Howard Mukanda:  “Why I live”

Howard Mukanda  is a highly talented Zimbabwean young man. He is highly motivated to improve the lives of orphans in Africa and to be highly engaged in women’s issues. He believes that we have the power to create a happy world for everyone, including the less fortunate members of our societies. He deems living a selfless life as a way that creates a reality that fulfills his heart’s desire.

Orphaned children. During his first year of High school, Howard became actively engaged in a community development programs. As a peer educator and (peer) counselor, he worked with children of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds, and ended up guiding and supporting them to cope with various family problems and life challenges. Despite his proficiency in Math and Chemistry, Howard realized that working with orphans was something that naturally made him happy and a sense of self worth.

During his high school years, Howard participated in a lot of extracurricular activities that included running long distance, playing chess and had some leadership roles in most of the activities he participated in. He was the Scripture Union Chairperson (a student Christian group) and during this time, he managed to turn a lot of students into Christianity and the group stood its ground at the school and dominated any other school events. Howard was the Harare High school Head boy in 2008-2009 year and through his great calm and bold leadership, he managed to help instill order and discipline in most students in school and most of them still admire him for his good works.

Furthermore, Howard was actively engaged in a number of community projects in the High density suburb of Mbare. He was an active member of the Youths against Aids Club and had an immense contribution into it. Howard volunteered at a number of local Non-Governmental Organizations. He worked closely with Mashambanzou Care trust as an Orphans Psycho-social support (PSS) group co-coordinator. He attended the PSS group every Wednesday afternoon and his role was to make discussions topics for the meetings and as well as co-coordinating the group meetings. This project was funded by Mashambanzou Care Trust as an outreach program for AIDs orphans and Howard found himself actively influencing the meetings. This involvement not only stirred Howard’s joy and personal satisfaction, but it also earned him a good reputation amongst his peers and the Mashambanzou Care Trust organization as well. Howard’s ideas and influence is still being used at the current existing PSS meetings in Zimbabwe up to date.

In addition to the PSS, Howard worked closely with Chiedza Childcare Centre (website http://www.chiedza.org.zw/). Chiedza has a lot of great programs for orphaned children and they include providing school feel, meals and educational support. Howard volunteered at this Center during his high school years and soon after graduating from High school, his passion to work with orphaned children made him work there as an intern. Throughout his 6 months of internship, Howard made an impact at Chiedza. He revived the organisation’s Resource Center, a place where children study and do their homework. Howard introduced various methods of managing the place and made it attractive to children, a move that improved the Children’s pass rate at school. http://www.chiedza.org.zw/documents/pdf/20101stquarternewsletter.pdf.  It is at this place where Howard realized his path in life. He recognized his desire to serve, to live a selfless life by being there for orphans. Howard began to appreciate more the works being done by Organizations such as Mashambanzou and Chiedza. His passion to work with orphaned children doubled and he realized that’s something that brings him joy and happiness in life.