Black Unika Foundation Promotes Literacy for Zimbabwe’s Underprivileged Children
Buhlebenkosi Nkomo
A youth led pan africanist organisation in Zimbabwe, the Black Unika Foundation, is working to promote a culture of reading through its “One Million Book Campaign.”Guided by a vision of a poverty free society that fosters free thought through art and research, it aims to ensure equal opportunities for all.
The initiative spearheaded by storyteller and activist Tatenda Kombora, also known as “Unika,” aims to collect one million books for children from underprivileged communities across Zimbabwe, particularly in the Matabeleland region. In 2024, only 35% of students in Matabeleland South passed their O-Level exams, while just about 40 to 45% of primary school learners passed. These numbers reflect the challenges being faced by underprivileged children in these areas.
“The call is a million books for a million lives because we truly believe that books change lives,” Kombora said. The campaign was launched after a realisation that areas such as Matobo and Nkayi are still facing deep-rooted disparities in the education system, reflected in poor pass rates and inadequate learning resources.
In an interview with Breakfast Pulse, Kombora emphasised the transformative power of reading; “Reading is an important aspect of developing a person’s critical thinking skills. Our perspectives are formed by what we are exposed to. So, what we see becomes what we think is possible. For many children living in rural communities, their possibilities are limited.”
The Foundation’ s initial book drive collected 12 to 14 boxes of books to rebuild a library in Matobo.“Books came in from libraries, renowned authors, ordinary women, and young people. Most of these people weren’t giving from a position of having too much, but because they felt it important to,” she said. However, financial constraints forced yhe foundation to redirect books to an organisation in Nkayi instead.
“From this experience, we learned that it is important to have financial backup for such big initiatives. And that partnerships are the way to go. If we had partnered with more people or organisations, we would have collected more and perhaps also not faced the challenge we faced in the end,” she added. “This time, we are working with different organisations with the same mission and same passion.”
The One Million Book Campaign invites donations of used books, exercise books, or funds to support its mission. As Zimbabwe continues to address educational inequalities, Black Unika Foundation advocates for literacy as a fundamental right, not privilege.
