The Sunday News
Rodney Manyakaidze, Correspondent
BIG things have small beginnings, they say, and so believes the man behind Kurera, a non-profit venture driven by the altruistic need to make a difference in the lives of those who cannot fend for themselves.
But altruism is just a minuscule aspect of Kurera, it entails far more than just love and goes an extra mile to give to the nation’s underprivileged children.
Its genesis is rooted deeply in the man behind it, Mr Alison Muchato’s own personal struggle such that to separate the man and his dream will be missing the point. They are intrinsically linked.
The Shona word “Kurera” means “nurture” that is providing an upbringing through careful nourishment, encapsulating exactly what the organisation is about. Kurera was registered as a trust in 2018 and the first programme was reaching out in Ndimimbili in Lupane District, where they organised sanitary wear and provided uniforms while working with Acts of God Church.
They have been to Ngozi Mine too, a squatter settlement in Bulawayo that almost spills out with human suffering where they provided food and other aid.
“The children are vulnerable to all forms of abuse one can possibly conceive, and we’ve been working hand in glove with law enforcement agents to see what else we can provide,” said Mr Muchato.
“Nurturing can be done in several ways, one has to consider the children’s rights because children are very fragile and Kurera aims to ensure that the underprivileged children’s mental, emotional and physical well-being is catered for,” he said.
Mr Muchato urges parents to nurture children in their areas of strength saying school can be compulsory but getting a first class education no longer guarantees a successful life.
Kurera is very thankful to Mustard Seed for providing food for the children and despairs at its inability to do more. They can only offer aid once a week or every fortnight.
Kurera also provides other extra-curricular activities like pre-school edutainment programmes which they administered at Tshaka and Vukuzenzele in Makokoba, they also donated fruit hampers in the paediatric ward at Mpilo Central Hospital. They reached out to 200 children and hope to do more in the future.
The biggest obstacle so far for Kurera has been funding, they have a burning desire to do much more to nurture underprivileged children, but can only do so relative to resource availability and they hope for more volunteers who share their vision.
The mental state of abused victims haunts them and they believe therapising the mind is the first important step in bringing positive, lasting change to a child’s life.
The team led by Mr Muchato is made up of youths, graduates and interns from Midlands State University, University of Zimbabwe and the National University of Science and Technology who will be participating in programmes with the underprivileged children.
Mr Thembelani Ncube, a pastor who is involved with Kurera from South Africa, feels the organisation’s mission resonates with him at a personal level.
“When I joined Kurera, I was touched by the fact that among other things they give attention to vulnerable and underprivileged kids, that’s very close to my heart.”
“It’s every human being’s wish to live under favourable conditions and I believe reaching out to the vulnerable and underprivileged children is one of the best gifts which will show them that they are part of the broader society and this will lead to well-nurtured leaders of tomorrow,” said Mr Ncube.
Kurera members are fully employed elsewhere but they spare a chance to come down and be with the young and vulnerable.
“We visited Ndimimbili and spent time with the vulnerable and underprivileged kids. We gave out textbooks to schools because every child deserves the right to decent education. These kids walk long distances barefooted to school, it cannot be fair that they get to school and there are no text books.
“We are reaching out to such villages that are remote and seem forgotten,” Ncube added.
Ms Nobuhle Ndlovu — a nurse, compares Kurera Trust to a bridge, offering support and a gateway to things they cannot otherwise access.
“They have been helping kids with textbooks, food, sanitary pads etc. They are teaching kids about health and sanitation, personal hygiene, community hygiene, the list goes on,” said Ms Ndlovu.
There is a distinct unison in the philosophical and world view of Kurera members, a binding force which gives it a formidable base to move forward and accomplish its goals.
“In such a tough economic environment, children tend to be the most vulnerable and I think it’s important that we play any small part in making their future less bleak. Our goal has been to help at least one kid at a time and by God’s providence we’ve been able to reach out to hundreds of kids within a year from when we started,” said Mr Benjamin Hove, a founding member of Kurera.
Mr Hove posits that the country should not look to the outside world for help.
“Our challenges are uniquely ours and with our capacity to comprehend them we can go a long way in solving them,” he said.
Kurera need not be credited with ingenuity and innovation, their philosophy is that anyone can do charity work, anyone can hand a less privileged individual a meal, but it takes a special kind of character to have a personal resource of love, affection and care to make sure a child isn’t just fed in body, but in mind, spirit and soul, to above all else in their unflattering circumstances and existence, offer hope.
Just like humans draw strength from each other so do aid programmes which helps to form a melioristic ecosystem in the country.
“We are inspired by First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa who has formed the philanthropic foundation for what Kurera aims to accomplish,” said Mr Muchato whose brief academic history is not decorated with distinctions.
After secondary school he took a hiatus and began working in the arts industry as a poster boy, plastering advertising posters of shows across town.
His journey of self-discovery led him to Harare as a dancer for such groups as Amanandosi where they were curtain raisers. Muchato recalls staying in Hopely and Mtangadura Abattoir where he would dance for the braiing guests to raise rentals.
Fortunately, his father offered him a chance — allowing him to go back to school at Tshelanyemba High School in Kezi which to this day he feels indebted to.
“At Tshelanyemba I got direction in life, I found my calling and began living a purpose-driven life,” Mr Muchato said.
He attributes his nurturing to teachers Mr Ezekiel Hleza who is now the head of the school, Mrs Mlangeni and Mr Sera who he mentions with fondness and is grateful to.
“You might be talented but if you lack nurturing you will not go anywhere in life.”
He attended Midlands State University from 2014-2017 where he did a BA in Film and Theatre Production. It was at MSU that his path crossed with Mr Gwarinda, a film lecturer at MSU who recognised his gift and nurtured it by giving him opportunities. He travelled to Intwasa Festival, Inxusa and other expos in Harare.
“I was being mentored and guided in something I had always loved to do,” said Mr Muchato.
For his industrial attachment he applied to Youth in Christ which specialises in ministering to the young people and allow them to go to any Christian denomination.
He proffered a way to spread the gospel through Khetha Creative Arts. They reached out to youths in schools, universities and communities around Zimbabwe.
After college he worked as a lecturer of Television and Film Production at the College of Creative Arts in Africa, an MSU affiliated tertiary institution in Bulawayo where he connected with Mr Hove and decided to register Kurera as a Trust, focusing on nurturing kids through all aspects of life covering arts, health, education and religion.
The energy and drive of passionate humanitarian figures such as Mr Muchato brews a society with individuals who understand their worth and potential, leading to a purpose driven life that propels self-sufficiency and breeds a better generation of leaders for the country.
