THE 2024 Z-NIGHT FUNDRAISING RAFFLE:
THE RATIDZHO SHUMBA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
For the past few years, we have included in our Z-Night Celebration a raffle that supports a specific project that Nancy and Prisca single out as especially urgent or impactful. This year, Prisca and Nancy have asked us to join together to support a wonderful young student at Berejena Secondary, Ratidzho Shumba.
Ratidzho Shumba is a young woman with Cerebral Palsy, who lost her parents at a young age. Zienzele has supported her via the Child-Headed Household Program since we met her at the age of ten, and Prisca and Nancy have been her fierce advocates ever since! With this year’s fundraising effort, we ask you to join us as we seek to ensure a full education and a safe future for one of the most vulnerable individuals we work with.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO FOR RATIDZHO?
Ratidzho has always had post-secondary goals for herself, and we are committed to supporting her in the pursuit of that goal. As a young woman without family-based protection, Ratidzho is already in an extremely vulnerable position– her disability makes her exponentially more vulnerable. This vulnerability makes it all the more urgent for Zienzele to ensure ongoing support.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
our goal: to raise $7500 for a scholarship fund:
-to cover the remaining tuition, fees, and exam costs FOR HER SECONDARY DEGREE
-to cover tuition and living expenses for HER post-secondary certificate program
learn more about Ratidzho, and Prisca and Nancy’s work advocating on her behalf below.
do you prefer to donate outright to ratidzho’s scholarship fund?
How does this raffle work?
-to buy raffle tickets, make a secure online donation or purchase tickets in person at our Z-Night event
-a donation of $50 enters your name in the drawing once, $100 enters your name twice, etc.
-at Z-Night, on May 23rd, we will draw a winner, and that lucky person wins a beautiful handwoven basket, chosen by Nancy and Prisca as their favorite from the most recent ‘batch’ of baskets they have brought back from their March-April 2024 field visits!
-you need not be there in person at Z-Night to win (though we would love to have you join us!). We are happy to send the prize basket to you if you are unable to attend. Just please be sure to give us your email and address when purchasing your raffle tickets!
Ratidzho with Mai Tafadzwa and Mai Utete, her Zienzele supporters!
WHO IS RATIDZHO SHUMBA AND HOW DID ZIENZELE MEET HER?
Ratidzho is a sixteen year old young woman born with cerebral palsy. Her mother died when she was a small child, and her extended family then abandoned her. When she was around ten years old, Ratidzho was taken in by an elderly woman in her village, who joined Zienzele’s Berejena basket-weaving group in order to support Ratidzho and keep her in school. Zienzele’s regional representative for Berejena brought Ratidzho to our attention that same year. Zienzele began supporting Ratidzho as a special-case Child-Headed Household, and Prisca and Nancy have acted as her special advocates ever since.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR RATIDZHO SO FAR?
For the past eight years, during every field visit, Nancy and Prisca have met with the administrators at Ratidzho’s schools to advocate on her behalf.
In primary school, this meant making sure Ratidzho’s needs were met: her condition makes carrying her books difficult and unsafe, so we provided her with a backpack; Ratidzho was being excluded from activities that she could do, just slowly- we secured her extra time for such tasks, so that she could participate. It was clear that her academic abilities were being underestimated, and she was not being included in the classroom. So Prisca and Nancy insisted that the school hold her to equal academic expectations– teachers started expecting more from Ratidzho academically, and she rose to the challenge with joy and enthusiasm!
When Ratidzho was in seventh grade, Nancy and Prisca met with administrators at Berejena Secondary School, a private high-quality school, to enroll Ratidzho and make sure that the school could accommodate her on their campus. Berejena Secondary has been a wonderful environment for Ratidzho–every year she is partnered with another student who helps her maneuver her way around campus, and from class to class. With this support, her physical and intellectual confidence has blossomed–she is thriving!
When we met Ratidzho, she was physically quite weak and unsteady, as is the case with many people with cerebral palsy left without support that accommodates physical activity. She was also emotionally suffering from her social isolation. School has made a world of difference for Ratidzho–we have seen her physical and emotional condition strengthen with her increased inclusion in school and community activities, and we are so thrilled to see her shine as she gains confidence and independence.