25 years ago, Higherlife foundation was born in response to the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic which left many children in Zimbabwe orphaned and vulnerable.
“When my husband and I started our organization in 1996, it was at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe, we were compelled to respond to the heart-breaking crisis we were experiencing”. said, Higherlife Foundation Co-Founder and Chair, Mrs Tsitsi Masiyiwa.
Seeing thousands of children orphaned and vulnerable as the disease took their parents and guardians, leaving them without support systems and with insecure futures, the Masiyiwa’s through the Capernaum Trust, which would later become Higherlife Foundation, created a platform for these young people to fulfill their God-given purpose through scholarships, mentorship and other tools that have seen many become history makers and servant leaders in different spheres.
The past 25 years have seen the foundation grow from having one branch in Zimbabwe to spreading its footprint on the African Continent as it is now has branches in Burundi, Lesotho, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Swaziland.
“Our philosophy is to go where they are, eat what they eat, and sleep where they sleep – these rich experiences inform our strategies and put people at the center of our interventions.” Mrs Masiyiwa added.
With funding from Econet, Cassava, the Masiyiwa Family, in its 25-year history, Higherlife Foundation has grown to contribute towards Africa’s development by implementing projects in Education; Global Health; Rural Transformation and Sustainable Livelihoods; and Disaster Relief and Preparedness, impacting millions of lives in the communities it serves.
Speaking at a 25th Anniversary celebration for the Foundation, the Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Mr Strive Masiyiwa shared that it had been more than 25 years since the work began in earnest and has always been about obedience to God’s instruction.
“We are Africa’s biggest home-grown foundation and philanthropic institution. We have gone beyond Zimbabwe, but we have our anchor here and in the Word of God. We don’t give because we have, we have because we give.
“As we celebrate 25 years, we know we have a sacred mission. Our work is of God, and He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him,” he added. Looking ahead, Higherlife Foundation is guided by Vision 2050, to see Zimbabwe and other African countries become upper-middle-income countries by 2050. It is aligned to the national Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 1, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continental blueprint for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.
