Strive Masiyiwa, Zimbabwe’s wealthiest individual and the visionary behind Econet Global, has made a significant stride in fostering education for orphaned and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.
Through his philanthropic arm, Higherlife Foundation, Masiyiwa has awarded an impressive 11,100 scholarships, with 5,300 distributed in the first half of this year alone — Higherlife Foundation, founded by Masiyiwa and his wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa in 1996, remains committed to investing in Africa’s human capital.
Over 34,600 students benefit from innovative digital platform “Akello”
According to James Myers, chairman of the Econet board, “Education remains at the core of our mission to create positive change within the communities we serve. During the period under review, we embarked on a recruitment exercise that awarded more than 5,300 scholarships to orphaned and vulnerable children.”
Myers highlighted the fundamental role of education as a human right, stating, “By enabling greater access to education, Higherlife Foundation strives to create a ripple effect of empowerment, individual freedom, and ultimately poverty eradication.”
The foundation’s commitment to social impact is further seen through “Akello” — an innovative digital platform providing quality education to children in vulnerable communities. Myers highlighted the success, stating, “To date, over 34,600 students have accessed the platform through the Akello tech scholarships, embracing unique and interactive digital learning experiences.”
Beyond Business: Strive Masiyiwa’s philanthropic triumphs in Africa
Masiyiwa — a London-based Zimbabwean billionaire — is a trailblazer in Africa’s mobile telecom industry, leading Econet Global, a digital services provider in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a fortune of $1.8 billion, Masiyiwa’s legacy spans two decades, redefining telecommunications and making significant strides across diverse African sectors.
His journey is characterized by innovation and collaboration, yielding notable impacts in education, healthcare, and disaster relief. Beyond commerce, his philanthropic zeal shines through the Higherlife Foundation and Delta Philanthropies.
Masiyiwa and his wife Tsitsi have awarded scholarships to over 250,000 African youth, enabling quality education and global contributions. His philanthropic organizations — Higherlife Foundation and Delta Philanthropies — continue to lead the charge in educational empowerment, impacting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children across Zimbabwe.
