Zimbabwe Achievers Awards are set to celebrate a noteworthy lifetime contribution to the Zimbabwean community at the second edition of the awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday 28 April 2012. The ZAA committee has announced Vuli Mkandla, the founder and director of Zimbabwe Educational Trust, as the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Contribution Award.
An academic child growing up in Zimbabwe, Mr Mkandla was accepted at Goromonzi Secondary School, a government-run institution for high-achievers that allowed him to fulfill his potential. After completing his training as a primary school teacher, Mkandla was appointed as head teacher ad then District Manager of church schools. Eventually offered a place on an Educational Administration course in the UK but unable to get study leave, Mkandla resigned to take up his studies.
Zimbabwe Educational Trust was conceived by Mkandla in 1987 instigated by the huge number of student from disadvantaged backgrounds attaining well at secondary school but unable to proceed to higher education and the recognition that the new government could only help so far in helping these young minds.
Since its inception, guided by its ethos of “every child matter’ and investing in the future generations of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Educational Trust, working with the communites in the UK and the British academic institutions has provided higher education for over 1000 Zimbabwean students as well as continuous care and provision to children from disadvantaged backgrounds back home.
“It is a wonderful surprise, truly humbling. I never thought such a think would happen to me,” Mkandla said of the award, “This was a sudden realisation that someone recognised and appreciated my work and that it was such a worthwhile achievement.”
Speaking of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards, Mkandla added, “It is wonderful that there is such a celebration of the wonderful work of this organisation and we are all very pleased that here is an organisation which has been set up by Zimbabweans themselves achieving so much. I am sure its popularity will continue to grow.”
“People like Mr Mkandla are the reason and inspiration behind ZAA, these are the people who have contributed so much to the community and deserve to be recognised for all their hard work and contribution. A lot of students have gone on to reach even higher heights having passed through ZET. Please join us and help us celebrate this lifetime selfless Contribution to our community by a trully amazing Zimbabwean,” said Conrad Mwanza, the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards CEO.
Hosted by the renowned Zimbabwean actress Chipo Chung and set to be a star-studded evening of celebration for the Zimbabwean community in the UK , the second edition of Zimbabwe Achievers Awards will take place at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel on Saturday 28 April.
Tickets are available for purchase on the ZAA website please See www.zimachievers.com
Congratulations sir! You totally deserve it!