Zimbabwe Educational Fund Demonstrates Stewardship by Organizing at Home and Abroad

WASHINGTON –The dark curtain opens, and one by one, 40 up and coming D.C. models walk down the t-shaped runway, shifting from pose to pose. The poised models are walking for hope -- and they are walking for free.

Fashion for Hope is the second annual fundraiser for the non-profit organization Women for Women International in Washington. The fashion show was created to help others and assist the women's group in fulfilling its mission of service. The tickets for the event ranged from $35 to $75.

Throughout the year, charity organizations organize fundraisers, including fashion shows, to raise money for their causes.  But, there are lingering concerns on whether or not money raised makes it to the intended beneficiaries.

The Zimbabwe Educational Fund has solved that problem.

The Zimbabwe Educational Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Zimbabwean orphans and underprivileged children the means to attain a quality education and acquire practical leadership skills. The Fund organization was founded to help Zimbabwe reclaim its legacy of leading Africa in education.

The organizations three central goals address the barriers orphans and underprivileged children face when accessing education and engendering leadership.

Christian Karega, CEO and chairwoman of the Fund's board, says she is committed to the organization's success. Success, she says they could not reach without being honest about the funds they raise.

"If I did not think we could do this with transparency and honesty, I wouldn't be doing it," Karega said.

Karega and her partner Tanneasha Gordon visit the schools before passing the money to their local administrator in Zimbabwe.

"Someone from the ZEF organization has to go and visit the sponsored school to make sure it exists," said Karega.

The Fund has adopted Chimpukipa Primary school in Mutoko, Chimukopa village in Zimbabwe. The organization has been able to give the students electricity, chalk, pencils,

notebooks, markers, paper, and books. Once more basic needs are met, Fund officials plan to adopt Chimukopa Secondary School so that the primary students can continue their education.

Karega believes her finance consultant skills allow her to run her non-profit like a business.

"We plan for the year and the quarter within the year," Karega said. "We choose projects that we can access; we think of our projects as an investment."

The Fund organization tends to work within its means, by giving books and providing electricity to a stable school in Zimbabwe.

Karega says they cannot put $50,000 into the reconstruction of one school when there are schools with talented teachers that may need a little less.

After they visit the sites, organization members return to the United States to begin fundraising and transferring money to Fund's local administration in Zimbabwe, the Jabula New Life Convent Church run by Bishop Tudor Biscmark.

The church has a network of four bishops that work with them to distribute the money or supplies to chosen schools. Receipts must be provided for all purchases. This is another way the Fund makes sure everyone is accountable and there is no mishandling of the monies.

Along with the receipts, the bishops must document each purchase since receiving the money from the Fund.

"If five pencils were bought it should be on the excel sheet," Karega said.

Everything from receipts to photos, videos, and a signed letter from the principal of the sponsored school is sent back to the Fund organization and its board members.

While 100 percent of their proceeds go to Zimbabwe, it comes at a cost to the board members of the organization. Each board member has to pay $1,000 every year.

The money paid by the board members covers all of the non-profit's expenses, such as paper, fundraising material, and other administrative costs.

Karega says board members try to make all fundraising initiatives as inexpensively as possible. This includes building rental for auctions and dinners.

Partnerships also help the organization.

One partner, the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, for example, engages in a yearlong fundraising effort to help the Zimbabwe Education Fund. The students at the school raise money through a read-a-thon.

It cost about $35 to get each Zimbabwean child through the school year.