Beyond Shelter: Iris Z N Mhlanga Creates a Community of Care

Nozizwe Mhlanga in 2018 founded Nozizwe Mother of Nations Trust with a mission to

provide community services for the disabled elderly, orphaned, destitute, and

underprivileged. Trust helps such as food parcels, wheelchairs, blankets, medical

supplies, clothing, and psychosocial support to those in need, particularly the destitute.

Mhlanga is a qualified pharmacist and toxicologist; she is a mother of a child with

special needs. Her son Christian was born with bilateral talipes (double clubfoot). With

time, his condition deteriorated. Her experience while finding help and support for her

child, afforded her first close interaction with disabled children, single mothers, and

orphans.

“I learned that he was not the only child with health-related issues. I saw children with

far worse disabilities than my son and that touched me.”

The inspiration behind Nozizwe Trust is unique. Mhlanga came from a family of helpers.

One day she helped a disabled homeless man and posted her experience on social

media, the community over the internet brought food and clothing to her to help the

man. He in turn brought along other homeless people and the numbers grew.

This one act of kindness turned one to be helping 1000 orphans in and around

Zimbabwe. In collaboration with Mustard Seed Communities Children's Home in

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, the Trust runs a soup kitchen initiative, feeding 1200 vulnerable

children daily from Monday to Saturday.

Iris Mhlanga's advice to young women is to speak out, speak up, and support fellow

sisters. She believes in rising by lifting others.

“My key achievements have been finally attaining international exposure for what we do

in the back of beyond.”

Social Media: Facebook