Our Team

Anna Mudeka

Founder and Trustee

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.

Margaret Boulton

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our Team in Zimbabwe

Christabel Ndoro

Volunteer Operations Coordinator

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.

Ropah Chikonamombe

Content Volunteer

I found myself liking to volunteer in Mudeka Foundation as a way to impact society positively. I hope and believe that there are futures to be shaped and there are lives to be saved. It's something I can be forever grateful for taking part in.

With Special Thanks to

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

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

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.

.... AND TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTS WITHOUT WHOM THE CHARITY WOULD NOT SURVIVE ....