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Langalakhe Mabena
She is a beacon of light for the people in Nguboyenja, and a year doesn’t pass without the successful businesswoman and philanthropist Mitchell “Mimi” Tshuma contributing to development projects in the suburb that groomed her.
Proudly brought up at Sotshangane Flats, Mimi’s story is not different from any other person who grew up in ekasi. She knows poverty, she knows how painful it is for a child to not go to school because parents can’t afford fees.
In order to try and create a platform that will help underprivileged people in Nguboyenja, Mimi managed to create Hope Restorers Academy, a philanthropic group that has immensely given back to the community that raised her.
One of the major highlights of the Hope Restorers Academy was last year in September when she donated a borehole and adopted 50 underprivileged pupils at her former school in Lozikeyi Primary.
The event, held at the school which gave smiles to the teachers, parents, and pupils, also saw Mimi gifting the 50 pupil-beneficiaries with brand new backpacks to be able to carry their books in decent school bags.
The donation of the borehole came at a time when Bulawayo was facing a water crisis. Mimi, who is also the director of the foundation, expressed her happiness to be exercising her philanthropic work in a community that groomed her as she committed herself to assisting underprivileged kids by paying their school fees till they finish Grade 7.
“It’s such an honour to return to my former school (Lozikeyi) after staying for 22 years in the United Kingdom. Over my stay here in Bulawayo I realised that there are water challenges in most suburbs.
“This challenged me to drill the borehole so that pupils here will always have clean running water so that they maintain cleanliness and also do other chores at school that require water. As the Hope Restorers Foundation, we have adopted 50 under privileged pupils and we are paying school fees for them until they write and finish their Grade 7 exams.
“My best friend Jaqueline ‘Jackie’ Ntaka, who is also a trustee in the Foundation, pays fees for pupils from ECD, Grades 1 and 2. I take care of grade 3s going up. We are doing all this because as a daughter who grew up in Sotshangane I understand how it feels for a child to drop out of school because parents don’t have money to pay fees. I hope and pray that these donations go a long way,” said Mimi.
Mr Ndlovu, who is the school’s headmaster, was happy to realise that in the Nguboyenja community there are humble and caring people like Mimi.
“When she approached me to do this philanthropic work, I dismissed her as some of the politicians who make promises and never fulfil them. But she has proven me wrong.
“As I speak, all the kids who had debts at school are sorted as she cleared their outstanding school fees. The borehole was successfully drilled, a sign that she and the foundation were walking the talk. May the young generation be inspired,” said Mr Ndlovu.
These above are not the only philanthropic works that Mimi has done in Nguboyenja. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Hope Restorers donated clothes and groceries to vulnerable people within the community. Another exciting work she has done is the annually held Christmas party for kids, a platform which is aimed to encourage people that Christmas is more than just a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a day to spread joy, kindness and generosity to those who need it most.
The party is a festive and fun-filled event where the children can enjoy different activities, games and food. At the party, local labour is used as volunteers, parents and guardians of the children were cooks with some monitoring and maintaining order at the party.
Mimi sponsors the party with clothes and food for the kids, who come from different family backgrounds, rich or poor. The party is also a way to foster love and humanity among the children, as they learn to share and appreciate their culture and heritage. She said she created the part as a way of giving kids an opportunity to foster Ubuntu at a young age and teach them to equally share the little they have with each other.
“I am what I am today because of the love and grooming I received while growing up here at Sotshangane Flats. Growing up on this side of Bulawayo was not easy for me and for most of the people who grew up in this area.
“From my experience, I know how it feels to be lonely, not to have Christmas clothes and not having people or a place to celebrate the day.
Online Reporter