Zimbabwe Educational Trust founder Vulidlendla Mkandla's Inspirational Story

“My name is Vulindlela Mkandla. I grew up in Zimbabwe without my mother, who died when I was eight years old. After this, I helped my maternal grandmother to look after my younger sister and brothers as my father, who was a minister, had to go away for weeks at a time.

I worked hard at school. At the end of primary school I came top of my class in the exam, and was accepted at Goromonzi Secondary School, a government-run school for high achievers that allowed me to fulfil my potential.

As a young man I trained as a primary school teacher and worked for the Ministry of Education, and was appointed as Head Teacher, and then District Manager of Church Schools.

Eventually I was offered a place on an Educational Administration course in the UK. However, Ian Smith’s government was campaigning for independence at the time and I was refused study leave. I had to resign to travel to England.

After Zimbabwe achieved its independence in 1980, there was an explosion in the number of children attaining the secondary level of education. But many of these children, particularly those from disadvantaged family backgrounds, were unable to proceed to higher education, regardless of their potential. This inequality, together with a recognition that the new government could only go so far to satisfy the educational needs of its citizens, inspired me to set up ZET.

I believe that every child matters and that much is expected from those to whom much has been given. I believe that not only should we do no harm, and do as we would be done by, but we must do what is right. Children are a nation's future. They need education for a better chance in life, especially in Zimbabwe when there are so many challenges they will face in the future.”

- Vuli Mkandla

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