ZIMBABWEAN businesswoman and philanthropist Fortunate Kufakunesu has won a global award for her trailblazing contribution towards uplifting women and the girl child.
The prestigious 2024 Women Changing the Worlds Awards ceremony, held in London last week,, was organised by Zimbabwean-American women empowerment advocate Tererai Trent.
The event was graced by several other philanthropists, among them Zimbabwe's Patricia Gonde, Memory Janyure Vickie Maponga-Mlilo.
Kufakunesu's accolade was in recognition of her dedication to empowering underprivileged young girls and women in Zimbabwe through her Lily of Valleys Home of Hope.
In her acceptance speech, Kufakunesu said she will continue to lend a helping hand to under-privileged young girls. “I am honoured, thank you so much to the visionaries, I am so humbled. Thank you for this amazing vision, a vision that sees the forgotten, I would like to thank the organising team and the judges, my Facebook followers and social media followers, my family, especially my husband, my mentors, I thank you so much."
“All I do is to live my passion, supporting and empowering adolescent girls and young women. Never did I imagine that one day I would stand before great and amazing people like you. In whatever we do, we must believe that someone out there will be inspired, the sky is never the limit. Whatever you desire to achieve, never give up,” she said.
In December last year, Kufakunesu launched her debut book titled ‘A Woman of Purposeful Destiny’ which explores her life journey and quest to discover her purpose in life. The book implores women to rise above challenges to pursue their purpose. She said the book was in line with her vision to advise and uplift girls and women, igniting their own journey of self-discovery.
“I have identified my way. I found out that my purpose is helping adolescent girls and other women,” she said during the launch of the book which was attended by high profile guests. The businesswoman currently assists 35 learners with fees, 755 with sanitary wear, in Chihota, her rural home, where she has also established empowerment projects for local women.
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She said her philanthropic work was inspired by her tough upbringing. Trent, the awards founder, emphasised the need to foster unity and collective action among women globally. “We are strong already, but together we are stronger,” she said. “These exceptional women are here to awaken hearts, give permission to recapture dreams and inspire the women of the world to come together to forge a brighter path for all. “The rising of women is the awakening of everybody.”
