Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
Bulawayo philanthropist Lisa Mpala is bringing together professionals from different fields to support and inspire vulnerable children through her community outreach programme, Lisa’s Legacy of Light Foundation.
Mpala recently partnered with Afro-house musician MJ Sings and Dr Josephine Chigabatia-Kusano in separate visits to children’s homes in Bulawayo.
The outreach combined donations, music, mentorship and professional inspiration.
At Sandra Jones Orphanage, Mpala partnered with MJ Sings, with children receiving groceries, blankets and other necessities donated through the foundation.
MJ Sings said he readily accepted the invitation because he shared the foundation’s vision of using individual platforms to make a positive difference in communities.
“The initiative was the brainchild of Lisa’s Legacy of Light Foundation, founded by Lisa Mpala. They invited me to work with them and I immediately felt we shared the same values and vision of using our platforms to spearhead positive change in our communities. Sandra Jones Orphanage was the first place we visited,” he said.
Mpala said the musician’s presence added a different dimension to the outreach.
“Working alongside MJ Sings and Dr Josephine Kusano brought two completely different, high-energy forces to our outreach: pure creative soul on one hand, and barrier-breaking empowerment on the other,” she said.
She said MJ Sings helped create a stronger connection between the children and the outreach team through music.
“Beyond the physical support we brought, MJ Sings brought an irreplaceable reminder that their own city’s creative leaders see them, value them, and stand right behind them,” Mpala said.
At Thembiso Children’s Home, Mpala worked with Dr Chigabatia-Kusano, who heads the urology department at United Bulawayo Hospitals.
Mpala said the doctor’s involvement gave the children, particularly girls, an opportunity to interact with a woman who has made her mark in a male-dominated field.
“When we stepped into Thembiso Children’s Home, the energy evolved into pure inspiration through the presence of Dr Josephine Kusano,” she said.
“Walking into a room as Zimbabwe’s very first female urologist and the Head of Urology at UBH, she brought a living blueprint of resilience, excellence, and possibility.”
Mpala said Dr Chigabatia-Kusano’s story could encourage young girls to pursue their ambitions despite societal limitations.
“For the children at Thembiso, especially the young girls, seeing a trailblazer of her calibre up close shattered invisible limits. Her involvement proved that excellence isn’t just something to read about in textbooks. It’s achievable, local, and reachable,” she said.
Mpala said bringing people from different professions into community work was central to her foundation’s approach.
“That unique blend of creative energy and ground-breaking professional leadership captures the heart of Lisa’s Legacy of Light Foundation. By bringing together prominent voices from completely different spheres, we aren’t just delivering short-term relief but we are surrounding the youth with mentorship, tangible role models, and a lasting sense of hope,” she said.
Mpala’s interest in youth development extends beyond the foundation’s outreach programmes.
In 2022, at the age of 19, she co-hosted Miss Mpopoma, where she mentored contestants in leadership, confidence and personal development.
Through her latest initiatives, she continues to promote youth development by exposing young people to professionals and community leaders whose experiences can broaden their aspirations.
The outreach visits to Sandra Jones Orphanage and Thembiso Children’s Home combined immediate assistance with mentorship and inspiration, showing how professionals can use their skills and platforms to support young people.
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