“The Miracle of Education”
2013
The African Dream Benefit l Po Box 1253 Innaloo, 6918 WA I info@theafricandream.org.au I www.theafricandream.org.au
Message from Founder Each year that passes with The African Dream Benefit, the more we are reminded of the importance of education in the development of the African continent. As each year surpasses, we come across more and more inspiring individuals hungry to change the face of their continent. So far, 2013 has been a milestone year for The African Dream Benefit with the launching of our Tertiary Scholarship Program. The founding principle of the organisation was to “empower through education”. Empowerment is key to what we do, and is only realised when an individual reaches their point of selfactualisation. Self-actualisation is realised when an individual is able to achieve their dreams, and this is achieved through a quality and relevant education. Through our Tertiary Scholarship Program, we have empowered individuals to reach their goals, not only for themselves but also for their nation and communities. Contained in this newsletter are the stories of our first two university scholarships. Their stories are inspiring and heart warming. During my annual visit to Zimbabwe last year July, we went to the University of Zimbabwe and we learnt of a student who was found by one of the cleaners sleeping in one of the lecture rooms everyday. The university later discovered that this particular student could not afford to catch a bus to and from the university. Instead he slept in the lecture rooms so he could make his classes everyday. This student was a rural student studying medicine. He achieved straight A’s in his final exams at secondary school. He was determined, and so where we. So we sponsored him. There are many more inspiring stories that we come across. The need is immense, and we hope to continue to grow our Tertiary scholarship Program so we can continue to invest in Africa’s future. As we continue to embark on this wonderful and rewarding journey, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you including our volunteers, supporters and stakeholders. Thank you for shaping the future of Africa, and believing in ‘The African Dream’.
Fadzai Matambanadzo Founder
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Message from Project Manager “Education is very important in the African context in that it is a liberator from poverty, hunger, disease and above all ignorance. I am glad to be a part of The African Dream Benefit as I am able to assist in liberating the children and youth of Africa through the most important vehicle that is education. Some students drop out of school mainly due to the lack of funds. And those that do get the opportunity of attending school have to endure the discomfort of having to squat on the floor as they have no desks or chairs. Some girls even opt to get married as they see it as a way to lessen the burden. I would like to say a big thank you to the supporters, friends, and believers of The African Dream Benefit. Thank you for your support that is enabling us to give scholarships to disadvantaged children and youth here in Africa. We appreciate that you are giving your time and resources to make this African dream a big success. We thank you.” Tsitsi Makoni
Message from Operations Manager “My African dream is to motivate, inspire and empower through education. This is what we aim to achieve through our day-to-day operational activities. From an operations strategy point of view, we have policies, plans and controls in place that control the use of our limited resources. From the various surveys we have conducted in the country over the years, we realised that the need for scholarships and educational materials is too enormous. This is where organisations such as The African Dream Benefit fit in and play an important role in educating young Africans. We are not here to replace efforts of other institutions and organisations, but we are here to augment the efforts already in place. We would like to thank all Directors, the Advisory Board, stakeholders, supporters friends and believers of The African Dream Benefit. You are helping us make a difference to the children and youth of Africa. We hope that you continue to further your interests in the African child.” Simon Chihwanda
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Launch of Tertiary Scholarships: Dream into Reality
Left to right: Simon Chihwanda (ADB Operations Manager), Helen (Recipient), Prof Nyagura (Vice Chancellor of University), Fadzai Matambanadzo (Founder of ADB), Happiness (Recipient), Tsitsi Makoni (ADB Project Manager)
“He who opens a school door, closes a prison” Victor Hugo
Since launching in 2009, our dream
Vice Chancellor of the university. Also
as an organisation has been to
warmly welcoming the team was the
award
Dean
university
scholarships.
of
the
College
of
Health
However, to achieve this we had to
Sciences Professor Chidzonga, along
start with baby steps and award
with other staff from the university.
primary
and
secondary
school
scholarships first.
The scholarships were awarded to two deserving students Helen and
On January the 18th, exactly 4 years
Happiness,
since the birth of The African Dream
circumstances have been able to
Benefit, our team arrived at The
stay motivated in order for them to
University of Zimbabwe with one
achieve their gaols. We look forward
special mission in mind; to have a
to building a strong relationship with
presentation ceremony to award
the university and maintain its position
our first tertiary scholarships. Our
as
team
stakeholders.
arrived
in
the
office
of
one
who
of
our
despite
most
their
important
Professor Nyagura,
Continued on next page…
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Launch of Tertiary Scholarships: continued…. Meet our university scholars:
“With both parents unemployed and now in their late sixties, survival is based on a small chicken mesh in the backyard, which has to cater for feeding the family and fees for my younger siblings. This has been a challenge for me as it has not been enough to pay my fees. The African Dream Scholarship will be of value to my studies. Getting the scholarship now means I will concentrate on my studies with no worries. This will enable me to excel and become a better doctor who will be able to adequately give back to my community. My African Dream is to have healthcare for every African. I wish to see health transcending to all sectors of the community and reaching the remote places of the continent. I believe that the development of the community is centred on the health of its members. If people are healthy they can plan, make decisions pertaining to development and can be involved wholly in manual activities. I want to offer myself as a medical practitioner and be involved in Public Health. I want to strategically target the young. They are important stakeholders in a nation’s development. They are the future of Africa and are responsible for transforming Africa. A healthy person builds a healthy Africa because healthy people’s minds are able to innovate and labor is adequately available.” Helen (Medical Scholarship Recipient 2013)
“I am the first born in a family of six. My mother is late and my father is a security guard. Supporting my siblings in their day-to-day living is a constant challenge for my father. The fees required by the university are beyond his reach. Thank you to The African Dream Benefit for intervening and supporting me at a very critical point in my life. It has always been my dream to become a doctor and become of use to my siblings and community. After my under graduate programme I want to specialise in paediatric surgery and will use my skills to offer free surgery to children with birth defects. I believe that affordable high quality education is the most important way to significantly stop problems such as poverty, illiteracy, diseases, corruption and widespread unemployment. I dream of a Africa where children run free playing in the streets knowing that their future is secure.” Happiness (Medical Scholarship Recipient 2013)
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Project 50Five: A campaign supporting our ‘Tertiary Scholarship Program’ Project 50Five is a campaign that was initiated in 2012 to raise funds for the launch of our Tertiary Scholarship Program.
In
secondary
Zimbabwe,
students
approximately
transition
to
4%
of
post-secondary
education. Investing in Africa’s future means investing heavily in post secondary education. In awarding our first tertiary scholarships, we have decided to work with the College of Health Sciences at
the
University
of
Zimbabwe.
This
faculty
is
internationally recognised as producing some of the best medical practitioners in Africa. By choosing to work with the College of Health Sciences, we are also addressing 5 out of the 8 UN Millennium Development Goals. These are: · Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger · Promoting gender equality & empowering women · Reducing child mortality rates, · Improving maternal health, · Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, Project 50Five aims to raise funds by encouraging many of our supporters to donate just $20/month for 12 months. For every 55 people that do this, a well deserving student studies medicine for 5 years. Help us change the life of a well deserving student by giving them the opportunity to relinquish themselves from the poverty cycle and become a future leader in Africa! To donate visit www.theafricandream.org.au/project50five 6
The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Mission Award: African Professionals Association of WA gives award to Founder
© Image courtesy of APA
Founder of The African Dream
The award was presented by the
We thank the African Professionals
Benefit, Fadzai Matambanadzo was awarded the ‘African
Executive Director of the Office of Multicultural Interest, Maria Osman.
of Australia for their support and recognising the work and
Professional Mission’ Award by the African Professionals of Australia last year.
Other special guests included - Hon Julie Bishop: Deputy Leader
She accepted the award during their Gala ball held at Novotel Hotel in Perth in September 2012.
of the Federal Opposition, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister for Trade
commitment of The African Dream Benefit team in assisting disadvantage children and youth through education.
This award recognises AfricanAustralians who are positively impacting and uplifting the
- Mr Bill Turner: Chairman of Australia-Africa Mining Industry
community. Fadzai was recognised for her mission to change the lives of other Africans in Africa through Dream Benefit.
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The
African
Group - Mr Matthew Neuhaus: Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe. - And many other African ministers and dignitaries.
© Image courtesy of APA
© Image courtesy of APA
From Left to right: Mr Bill Turner (Chairman of Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group), Mrs Turner, Fadzai Matambanadzo (Founder of The African Dream Benefit), Mr Matthew Neuhaus (Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe), and Mrs Neuhaus
From Left to right: Mr Tommy Adedayo (President of African Professional Association) and the Hon Julie Bishop MP (Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister for Trade)
The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
African Dream Cocktail Fundraiser
On the 20th of October in 2012 we
fundraising
held our 6th fundraising event to raise
organisation raising much needed
funds
funds
for
our
Government
projects House
at
the
Ballroom.
Special guest for the evening was Mr Ian Britza MLA (Member for Morley) who gave a powerful and heart felt speech.
for
success
our
for
scholarships
the
and
educational projects. Thank you to all the guests who attended and helped us raise the much-needed
funds.
Our
next
fundraising dinner is on the 19th of
The evening included delectable
October 2013 at Government House
finger
Ballroom.
foods
and
wines.
Guests
enjoyed special performances from Ka Dance Des Ziles with their vibrant
For more photos from the event visit www.theafricandream.org.au
Mauritian traditional dancing. The evening also included a live and silent
auction,
which
raised
just
under $13,000. Stand out items were paintings
by
Zimbabwean
born
wildlife artist Craig Hilton Barber who donated some of his most beautiful works for the auction. The
8
evening
was
“Small deeds done, are better than great deed planned” Peter Marshall
yet
another
The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Outdoor classroom at Macheke Primary School in Macheke, Zimbabwe
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter Š
Annual Trips Zimbabwe
In
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” William Butler Yeats
June/July
and
The team met with the heads of the
January/February 2013 Founder
schools to discuss the progress of
of ADB Fadzai Matambanadzo
scholarship
was in Zimbabwe for her annual
new recipients and to discuss new
visits. In both visits Fadzai toured
projects. We congratulate our top 3
the country with Project Manager
performing
primary
Tsitsi
Operations
scholarships
recipients
Chihwanda
Charmaine
and
Nomatter
who
graduated
from
grade
with
Makoni
Manager
2012
and
Simon
overlooking
past
and
present
recipients,
interview
school Leon,
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projects. New partnerships were
straight A’s. We look forward to
created and the planning of new
continuing
and upcoming projects begun.
throughout their secondary school
sponsoring
them
studies. The trips included visits to Monte
Our team also visited the University
Cassino Secondary School, Kriste
of Zimbabwe in January 2013 for
Mambo
the presentation ceremony of our
Secondary
School,
St
Barbara Primary School, Macheke Primary
School,
School,
Mt
School,
and
Trishill
Carmel the
Primary Primary
University
first tertiary scholarships. Continued on next page….
of
Zimbabwe.
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©
Annual Trips Continued‌.
Our
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin
team
met
Vice-
We look forward to growing our
Chancellor of the university, the
partnerships and relationships with
Dean of the College of Health
stakeholders in order to improve on
Sciences, and other staff at the
our efficiency in the deliverance of
university.
our
The
with
the
scholarships
were
projects.
launched as part of the Project
integral
50Five
efficiency and sustainability.
raising
campaign funds
which
begun
the
Tertiary
for
to
Partnerships our
are
operational
Scholarship Program last year. At the conclusion of the visit, the ViceChancellor of the university and the Founder of ADB agreed to formalise a partnership, and continue to grow the relationship. A new partnership was also created with
the
Catholic
Education
Commission of Zimbabwe, which runs over 200 schools in country. .
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The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter Š
Updates… Our fundraising dinner will be held on the 19th of October at the Government House Ballroom. Tickets will be available soon.
We are getting busier, and we are looking for volunteers to dedicate a few hours a week to the organisation. If you based in Perth and are interested email info@theafricandream.org.au
Thank you… We would like to thank all our supporters, sponsors, donors, friends and volunteers for the hard work, dedications and donations. Thank you to: - Our Advisory Board - Volunteers - Clayton Utz - Inteirra - Shangara Jive - Craig Hilton Barber - Ka Dance Des Ziles - And those who donate their time and money to the children and youth of Africa.
Donate. Be part of The African Dream and empower a student with quality education!
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Help us fight poverty and make a donation today! Direct Debit: Westpac bank - The African Dream Benefit BSB: 036027 Acc: 380765 Credit card: Via www.theafricandream.org.au (click ʻDonateʼ) Or email us at info@theafricandream.org.au Or call us on 0401888661/0422786394
The African Dream Benefit 2013 Newsletter ©