AWAY from the big screen, American actor Denzel Washington is famed for the quotation: “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”
These remarks apply to nurse-cum-journalist Forward Nyanyiwa, who intends to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the disadvantaged members of the community that raised him.
After losing his parents while he was in primary school, Nyanyiwa was left under the guardianship of his grandmother in Mukarakate village, Murewa.
He grew up under impoverished conditions, but was lucky to have a community that was much concerned, hence Nyanyiwa, now based in Ireland, retracing his roots.
Nyanyiwa recently established the Forward Nyanyiwa Foundation, whose main thrust among others is “to promote and nurture under-privileged children, the vulnerable and orphans by empowering them through existing frameworks so that they can be able to provide and sustain their lives from generation to generation”.
On August 26, the Forward Nyanyiwa Foundation will be launched at Mukarakate business centre, in an event that will be spiced by musician Progress Chipfumo and Sounds of the Motherland.
Local arts groups will entertain guests as well as at the event that would be graced by community and traditional leaders.
“I was nurtured in Mukarakate and during our time, there was lot of talent both academically and in sport,” Nyanyiwa told Standard Style.
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“Some of the prospects who could have made it in life to help the nation in various spheres never made it due to lack of exposure.
“I want to play my little part in helping the next generation.
“The village folk lack the basics like primary health care, basic education and even basic sporting equipments like balls and soccer jerseys.
“I will take it upon myself to co-opt the privileged groups in our communities to share with their unprivileged counterparts and together we will make a difference.”
Nyanyiwa encouraged villagers to attend the event.
“l will host a pre-launch of the Forward Nyanyiwa Foundation where talented musician Progress Chipfumo will headline the event with a free performance,” he said.
“The event will simply be introducing the foundation to the community and to set up committees, which will be tasked with identifying the needy based on a criterion which we believe will root out any bias.
“I urge people of Murewa to come and enjoy as l try to shape the future of every dream.”
Nyanyiwa envisaged a situation where children from underprivileged families compete with those from well-to-do families.
His areas of priority are education and health.
“We want to provide under-privileged, vulnerable and orphans with a basic foundation for education and health through reinstitution,” Nyanyiwa said.
“The foundation will try to provide primary health accessibility for the vulnerable, orphans, elderly and underprivileged.”
He said the Forward Nyanyiwa Foundation would support government efforts in sport and education talent identification and maintenance through the provision of infrastructural as well as technical support.
“We seek to provide valuable life-changing mentorship to the under-privileged children and the vulnerable persons and foster national solidarity through sport,” Nyanyiwa said.
“We would want to build capacities for communities through provision and management of income generating projects.”
Chipfumo confirmed that he would perform at the Forward Nyanyiwa Foundation on August 26.
“I have worked with Forward before, especially during my early days in the music industry,” he said.
“I know how he grew up and he knows how I became what I am today.
“I will support his initiative and this is the beginning of many things to come.”
