The Sunday News
Gibson Mhaka, Sunday Life Reporter
PIONEERING American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie once set the standard for giving back when he said: “No man can become rich without himself enriching others,” adding that, “The man who dies rich dies disgraced.”
Scores of the world’s wealthiest people have taken to his philosophy, donating their riches to hundreds of causes.
The same can also be said of 24-year-old Alois Sundano Sikuka from Jambezi area in Matabeleland North Province who decided to shepherd part of his “small” fortune into his troubled community and show a goodwill gesture that will help in improving the quality of life for the Jambezi community and society at large.
In an interview with Sunday Life Sikuka, who has so far donated exercises and textbooks to 12 primary and secondary schools as well as food stuffs to about 100 disadvantages families including those living with disabilities from his area, said he just wants to make a difference in his own community.
The youthful philanthropist explained his unselfish character saying the give-away was a way of encouraging other people to give back to their communities. He said there were a lot of people with the resources to do the same thing if they chose to. But why is he giving back to the community at such a youthful age when some people of his age are spending their fortune on expensive jewellery, cars and latest outfits?
“Giving back is something that comes from the heart from me. This is because when I grew up I was almost close to everyone and I was touched by their lives. As you know that Jambezi is one of the underdeveloped areas in the country I saw it necessary just to give the little that I had acquired when I was abroad pursuing my studies.
“In my charity work I am mostly targeting school children and I want to inspire them so that they can see the value of education and that is why I also donated books to 12 schools both primary and secondary. I think it’s just the calling that we all have to do to help make others less fortunate have an opportunity to better their lives, and those of us that are blessed with having successes, we need to share that, and I feel honoured to do that. My community here has really given a lot back to me, support and love, and I’m very happy that people I grew up with are appreciating my support,” said Sikuka.
He said the philanthropic work was part of his childhood dream to help the poor.
“Helping the needy is not something which started when I went overseas for my studies but it was part of my childhood dream. The dream however, materialised six years ago after I completed my Advanced Level studies when I started working painstaking by mobilising resources to assist disadvantaged people from my area,” he said.
One of the villagers Jasper Mpofu who has benefited from Sikuka’s philanthropic works said: “He is doing a wonderful job by improving the lives of people in our community and that’s in the end what a humanitarian is about. We also want other people from this area who have the means to just emulate what Alois is doing by giving back to the community.
“He is one such young man who is doing good work out of his heart rather than out of a need to see his name in lights and in recognition.”
Sikuka is also currently playing a critical role in the country’s health sector by upgrading health facilities in his community.
Asked about his living philosophy and advice to other people of his age Sikuka said: “We all have dreams but you can only see and feel that dream when you believe and take it to its logical conclusion”.
