Zimbabwean billionaire awards 11,100 scholarships to vulnerable children
Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwe’s richest man and the founder of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Limited, Strive Masiyiwa has taken a commendable step in advancing education for orphaned and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.
Through his philanthropic arm, Higherlife Foundation, Masiyiwa has granted an impressive 11,100 scholarships, with 5,300 distributed in the first half of this year alone, Billionaires Africa reported
Higherlife Foundation, founded by Masiyiwa and his wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa in 1996, remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in Africa’s human capital.
James Myers, chairman of the Econet board, states, “Education remains at the core of our mission to create positive change within the communities we serve. During the period under review, we embarked on a recruitment exercise that awarded more than 5,300 scholarships to orphaned and vulnerable children.”
Myers stressed the crucial role of education as a fundamental human right stating, “By enabling greater access to education, Higherlife Foundation strives to create a ripple effect of empowerment, individual freedom, and ultimately poverty eradication.”
The foundation’s dedication to social impact is further evident through “Akello” — an end-to-end digital learning platform that delivers quality education to millions of school children across Africa.
Emphasising the impact of Akello, Myers noted that “To date, over 34,600 students have accessed the platform through the Akello tech scholarships, embracing unique and interactive digital learning experiences.”
African billionaires are giving back to their communities
African billionaires are increasingly recognising the importance of giving back to their communities. A recent philanthropy study by Business Insider Africa shows that these wealthy individuals use their resources to impact the continent positively.
Prominent philanthropists include Aliko Dangote, Patrice Motsepe, Femi Otedola, and Tony Elumelu, who have donated millions of dollars to various causes such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
Masiyiwa and his wife Tsitsi have granted scholarships to over 250,000 African youth, enabling access to quality education and fostering global contributions.
His philanthropic organisations — Higherlife Foundation and Delta Philanthropies — continue to lead the charge in educational empowerment, impacting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children across Zimbabwe.
