HIGHERLIFE Foundation has released a book documenting its three-decade journey of transforming lives through education, health and community development across Africa.
Titled And Still We Rise: The Power of Philanthropy, the publication reflects on how a response to Zimbabwe’s devastating HIV and Aids crisis in the 1990s evolved into one of the continent’s most influential philanthropic movements.
The foundation was established in 1996 by Zimbabwean entrepreneurs and philanthropists Tsitsi Masiyiwa and Strive Masiyiwa, who sought to support children left vulnerable by the epidemic.
What began as an emergency scholarship programme has since expanded into a wide-reaching initiative supporting healthcare, rural development, sustainable livelihoods and cultural preservation.
Speaking about the book, Tsitsi said: “Our philanthropic journey developed naturally through a commitment to communities.”
She explained that “the book reflects both the challenges and successes encountered over the years while highlighting the importance of long-term investment in people.”
The book includes personal narratives and reflections from scholars, educators, health professionals and development practitioners from several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Burundi and South Africa.
These perspectives explore how Africa-led philanthropy can shape sustainable development across the continent.
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According to Tanya Masiyiwa, the president and chief executive officer of Higherlife Foundation, the organisation continues to prioritise long-term investments in health and education.
She noted that “empowering young people through education is essential to preparing them to seize future opportunities.”
The foreword of the book was written by Angeline Murimirwa, chief executive officer of CAMFED, who described the stories in the book as “powerful examples of what can happen when philanthropy goes beyond charity to genuine investment in human potential.”
Nearly three decades after its founding, Higherlife Foundation has awarded close to 500 000 scholarships and works with governments, communities and development partners to promote long-term social and
economic progress.
And Still We Rise: The Power of Philanthropy is now available globally in paperback, Kindle and audiobook formats through major online retailers.
