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FIRST Lady Dr Grace Mugabe has worked tirelessly to support the needs of the less fortunate, particularly vulnerable children and the disabled in Zimbabwe. As patron of Danhiko Project in Msasa, Harare, she has not only graced and supported the annual Paralympic games held by Danhiko but has also seen the rehabilitation of the organisation.

Her more colourful and most celebrated project in philanthropic work is the state-of-the-art Mazowe children’s home which also incorporates a school.

Since 1997 Amai Mugabe has contributed immensely towards the lives of disabled people in Zimbabwe. Through Danhiko Project, which was established in 1981 and has programmes aimed at vocational training, youth education and empowerment, economic development, disability equity, access to education and employment, the First Lady has set an exemplary standard in philanthropic work.

“When I got in (to Danhiko), the buildings were crumbling and needed rehabilitation. The kitchen was in shambles and lacked equipment and I brought utensils for it. I also had the dining room restored,” said Dr Mugabe after the completion of the refurbishment work.

Aside from these much needed renovations; Dr Mugabe was also responsible for building ramps for the disabled as well as buying furniture for classrooms to make the place more user friendly.

As patron, Dr Mugabe was honoured in 2007 by Danhiko Project who named the annual Danhiko Paralympic Games as the Amai Grace Mugabe Annual Paralympic Games.

Commenting on the importance of sport in people’s lives, including the disabled, the First Lady said: “Sport or physical exercise is a necessary and highly regarded form of rehabilitation, whether physical, mental or physiological.

“Equally important, the games have also exposed (us) to the wealth of knowledge on the varied talents and capabilities of people with disabilities, thus disabusing them of the possible prejudices (we) may have had towards the disabled.”

Apart from the infrastructural support to Danhiko Project, Dr Mugabe has supported the games by providing the prizemoney which increased from $12 550 to $39 000 in 2013.

The games feature various disciplines including swimming, wheelchair basketball, tennis for the physically and visually handicapped, netball as well as track and field events. Through the support provided by the First Lady, participating teams at the annual games increased to 110 teams with 2400 participants.

Dr Mugabe’s philanthropy does not end at Danhiko as she also runs a state-of-the-art orphanage in Mazowe. Former Zambian First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, the wife of late Zambian President Michael Sata, lauded Dr Mugabe’s efforts in establishing the orphanage.

“She has been doing it (philanthropy) from her heart, she has been doing it not for fame but the desire to assist the needy,” Dr Kaseba said of First Lady Dr Mugabe.

“Here you don’t see orphanages, but homes. They are not just there to give shelter, she has not cut corners, she has put quality. The material is of high quality, well-thought out, they don’t look like an orphanage, it’s like an estate,” she said while on a visit to the orphanage in 2012.

In addition to catering for the children’s physical and physiological needs, one of the major projects that Dr Mugabe has undertaken in conjunction with the orphanage is the Amai Mugabe Junior School in Mazowe which opened in 2013.

The state-of-the-art school which enrolled 74 pupils in its first year has seen enrolment rise to more than 130 pupils.

The school provides a wide range of subjects and activities for learners that include art, computer studies and Chinese as well as a wider range of sporting activities to give the child the best access to personal development.

It is through these initiatives that the First Lady works to improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans. She has embraced her role as Mother of the Nation as she works to support and protect the vulnerable in society.

Dr Mugabe has led by example in efforts to uplift the less fortunate in Zimbabwe and has encouraged other politicians as well as prominent businessmen and public figures in Zimbabwe to play their part in developing Zimbabwe and giving back to their communities.

The work that Dr Mugabe has undertaken is work that is without pay. The only reward that one receives is knowing that they are changing the lives of the people they choose to help.

The First Lady continues to bless and be a mother to all Zimbabweans through her various programmes and initiatives and remains a beacon of hope and a better future  for many Zimbabweans.