Speech
Africa Alive Dinner
To: Getrude Matshe of the Africa Alive Education Foundation, Your Worship, Kerry Prendergast the Mayor of Wellington and Mr Rex Nicholls, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu,Taloha Ni
I am delighted to be here tonight for this gala dinner in support of the Africa Alive Education Foundation.
The Africa Alive Education Foundation now supports 350 children in Zimbabwe who are orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS and some of them are HIV positive too.
Africa Alive pays for their education, their medical expenses, their food and clothing. Sending them to school is the main focus and the organisation is now supporting an entire primary school.
This foundation is the initiative of Getrude Matshe who has raised most of the funds so far from sales of the book she has written and self-published.
When she spoke the Amity Club several years ago we were impressed by her story and achievements, her African style and her energy. At that time she lived fairly near to her shop in Khandallah and sold her batik, made in the small hours, in her shop and through the internet to African Americans.
Getrude did not intend to come here when she left Zimbabwe with her family seven years ago, but now, I think we can claim her for New Zealand.
The family was on its way to the United States. In transit in South Africa, an administrative error was found in her daughter's passport and they were forced to go back to Zimbabwe.
The family came to New Zealand instead - having been invited to stay by a cousin.
Three years ago Getrude started raising funds to support orphaned children in her own family and last year she set up the Africa Alive Education Foundation to extend that work. As well as those in the programme, there are also 650 children on a waiting list.
Getrude's initiative, strength of purpose and drive have brought us all here tonight, and I commend her. The amazing array of auction items she has managed to get together for this event is also testamony to her.
Getrude titled her autobiographical book 'Born on the Continent - Ubuntu'. She explains that 'Ubuntu' is an African philosophy which is summed up in the statement: 'I would not be human unless you were human acknowledging my humanity'.
That recognition of common humanity is now seeing New Zealanders help to make a difference in the lives of children in Zimbabwe through the Africa Alive Education Foundation.
I would like to wish Getrude and the foundation all the best in extending its work to as many children as possible. I commend you all here tonight for supporting Getrude and, through her, this Foundation. Getrude is a beautiful, able person and that is the potential for these young Zimbabweans.
No reira, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.