Our Team
Anna Mudeka
Founder, Trustee and Interim Chair
I was born in Zimbabwe and have a passion for the music and dance of Zimbabwe and Sub-Saharan Africa. I run workshops all over the world including Singapore, Germany, Spain, the UK and in the east of England where I am based. I have been aiding children in Zimbabwe since 2005 by sending equipment and funding to children. I began the registered charity in 2011.
Alex Dunlop
Patron
I am news correspondent for BBC Look East, the BBC’s regional news programme for the Eastern Counties, and the BBC News Channel. I also present the lunch time and late evening news. Born in Zimbabwe, I spent most of my childhood in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Israel. I have worked for the BBC for 30 years and am married to Susie Fowler-Watt, a BBC Look East presenter. We live in Norfolk with our daughter and son. I am very proud of my Zimbabwean roots and honoured to be Patron of the Mudeka Foundation.
Elisabeth Louis
Trustee and Education Officer
My passion in life is children! I have two children and have taught in primary schools for over 30 years. My association with the Foundation grew from a drumming project in my school, and as a result in one year, my class raised over £1000 for the Foundation! I am married to Steve, we both love Zimbabwe and want to do everything we can to support the work of the Foundation. We love traveling, spending time with family, and chilling out together! We serve on the leadership team of Hope Community Church, Wymondham.
Robert Pond
Trustee and Treasurer
I am a graduate of De Montfort University, Leicester. I worked for twenty years in the construction industry, performing finance and admin roles. I then moved to working in the media for 10 years, and for nine years ran my own business. In retirement, I support a number of charities, including the Mudeka Foundation.
Christabel Ndoro
Trustee
I am a social worker and l love my job. l am thankful to the Mudeka Foundation for giving me an opportunity to do and grow in what l love most. Life has taught me that we are to live for others, not ourselves, and can only make our lives a blessing by forgetting about ourselves and cherishing a loving, helpful spirit.
Gaetano Piccolo
Trustee
In my career as a veterinary surgeon, welfare and compassion have played a very important role. I believe that all people should have the opportunity to improve their quality of life and as a trustee with the Mudeka Foundation I will be able to contribute to the wellbeing and education of children in Zimbabwe.
Georgina Russell
Trustee
I was a pupil in Elisabeth Louis’ class at Barnham Broom Primary School when Anna came to teach us African Drumming and set up Penpals with Rugare Primary School. Now I work in communications for an international human rights organisation, and am delighted to be playing a part the charity that started me on this career path.
Ellen Haizel
Trustee
Being born and raised in Ghana, I understand the need for academic welfare and safeguarding for children as well as the transformational impact of education on their lives. I believe that education is one of the most important gifts that can be given to a child, particularly in Africa. Now a primary school teacher and a mother of three, my involvement in Mudeka Foundation as a trustee will enable me to use my experience to support children in Zimbabwe.
Jean Haslam
Trustee
Our Team in Zimbabwe
Melusi Obert Mutinsi
Voluntary Coordinator
Volunteering for the Mudeka Foundation makes me very proud because it is a cornerstone of who I am. It enriches my life, connects me deeply with my community, and fuels my passion of making positive impact. I believe we are stronger together. Volunteering my time and energy does not just make the world better, it also makes me better because it boosts my happiness and sense of belonging.
With Special Thanks to
Margaret Boulton
Former chairperson
Although I am now retired, my career as a research scientist involved collaborations with many scientists and students in Africa. It was through these students and my love of world music that I first met Anna. My previous work, my students, and my passion for travel, especially in Africa, made me acutely aware of how education can transform the lives of young people. I am privileged to have the opportunity to use my experience to help further the aims of the Mudeka Foundation to provide educational opportunities for orphaned children in Zimbabwe.
Jeremy Walton
Accountant
I was born and bred in Zimbabwe and was awarded a Bachelor of Accountancy degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 1981. As a committed Christian, I fully support the work of the Mudeka Foundation in supporting orphans, and it is great to give something back to the education system of the country where I grew up.
Steve Louis
Project Manager
One of the key drivers for my involvement with the Mudeka Foundation is the lovely and determined team and also seeing hope in the eyes of the grateful people in Zimbabwe with whom I have worked (and visited twice) over the years. Managing the Muda classrooms building (2013-2015) and the Muda DigDeep borehole installation (2018-2019) projects were a privilege, challenging and worth every effort. More locally and with great delight, I have managed the sound/lighting/bands for the main stage at the Southburgh/Norfolk World Music Festival over the last nine or ten years – it’s the Foundation's main fund-raising event - and such fun!
Val Rutherford
Founding Member
As the first Chairperson of the Mudeka Foundation, it has been a source of pride and privilege to be part of a team of dedicated volunteers. Since retiring in 2020 as a trustee, I look forward to supporting the team in an advisory capacity.
Vaughan Harrington
Scholarships Advisor
Anna taught me to play the djembe drum and gave me the confidence to also perform. This has given me countless fun and pleasure. After retiring as a trustee, I still wished to help bring about changes that I wish to see in the world and so I continue with the Mudeka Foundation in the role of scholarships advisor.
Sophie Bremner
Advisor and friend
After having lived in Uganda whilst conducting research for my PhD, a country where I also met and married my husband, I started organising global crafts events in Norfolk, got to know Anna and became involved in Southburgh Festival. As an social anthropologist by training, and having studied and taught at the School of International Development at UEA, I was keen to be involved in the Mudeka Foundation and the work that it does to enable children in Zimbabwe to have a better future.
Rosy Mason
Social Media Coordinator
I have grown up with The Mudeka Foundation and I attended the Norfolk World Music Festival annually as a child. Being able to come back as social media co-ordinator is a fantastic opportunity to share all the work the Foundation has been doing for the past decade.
Hannah, Glynnis, Fani, Eve, Amy, Gintare, Rosie and Bryony. These are just a few of the volunteers and UEA project students who have given their time to help the Mudeka Foundation over the last ten years.