Our Story

The Mudeka Foundation was set up as a UK registered charity by Anna Mudeka in 2011. Her dream of setting up a charity started in 2005, with the aim of supporting a small group of orphans living in the township where she grew up.

Anna manages the charity in liaison with the Trustees, together with the Foundation’s co-ordinators. Our Patron Alex Dunlop and accountant Jeremy Walton, who were both born and raised in Zimbabwe, complete the team. The smooth running of fundraising projects relies on the hard work and enthusiasm of a band of volunteers. 

In 2008, Anna set up a Norfolk World Music Festival in Southburgh, near Dereham, Norfolk, to bring World Music to rural Norfolk through her Tambai Community Projects programme. The event attracts performers from across the world music scene, and visitors from Norfolk and beyond. Since 2015 the Mudeka Foundation’s trustees and volunteers have run the bar as well as providing breakfast for the on-site campers. These Foundation activities at the festival raise money for the charity.

2011
Registered

The Mudeka Foundation became a registered charity.

2012
1st Visit to Zimbabwe

Anna and the Trustees travelled to Harare, Zimbabwe to meet Jennifer Mudeka who was to become the Mudeka Foundation Coordinator and to visit three schools and 11 sponsored children. Whilst there they visited Muda Community School. This resulted in a commitment to sponsor the education of several orphans and a pledge to replace an unsafe school building.

2013
ZIPS

The Zimbabwe Individual Pupil Sponsorship Programme (ZIPS) was established to help fund the increasing number of pupils being sponsored.

2013
Collaboration

A collaboration between the Mudeka Foundation and School of International Development at the University of East Anglia (UEA) was established to involve students in the work of a small local charity.

2014
Joe Kelly

 Joe Kelly, our first UEA student and current Trustee and Treasurer, visited Zimbabwe to evaluate the work of the Foundation.

2014
Muda Project

Anna Mudeka, Elisabeth and Steve Louis visited Zimbabwe to oversee the progress of the Building Project in Muda.

2014
Feeding Programme

Trustees, concerned about the serious effects of the drought on the Muda Community Schools, set up a Feeding Programme, funded by sponsored walks by five Norfolk Primary Schools

2015
Muda Toilet Block

In order to make it possible for older girls to attend school, the Foundation raised sufficient funds to sponsor the building of a toilet block. This project was started late in 2015 and completed in 2016.

2015
Muda Building Project

Building work was completed and the new classroom opened in 2015. Since then, pupil enrolment has increased substantially. 

2016
MyPads

The MyPads Scheme was launched to help improve school attendance of girls who were missing school due to a lack of availability of period products. 

2017
Memorial Assembly Area

Donations in memory of Harold Bodmer, a Trustee, were used to fund an assembly area at Rugare Primary School.

2017
DigDeep for Muda

DigDeep for Muda was launched, generously funded by donations and the Mason Trust, to fund a borehole and water storage tanks at Muda Community Schools. This was completed in 2019.

2019
Agricultural Sustainability Programme

Fundraising begins for the ongoing Agricultural Sustainability Programme to support the Muda Community in setting up a kitchen garden and poultry to feed the children. 

2020
COVID-19

A short pause for restructuring during the pandemic. Sponsored children were supported as soon as schools reopened. 

2021
New Team in Zimbabwe

Tinashe Sherekete joins our team in Zimbabwe