Zim musicians to play gig for underprivileged kids

Artists billed to perform at the charity concert include Sniper Storm, Ngoni Kambarami, Trevor Dongo, Leonard Mapfumo, Shinso Man, Pauline, Cindy Munyavi and Sani Makalima.

“We have seen the great struggle less fortunate families and orphanages are going through to try raise school fees. This has resulted in children not achieving their academic best, or worse: dropping out of education,” Beacon of Hope vice-secretary Faith Ethel Gondo told Music In Africa.

“We aim to raise stationery and not money so we intend to come up with as much stationery as possible to assist children. The donations received will be channelled to selected struggling children who are in schools and orphanages.”

Gondo said concertgoers are required to bring stationary to enter the event.

“No donation is small, bring anything. It can be a pencil, a ruler, maths set, a book, anything. We believe that education is an entitlement, a right for our children that empowers them with knowledge to benefit them and their communities. It will surely go a long way,” she said, adding that Beacon of Hope wants to see the event grow into an annual affair. 

Beacon of Hope vice-president Leonard Mapfumo said the prevailing financial constraints in Zimbabwe were adversely the prosperity of schoolchildren.

“The current economic challenges have made it even more difficult for social welfare to assist the increasing number of children requiring financial assistance,” he said. As musicians and artists we decided to come up with a benefit show to try help alleviate some of the burden by collecting stationary to assist at least 250 children.”

R&B artist Cindy Munyavi expressed her excitement about the event.

“I think it’s an awesome thing that artists are coming together for a good cause. The plight of the needy always needs to be addressed in the community and it’s sad for pupils to lack resources that are needed for their education.I applaud every artist that is part of this concert and I pray everything goes as planned and that enough funds are raised,” Munyavi said.