The Mama Milazi Scholarship Fund
The scholarship fund is named after Lutanga Shaba’s
late great grandmother, a fiercely independent woman who in
the 1940’s went against the grain of what was socially
acceptable and left her husband who wanted to take a second
wife. She established herself as a herbalist and midwife and
died a contented and wealthy woman.
The author aims at selling a minimum of 100 000 copies of
Secrets of a Woman’s Soul to enable the commencement
of the scholarship fund, which shall primarily benefit young
girls who find themselves in situations of destitution because
of the death of their parents due to hiv and aids. Beneficiaries
of the scholarship will be part of a personal development
programme that will groom them to be well positioned to succeed
in life, with support activities that include career guidance,
personal empowerment training, entrepreneurship development,
ICT training and general counselling on life skills. Placement
will be with selected high schools and universities. On commencement
of employment the girls will be expected to pay back the money
they received into the fund to enable others to benefit from
the same pool.
The more money is kept as cash proceeds from book sales the
more girls will be able to benefit. Therefore any other in-kind
donations like computers, books, office equipment and stationery
will be welcome. Although the primary fund raising drive is
through book sales, grants are also welcome from well-wishers.
Grants and donations can be forwarded to the Mama Milazi
Scholarship Fund account, details of which will be provided
upon request by sending an e-mail to lutashaba@mweb.co.zw.
Or sent to :
Mama Milazi Scholarship Fund
C/o The Women's Trust
7 Walter Hill Road, Eastlea Harare, Zimbabwe.
Beneficiaries to date
In its very short existence, the Mama Milazi Scholarship Fund
(MMSF) has already demonstrated its commitment to the vision
of giving young women real choices and two girls have already
benefited.
Precious Gombera was an intern with The Women’s Trust
and was the first beneficiary with fees advance when she needed
assistance during her 2nd year of studies at the Midlands
State University, where she is studying for an Honours Degree
in English and Communication. She will complete her studies
in December 2007.
Primrose Hadebe is the second scholarship beneficiary. Having
lost her father to AIDS related illness, she was on a Camfed
scholarship from Grade 6 until Upper Sixth when she failed
to secure additional resources, even after passing with 14
points at Advanced Level. This was achieved despite walking
16 kilometres to and from school every day and having to contribute
towards looking after her siblings with an ailing mother.
She will be pursuing a degree in Business Studies.
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