More Pics from the Community Service Car Wash

More pics....

5 ave Community Service Car Wash

The 5 avenue community service car wash was a resounding success. People were pleasantly surprised to learn that they could get both the interior and exterior of their car cleaned – very well I might add – by models and for free!

We did work up a sweat and it was a great deal of fun. In a sense I would say it was a great opportunity for team building, for those who chose to take it. It was also an opportunity to mingle with the complex visitors, educate them on road safety and get the word out for what we as a pageant stand for which is beauty with a purpose.

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Visit to Society for the Destitute Aged (S.O.D.A)

On Monday 22^nd of April 2013, I visited the Society for the Destitute Aged (SODA) in Highfield. I did not go alone; however, I was accompanied by Mrs. Pauline Mapuvire the Parade’s Miss Global Zimbabwe model director, Mr. Godfrey Munetsi the Parade’s photographer and journalist as well as the Trauma Centre and Hospital Harare emergency rescue team. Here’s how it all came about and what took place during the visit.

As I got word out on my project, I received support from various stakeholders. The first was Mr. and Mrs. Moyo on behalf of Measil Traders, a first aid distribution company. We joined forces and came up with a campaign to improve disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe and not forgetting the elderly in the same light. During the 2013 edition of the Home and Garden expo in Harare, we were raising awareness on the importance of first aid and we had a special offer which allowed a 20% discount to anybody/ company that would donate an emergency first aid kit to an Old Aged Home of their choice (and the offer is still running to this day). This is where I met Ms. Zarina Dudhia the Hospital Manager of Trauma Centre and Hospital Harare who pledged a donation. Various other pledges came through and the response was positive.

To assist with the project, i decided it would be a good idea to bring Help Age Zimbabwe on board. Mrs P. Gavi, the managing director of Help Age Zimbabwe, as well as her staff members were very supportive in providing information on the aged homes in Zimbabwe and to set up communication with SODA.

Upon arrival to SODA, on the 22^nd of April, we could see how the residents were surprised to see unfamiliar faces. I would say it took them by surprise and they did not know what exactly to expect. Introductions were made and the two groups began to form a relationship, getting to know each other.
The home Matron, Mai Mukize, is a very bubbly character with a warm motherly energy about her. I knew this to be fact at the time by how the residence were speaking to her, calling her ‘’amai’’ with inviting smiles and a sense of trust they exuded – just like a mother I thought.

As we sat down to know more, Mai Mukize told us how the home was started in the 60s by the late John Njerere and the late Raphael Mushonga. The official opening was done in 1982 and the late Princess of Wales, Princess Diana paid a visit to the home in 1993. The home has a carrying capacity of 50 people but currently houses 22 residents. These residents are allocated homes by the Social Welfare, depending on their condition whether they are self-reliant or not. There are a total of 9 staff members including cook, cleaners, guards and matron.

The home has many needs as we could see and as Mai Mukize was telling us. Some of these needs are as follows and not limited to:

• ·         Painting of the buildings, both inside and outside
• ·         A television set and radio for the communal room
• ·         Clothes for the residents, especially now that it’s almost winter
• ·         Cutlery, pots and other kitchen utensils
• ·         Cleaning products
• ·         A new pipe that runs from the borehole to the bathrooms for hot water
• ·         Paintings or art pieces to decorate the home
• ·         Cleaning up the yard, especially clearing the litter outside the gate by the entrance
• ·         Food provisions
• ·         Limited number of staff

What touched my heart about this home were the different backgrounds that the residents have. Some of them are foreigners who came to Zimbabwe in search of work in the dawn of the industrial boom. Countries include Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and even Tanzania. They have adapted really well to Zimbabwe and passionately love it. I sat down to hear some of the stories of how they ended up here and where they worked. It was amazing and a beautiful experience, imagining a different time and listening to these experiences.
They are all just adorable and the smiles on their faces were priceless, especially when it came to having their blood pressure checked by the Trauma Centre representatives. An absolute joy to watch.

It definitely won’t be the last time I visit them and next time I would like to bring more new faces and new ears to listen to their tales of adventure and sometimes sorrow but always triumph.
I hope you will join me as we continue to spread joy to our elderly community!

Journey to the Crown

Early January, I found myself sitting in my room pondering about what I had gotten myself into -a beauty pageant. Was it going to be another cliché of all the prospects being deemed ‘’beauty with no brains’’? How was I going to sell this to my family; will it make sense to them? Why was I doing this? All these questioned raced in my mind taking turns instilling nervous chills in the air....so I waited.

The answer came when we were told to do projects in line with this year’s theme of Beauty, Charity and Tourism. By this time, I knew all Queens are expected to do some sort of charity project so I was prepared. I wanted to focus on Old Age Homes. Cheesy? Maybe, however, I was very specific about why I chose to adopt that charity project. I felt I had found my purpose *cue angelic music and halo effect*

If we look at society now, we live in a fast-paced world where if u snooze u lose. So it’s a ‘’one man for himself and God for us all’’ situation so to speak. I thought to myself, what if we slow down – think about things for a moment. Back to a time where communication started with ‘’Wadiwa.....’’ ending with ‘’ndini wako.....’’ and the delivery of the message was based on how fast the postman can get to your house. I’m not talking the 90s here, imp referring to the years gone – prior to 1970.

As a society we need to think about the people whose hard work, labour and sacrifices built this nation - it is of utter importance. Most people have neglected the elderly – usually not because they do not care but because life’s challenges have resulted in having to adapt to various situations, this we understand. However, as Zimbabweans, we need to remember where we’re coming from to know where we’re going. Yes, it needs to be reiterated so we do not forget.

So join me on this journey as we ‘’Bridge the Gap between Past and Present’’ (which is the title of my project). My name is Nyasha Samantha Tjipo Mutsauri and I’m a finalist for The Parade’s Miss Global Zimbabwe 2013!

P.S – if you would like a copy of my project proposal or to assist, kindly contact me via my facebook page Nyasha Mutsauri for Miss Global Zimbabwe 2013 or via e-mail on nyasha.mutsauri01@gmail.com

***Love and Light***