By Style Reporter
Dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu will next Thursday headline a fundraising gig for Chedenga Foundation at Theatre in the Park in Harare.
Other artistes to feature at the fundraising concert include Afro-fusion musician Ammi Jamanda, Jah Lemmy, Spider and Power FM’s DJ Squila.
Chedenga Foundation, a brain child of prominent actress Eunice Tava, works to empower less privileged children and youths in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
Tava registered Chedenga Foundation in February 2020 after she discovered that there was need to reach out to more children, especially those on the streets.
The actress, who features on Jah Prayzah’s Nhoroondo four-series video, told Standard Style that her humanitarian work was self-funded.
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“It is the money that I get from my acting or artistic activities that has helped me to carry out programmes in my humanitarian journey so far although there are individuals who cheap in at times when there is urgent need,” she said.
“Lack of funding is affecting our programmes, hence the decision to come up with this fundraising concert. We have been failing to reach out to all parts of the country when we get calls from people from Muzarabani or Plumtree who would want assistance.
“I also want to assist two kids that I picked from the streets and enrolled at a boarding school in Mutoko.
“This event is coming in December when schools close and people prepare for the first term and the school fees would be needed.”
Tava said apart from the two pupils, she was assisting through Chedenga Foundation, 31 children attending schools across the country.
“Chedenga Foundation is just two years old and we don’t have our own accommodation. I would have loved to accommodate all these children. We are, however, planning to build shelter to accommodate all these children who do not have a place to live in.”
She was continuing with her A Meal a Day programme, where she makes tea for children on the streets every day. .
“All these programmes need money that is why we are doing this fundraising programme. We are also planning to give food hampers to the less-privileged people so that they have something to cheer this Christmas,” said the actress.
Tava expressed gratitude to the artistes who accepted the Chedenga Foundation invitation.
Chimbetu said his presence at the fundraising will go a long way in supporting the underprivileged.
“We have committed ourselves to this event to support the needy through this fundraising concert and we believe our contribution will make a difference as well,” Chimbetu said.
Jamanda, who is riding high following the release of her latest single titled Gata Rinoshura Materu released in September, said she was also for a good cause, hence her presence at the fundraising concert.
“I think what Eunice is doing is for a good cause. I believe by performing at the concert we are doing so much to support this powerful woman,” she said.
Tava said her acting vocation was not snooping into her philanthropic activities.
Tava has staged 50 plays locally and has some of her work showcased on international platforms in east and southern Africa as well as in Europe.
As a film director, Tava has done productions on plays such as Election Day, Colours of Dreams, Diamonds in Son’s Grave, Narratives from the Dark and Blood Tongue.
She has featured in productions such as Studio 263, Subaru D, Salon.Com, Mirage, Chipo the Gift series, Sinners and The Story of Nehanda, among others.