Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa is the founder of Shine On International Trust. Tafadzwa spent his entire childhood confined to an orphanage. After becoming totally blind at the age of 25 in 2009, he personally experienced the harsh reality of the inadequacy of necessary support structures that are required for thousands of people whose lives have been (or are) physically compromised in one way or another. Clearly in a desperate and seemingly hopeless situation, he was remotely on a platform from which he could tackle the vagaries of life, let alone envisage, even from his wildest imagination, a day that he would ably render assistance to other people with disabilities.
He endured his first training programme in basic mobility, daily living, brail and basic computer skills with great difficulty. The program lasted only 3 months, which was certainly too short a time for imparting meaningful and effective rehabilitation. However, the tragic and despondent background of many people with disabilities gave him a compelling reason and a huge inspiration to want to bring about social change within the community by working towards improving their lives. It was, and still is, a journey that is fraught with many challenges and impediments, as people with disabilities are not only routinely sidelined; granted very limited opportunities, if any; and also suffer a lot of stigma and discrimination. Even our national policies do not really accommodate people with disabilities as most of them came into being without their engagement and consultation.
His real break came about when through research; he identified an institution in Kanthari, India which focuses on building social change makers. He was fortunate to be awarded a full scholarship that put him through an eleven-month training programme on social entrepreneurship, business management and on how he could set up a non-profit making organization. That gave birth to Shine On International Trust. Propelled by an intrinsic interest to make a difference in the society at large, Tafadzwa singularly dealt with all the spadework that built the foundations of the successful organisation that we see today.
A qualified systemic counselling practitioner himself, Tafadzwa has facilitated lasting solutions in many complex situations to individuals and corporates alike.
Tafadzwa is an established and radio presenter. Every week he hosts a radio show that focuses on people who have defied the odds in life. “DJ Nyams”, as he is affectionately known, also uses that platform to amplify the issues and needs of people with disabilities. He has had a profound impact on the society’s perception of people with disabilities as there seems to have been a gradual acceptance of Shine On International Trust’s values and tenets, judging from the groundswell of enquiries that continue to come through, as well as his frequent invitations to deliver speeches on many different fora. Tafadzwa does voluntary work for the less privileged and also conducts motivational speaking coaching sessions.
Tafadzwa is a Mandela Young African Leaders Initiative fellow (2014), and is also a Microsoft Innovator Educator. He won the Junior Chamber International award for his voluntary and humanitarian work in 2015.
