By Muziwandile Moyo
The Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Scholarship Programme is not only about financial aid, it’s about unlocking dreams, nurturing potential and rewriting destinies. It is a life-changing initiative that reaches into the hearts of underprivileged communities, empowering young people like me with a chance – not just to dream, but to achieve. My name is Muziwandile Moyo, also known as Wandile, and this is my story! A story of resilience, gratitude, and the transformative power of opportunity.
Today, at 23 years old, I stand proud, having just completed my Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Rangeland Science and Livestock Production Ecology at the University of Zimbabwe. The road here was anything but easy. My journey began in the small, humble village of Ngamo, located roughly 250km northwest of Bulawayo, near Hwange National Park.
Humble Beginnings
I was born in Bulawayo and started my early childhood education there. But in 2010, when I was just 8 years old, my family relocated to Ngamo Village so we could be closer to my father, who had secured a position as a teacher at Ngamo Primary School. Life in the village was different – quieter, slower, and at times more challenging, but it was home. I had to adapt to a new environment, forge new friendships, and settle into a rhythm of rural life. Looking back, it was a pivotal turning point.
I enrolled at Ngamo Primary School in Grade 3 that same year. I completed my primary education in 2014, finishing with 12 units. Our school had a library supported by CITW, it was a small building, filled with books and stories which helped me develop a deep love for learning and sharpened my English language skills, something that would benefit me for years to come.
A Spark Ignited by CITW
In 2015, my life changed forever. At just 13 years old, I was selected to join the CITW Scholarship Programme based on my academic performance and active engagement during their school visits. The CITW team saw something in me that, at the time, I could only dream of – potential. They believed in me, and who knew that belief would carry me through the most crucial years of my life.
I attended Tsholotsho High School from 2015 to 2020, where I joined the quiz club and participated in national competitions like the Book of African Records and the AIDS awareness quiz. These activities nurtured my love for research, learning, and knowledge beyond the classroom.
CITW became more than a sponsor – they became family. They covered my tuition, examination fees, transport, and accommodation, and even provided me with a laptop that I would use all the way through to university. Without their support, I know my parents – already under financial strain – would have had a difficult time to see me through my academic journey. My mother, an unemployed councillor for Ward 3, and my father, a dedicated teacher, have always done their best to support us, but money was tight. CITW helped relieve a burden they silently carried.
Against the Odds
High school was not always easy. The early years were filled with self-doubt, and at times my academic performance dipped. But I knew I had been given an opportunity that not everyone gets. I owed it to myself, to my family, and to the CITW programme to push harder. I kept reminding myself: I have to make this count.
In 2020, I completed my A-Level studies with 11 points – a combination of Biology (B), Geography (C), and Crop Science (B). This was no small feat, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education across the globe. For six months, schools were closed. My father was out of work from April to October, and we struggled financially. I had to teach myself, alone at home, with uncertainty clouding my future. However, I kept going.
The Dream Realised
In 2021, I took a leap toward my dream. I enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe to study Animal Science, a goal I had set for myself back in high school. CITW continued to stand by my side, covering tuition, monthly accommodation, and transport, allowing me to focus fully on my studies. Living off-campus in Harare wasn’t always easy, but I made it work.
University taught me more than just academic knowledge. It taught me resilience, discipline, and the importance of faith. There were difficult moments – moments when I felt alone, moments when I questioned if I would make it, but every time I felt like giving up, I remembered where I came from, and who was standing behind me.
And now, four years later, I am proud to say that I graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Rangeland Science and Livestock Production Ecology. This is not just a personal milestone, it is a celebration for my family, my village, and for CITW, who believed in a village boy with a dream.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To the CITW team: Words will never be enough. Thank you for seeing me, for investing in me, and for walking this journey with me. You didn’t just pay for my school fees; you built my future. You changed my life.
To other young people out there: don’t give up. Hard work, faith, and the right support can move mountains. I am living proof of that.
To my parents: Thank you for your sacrifices. I hope I have made you proud.
And to my community, thank you for raising me. This is our shared victory.
Looking Ahead
Now that I have graduated, I look forward to applying my knowledge to help improve livestock production and ecological sustainability in rural Zimbabwe. My roots are here, and it’s here that I hope to make a lasting impact – just as CITW has made a lasting impact on me.
From Ngamo to the University of Zimbabwe – and now into the world – this is only the beginning.
Thank you, CITW. Thank you for changing my life!
