most will go towards venue hire & décor, food and drinks, entertainment, event promotion, media coverage and raffle prizes. This will leave a gaping hole in resources required to fund a scholarship fund for deserving gifted learners who lack the means to advance their education.
All donation cheques are to be made payable to Mopane Foundation International and sent to 18 Holgate Avenue, Sheffield, S5 9LL. Alternatively, donations can be deposited in the Foundation Barclays account whose details are given below. When making a deposit please include your reference name for ease of identity.
Mopane Foundation International
Account number: 13684474
Sort Code: 201221
Alternatively contact Nomsa for tickets or buy as well donate on http://www.eventbrite.com/e/mopane-foundation-black-tie-fundraising-inaugural-launch-tickets-18308743946?aff=es2
All communications should be directed to nomsa.neke@mopanefoundation.org, nekenomsa@yahoo.co.uk or call Nomsa Neke at 07450287082.
The Mopane Foundation International Black-tie Fundraising Inaugural Launch, a red carpet-style event is taking place at 1800 hours at Hilton Hotel, Victoria Quays in Sheffield on 17 October. . The advance only tickets for the event which include a 3-course meal (catering by the Hilton Hotel) are sold at £35/person (deadline 30 September) contact below for ticket sales. The funds raised from the event will go towards a scholarship fund targeting academically gifted less privilege orphaned children of school-going age. Each scholarship award will cover learning resources, school fees and other school essentials like stationery to empower individual learners to achieve desired levels of literacy and life skills required to enhance their income earning potential.
The recently founded foundation is largely made up of Zimbabweans mostly graduates who are passionate about children education. The Mopane Foundation which started as a one person's vision to assist the less privileged orphans in the area has been communicated and now is being shared by over than a dozen of Zimbabweans from all over Matebeleland. The Foundation's initial scholarship recipients are in Matobo district (Matebeleland South, Zimbabwe) from Zamanyoni Primary School who have school fees being paid for direct to school, receiving basic school uniforms and stationary.
Head of Mopane Foundation International Nomsa Neke originates from Zimbabwe. She did both her primary and secondary education at Zamanyoni School - a remote and under-resourced school located in Matabeleland South Province. Despite having both parents alive, she never had the experience of living with either or both of them. As a result, she grew up under difficult conditions marred by uncertainty in relation to who was going pay for her school essentials. The little support that Nomsa received from her grandparents inspired her to turn adversity into opportunities and to adopt a positive attitude of life. Today, despite a bleak start in life, she now holds a BSc in Built Environment and an MSc in Project Management. In 2012 Nomsa anonymously started a pioneering initiative to support the education of disadvantaged orphaned school children at her former Zamanyoni School. This she did as a personal project to give back to the community from which she originated in order to make a difference to selected school pupils from poor backgrounds - an ideal that chimes well with both Christian and African values of UBUNTU Over time it became increasingly clear the project potential reach was far greater than anything one individual could sufficiently shoulder. Today the vision is widely shared among a group of six trustees who now volunteer their time and resources to make this dream come true. The foundation's trustees include a good mix of talent comprising 3 Project Managers, teachers and a range of healthcare professionals among others.
Blighted by years of underdevelopment, Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe has an unusually high population of orphaned children many of whom are dropping out of school due to lack of funding. Historically this region was plagued by the impact of a government sanctioned genocide code named Gukurahundi which occurred soon after independence from British rule in the mid 1980's and left behind a trail of destruction, deaths and orphans without a voice. As if this was not enough, the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been debilitating. The number of child-headed families in Matabeleland and other parts of Zimbabwe has not been formally interrogated but is known to run into thousands. A direct result of this in many instances is early pregnancy for girls who find nothing else worthwhile to do. Equally, the boys begin an odyssey of searching for sources of livelihood moving from various cities and towns and across the southern border into South Africa to find job opportunities. To say the situation is dire is an understatement. It is estimated that 4 out of every 5 young adults of school going age in Matabeleland, are not able to advance their education; neither are they able to find paid work in Zimbabwe. This is a massive problem far beyond the scope of MFI scope of work and certainly requiring state intervention. MFI is however determined to play its part and make a difference in a small way wherever it can.
A recent monitoring and evaluation exercise undertaken by MFI has shown an increased demand for scholarship from the area and across the entire nation state of Zimbabwe due to the fact that per capita income in rural areas is notoriously low and the communities themselves have less access to information about available scholarship opportunities. MFI is therefore determined to fundraise as widely as it possibly can to try and meet the demand for scholarships and to reach out to as many school-going children as it possibly can.
Mopane Foundation International has been privileged to get a very good response from Zimbabweans in the diaspora who demonstrate their spirit of UBUNTU in words and deeds. Among those walking the talk and supporting the Foundation in the preparations for the launch event are the likes of Ezra Tshisa Sibanda (Icons of Africa), Lindani Moyo (BAWR), Lucky Moyo (Ngwana Development Trust), Na Ncube (The Global Native), Thandiwe Khumalo and little 12 year old Samantha Ndebele who recently volunteered to go and met the kids on the programme in her trip to Zimbabwe over Easter holidays. These and many other stalwarts are volunteering their time to deliver inspiring motivational messages at the event. Zimbabwean born lass Busi Mhlanga is set to provide entertainment for the day whilst others such as Ejive Dance and Performing Arts will provide supporting acts. Butho Oscar has offered to capture those priceless moments for free. Calvary Apostolic Assembly has always and continues to be supportive of MFI's cause and senior Pastor J. Mpofu is taking time off his extremely busy schedule to come and grace the event for a few hours. Above all, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield will also be gracing the event.
Are we fit to fly? With your support Yes we Can!!. It is for this reason that we are appealing to organisations, companies and individuals to support and sponsor this great community event. While some of the tickets sales' contributions will go to the orphans' initiative, most will go towards venue hire & décor, food and drinks, entertainment, event promotion, media coverage and raffle prizes. This will leave a gaping hole in resources required to fund a scholarship fund for deserving gifted learners who lack the means to advance their education.
All donation cheques are to be made payable to Mopane Foundation International and sent to 18 Holgate Avenue, Sheffield, S5 9LL. Alternatively, donations can be deposited in the Foundation Barclays account whose details are given below. When making a deposit please include your reference name for ease of identity.
Mopane Foundation International
Account number: 13684474
Sort Code: 201221
Alternatively contact Nomsa for tickets or buy as well donate on http://www.eventbrite.com/e/mopane-foundation-black-tie-fundraising-inaugural-launch-tickets-18308743946?aff=es2
All communications should be directed to nomsa.neke@mopanefoundation.org, nekenomsa@yahoo.co.uk or call Nomsa Neke at 07450287082.
Source - Mopane Foundation
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