Activist leads project to identify, document children with disability

PHYSICALLY challenged Mr Vongai Voshi Moyo, the founding chief executive of Heal Our World, is a man with a vision.

Mr Moyo (49) founded the organisation in 2021 with the goal to identify and document all disabled children across the country.

The project aims to create a database and has already captured about 500 vulnerable children. Heal Our World, Vouch for the Child Disability Trust was one of the first-time exhibitors at the recent Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo.

Mr Moyo said he was born with muscular dystrophy, and while he was privileged to go to school up to tertiary level, growing up seeing people with various kinds of disabilities struggling with life inspired him to form the trust.

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.

“I faced challenges while growing up. There were no better facilities and movement was limited compared to the able-bodied counterparts and that pained me,” he said.

“Yes, I was lucky to have parents who could send me to school — but there are thousands out there whose lives become hopeless as soon as they are born.”

Mr Moyo said his parents understood issues of disability and were most supportive hence what they are doing as a trust is to do research to identify children with disabilities in communities, especially in rural areas to enhance their support.

“I am working with districts and each time an SOS comes, I mobilise resources and visit the area. We want to have a database of all disabled children countrywide,” he said.

“For now, we have 500 who are both members and beneficiaries of our programmes.”

Mr Moyo did his primary school at Jairos Jiri Primary School in Harare and secondary school at King George VI in Bulawayo.

Mr Moyo said he is a former ZBC employee where he worked as an administrator. He also worked at various Government departments in the same portfolio.

Mr Moyo said exhibiting at the Hlanganani Expo was an opportunity to endear the organisation to the world.

“This was our first time to exhibit at any big event and this helped us exchange ideas and learn from others. I would like to thank the organisers, Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, and Zimbabwe International Trade Fair authorities for the opportunity,” he said.

“I have proposed a programme where we want to empower disabled people with income-generating projects such as peanut butter making so that they move away from the life of begging.

“So, we were here showcasing what disabled people can do although our materials didn’t come as our vehicle had a breakdown.”

A fifth born in a family of eight with all his siblings able-bodied, Mr Moyo is married to Lisa Mutami and the couple has one child aged one while he has an 11-year-old child from his previous marriage.

His wife and both children are able-bodied.