Bikita girl's trip to Wales

Oscar Jeke

Kundai Manyera, a young woman in her early 20s, has overcome challenges and embraced new opportunities throughout her life. Originally from Bikita, Masvingo Province, Kundai’s journey has taken her from rural Zimbabwe to Wales, the United Kingdom.

Kundai’s passion for social justice and healthy living led her to actively participate in various organisations throughout her schooling. She admitted: “Trying to fit in wasn’t always easy for Kundai, she admits to the challenges of adopting a life of moving from one place to another as she did.”

Kundai wasn’t fazed by these obstacles. She continued to actively participate in the HIV/Aids club in high school and later became part of the SAY WHAT club (WEB FOR LIFE board) at the University of Zimbabwe. Her desire to help others and advocate for positive living fuelled her academic pursuits, focusing her dissertation topic on supporting individuals with disabilities and HIV/Aids.

Kundai’s dedication to expanding her knowledge and making a positive impact led her to apply for a mentorship program focused on disability advocacy. This programme broadened her perspective and ignited her desire to further her research by engaging with professionals in the field. Her hard work and commitment were rewarded with a unique opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange writing workshop in Wales in 2023.

“It was a great experience meeting incredible writers including the ‘National Welsh poet’ among other writers that we used to read about in books and novels,” Kundai shared, reflecting on the workshop.