History & Background
By Roseline Ndoro - Chair and Founder
I visited Zimbabwe in 2005 and 2007 and both times it was with tears in my eyes - the whole time. The Zimbabwean people are suffering beyond human comprehension. The AIDs/HIV epidemic is destroying family structures at an alarming rate. The first reported case of AIDs in Zimbabwe occured in 1985. By the end of the 80’s around 10% of the adult population were thought to be infected with HIV.
In 2008 it is estimated that HIV is present in 24.6% of the adult population, that is 1 in 4 Zimbabweans. An estimated 565 adults and children become infected everyday, representing approximately 1 person every 3 minutes. Most people living with HIV have little or no access to treatment or any medical assistance and adult mortality has risen alarmingly in recent years.
With this renewed awareness, I decided to form Ndoro Children’s Charities in honour of my father Michael C. Ndoro who passed away on the 7th of June 1994. My father always wanted to build a school for disadvantaged children who may not be able to afford school fees or who may have been abandoned by their parents. He believed in equal opportunities for all and saw a window of opportunity for all children through education.
My parents, my sisters and brothers often sang the song “ Brighten the Corner where You are ....”.
As a young child going to school, my father always emphasised the importance of education. When paying our school fees he said “I shall not leave you a big inheritance but I can afford to pay your school fees. This money shall open doors for you which no man can shut. Education will give you a good start in the world and you will be able to navigate the world and find your purpose in it. Every person in this world has a purpose and it is up to you to find that purpose." These words I have cherished and passed on to my own children.
He also frequently quoted Martin Luther King’s words "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgement. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?"
This is the reason why I decided to form Ndoro Children’s Charities. I am grateful to my father because without his wisdom I would not be in a position to help other people who are less privileged than me. He never shied from telling us to find our purpose on this planet. He always emphasised that we should be responsible citizens, not only of our country, but of the entire world.
Roseline Ndoro - Chair and Founder