We can hardly wait for our upcoming event featuring Coafrica staff member Vimbai Tembo!
How does a little girl, left without parents at age 10, grow up in a country with 4.8 million people living in poverty and decide to pursue a Masters degree in the United States?
In an article for the Marriot School of Business at BYU, Vimbai says about her experience,
“My dad died when I was two years old, and when my mom got sick, she taught my six brothers and me how to do things by ourselves because she knew we would be alone,”
As a young girl, Vimbai remembers how important education was to her mother. After her passing, Vimbai studied harder than ever, even though she was now also partly responsible for caring for her younger siblings. Her hard work paid off when she graduated from a college in Zimbabwe with a degree in Marketing. She also learned skills in resource development, data analysis, administration, and project implementation. Vimbai began working for a nongovernmental organization in Zimbabwe. About this experience, she says,
“Going into the villages and seeing the difference the projects were making in the lives of the people was satisfying. However, I felt I needed more skills to serve more effectively and be qualified for higher-management roles.”
After months of studying by candlelight after her young children went to bed, Vimbai was accepted to a Masters’ program at Brigham Young University.
Vimbai’s story does not end here, however. Years later, on the completion of her degree, Vimbai plans to return to Zimbabwe with her husband and three young boys this August.
Come hear Vimbai tell her story: what it was like to grow up in Zimbabwe, her struggle to come to the United States, and what she is doing to give back to the community that raised her.
Vimbai will be speaking about the impact of education on her life on June 29, 2022 at 7 PM at Kiln Theater Room, 2701 N Thanksgiving Way, Lehi, UT.
Please arrive by 6:50 to sign in at the front desk.
Seats are limited so register at the link below to ensure you do not miss out on this inspiring event!
To read more about Vimbai, check out these two articles written about her!
