ZimLegends - The Home Of Unparalleled Excellency | Zimbabwe Legends - WALKING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE – LEST WE FORGET. | We Are Second To None. more Quotes
Legends News UpdatesPhilanthropySocial WorkYouTube

Jairos Jiri – Africa’s Greatest Philanthropist ( Read This Article And Watch the Accompanying Video To Discover What You Never Knew About This Man ) | A ZimLegends Production

Giant Of The Giants - Walking Down The Memory Lane - Lest We Forget Zimbabwe Legends

                      Jairos Jiri          

                       

                Africa’s Greatest Philanthropist

              By Tapfuma Machakaire

Humanism, empathy and the responsibilities of royalty, contributed towards the shaping of one of the greatest philanthropists on the African continent, Jairos Jiri.

At the time of his death in 1982, the organisation that Jiri founded in Zimbabwe in 1950, to cater for people with disabilities had established sixteen special facilities countrywide.

These include special schools for the disabled, vocational training centres, clinics, orthopaedic workshops, community-based rehabilitation centres, craft shops and gender empowerment programs.

Born in 1926 in Bikita district Masvingo province, Jairos Jiri was the son of the Rozvi chief, Mutenyami Jiri, of the Munhumutapa dynasty.

The young Jairos grew up observing his father’s social services activities in the community such as providing food to the needy. His mother, Mai Marufu was also from a royal family from where she adopted the concept of charity work.

Jiri witnessed a lot of suffering in Bikita district, which is situated in natural ecological regions four and five, characterised by low rainfall and poor sandy soils.These were areas referred to by the colonial regime as Tribal Trust Lands where indigenous people were forcibly placed to deprive them access to productive land in regions one up to three.

His family was not spared from the suffering that emanated from the colonial policy of deprivation, and this was to affect his upbringing.

The tough experience wouldprovide crucial lessons to Jiri, lessons that would induce the values of empathy and selflessness.

Jiri failed to enrol for school at an early age as his parents could not afford school fees. He enrolled for Sub A (grade one) at Gokomere Mission at 11 years of age in 1937, after raising funds through selling chickens and vegetables.

It is reported that staff at the school found the young Jiri to be too intelligent for Sub A and moved him upwards to sub B just two weeks after his arrival at the mission school.

Sadly, fate would not allow the young boy to proceed any further with formal education as he suddenly fell ill, and was sent home. After several months Jairos left home for Fort Victoria (now Masvingo) where he got employed as a domestic worker.

In 1939 Jairos and his brother Mazviyo, walked a distance of about 300 kilometres from Masvingo to Bulawayo in search of employment. In Bulawayo Jiri worked as a gardener for white families and also as a newspaper vendor.

By then, Jiri had already started expressing concern over the deplorable state of people with disabilities whom he had observed in Fort Victoria and in Bulawayo.

In the early 1940s, he joined the Rhodesian Africa Rifles as a dishwasher at a centre for rehabilitation of injured soldiers who were involved in World War 11. Moved by the care work at the centre, Jiri started helping other needy people in whichever way he could.

It is said on one occasion, he carried a disabled man on his bicycle and   took him to Old Memorial Hospital for corrective surgery. He paid the hospital fees from his meagre earnings. He then began to accommodate some blind beggars at his house whom he would found begging on the streets of Bulawayo.

Jiri would come across more destitute and disabled people, some half-naked. The situation was very different from what he was used to in his village, where the needy would be catered for by the traditional leaders, who included his parents.

Much as he wished to help the disabled and the destitute in the city of kings, Jiri would be constrained by lack of resources.

Jiri’s desire to assist the less privileged in society resonated with the objectives of the liberation struggle that was being waged against the colonial regime in Rhodesia. This is how Jiri befriended nationalists such as Benjamin Borombo, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, Gideon Mazaba, Mike Hove and Michael Mawema. Those men helped Jiri in drafting a constitution which culminated in the registration of the Bulawayo and Bikita Physically Defective Society in 1950.

The organisation which was later renamed Jairos Jiri Association for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled and the Blind, became the first disability organisation to be registered by a black person in Rhodesia.

Jiri went through many hurdles in the registration process as the colonial administrators initially dismissed it as a weird idea from an uneducated “kaffir”.

The first committee of the association included Stephen Kwenda as Secretary, Fabian Dururu Treasurer, and two committee members Job Mapfinya and Jacob Mufute.

The association held its first skills training workshop in Makokoba high density suburb in 1959. The Bulawayo City Council donated land for the development of the first skills training centre in Nguboyenja high density suburb while funds for construction of the workshops came from the State Lotteries.

Impressed by Jiri’scommitment to help people with disabilities, the United States Consular General offered him a three-month grant to tour rehabilitation centres in the United States and Europe.

Jiri later expanded his work to Harare (then Salisbury) after getting land from Salisbury City Council.

The art and craft outlet established by the association in Bulawayo in the 1960s became a prime source of curios for tourists, who were attracted by the immaculate artistic products crafted by people with disabilities.

The Nguboyenja training centre which to date still has a vibrant music and dance training department produced icons such as Paul Matavire and the Jairos Jiri Band, Fanyana Dube, David Mabviramiti and others.

The association continued to diversify its activities and by 1974 the organisation had started assisting in the provision of accommodation and legal assistance to people with disabilities. The work of the association has so much impact that what has become known as The Jairos Jiri model, has been replicated by many charity organisations in Zimbabwe.

The organisation is still being supported and funded by well-wishers from both local and abroad. Recognition for Jiri’s work started as early as 1959 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England awarded him Member of the British Empire status, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to his fellow countrymen.

In 1963 Jiri was granted Freedom of the City of Bulawayo. Later that year he was invited to Kampala in Uganda where he addressed an International Symposium on Rehabilitation.

In July 1975 Jiri had an audience with Pope Paul VI, where he received a blessing for his great work and was presented with a medal marking a Holy year.

On May 16, 1977, Jiri was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by the University of Rhodesia. In the same year, he also received the Lions International Service Award and a Humanitarian Award from the then Salisbury Union of Jewish Women.

In 1981 Jiri became the first recipient of the newly inaugurated Goodwill Industries International Award for Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Work. Rotary Internationalalso presented him with their International Year of Disabled Person Award for Africa which carries citation “Greatest Contribution to Rehabilitation in Africa IYDP 1981”.

In June of the same year, Jiri was granted Freedom of the City of Los Angeles. In 1982 he secured sponsorship from partners in Europe and the United States of America for training of his staff in financial control, administration, workshop management and agriculture.

He died on November 12 1982. Jairos Jiri was supposed to be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare but his family opted to have him buried at his rural home, Mutenyami Village in Bikita.

The state took responsibility for the funeral which was attended by the then Prime Minister, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, his deputy Simon Muzenda, several cabinet ministers and other dignitaries.

Jairos Jiri who divorced three times had 18 children.

Zororai Murugare Baba Jiri (Rest in peace father Jiri) was the message from one of his beneficiaries, the late famous musician Paul Matavire in a befitting emotive send-off piece that he sang at the burial.

Related Articles

343 Comments

  1. Pingback: live sex cams
  2. Pingback: live sex cams
  3. Pingback: live sex cams
  4. Pingback: live sex cams
  5. Pingback: live sex cams
  6. Pingback: live sex cams
  7. Pingback: live sex cams
  8. Pingback: live sex cams
  9. Pingback: live sex cams
  10. Pingback: live sex cams
  11. Pingback: live sex cams
  12. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  13. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  14. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  15. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  16. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  17. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  18. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  19. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  20. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  21. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  22. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  23. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  24. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  25. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  26. Pingback: buy flagyl
  27. Pingback: fue
  28. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  29. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  30. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  31. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  32. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  33. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  34. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  35. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  36. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  37. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  38. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  39. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  40. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  41. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  42. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  43. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  44. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  45. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  46. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  47. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  48. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  49. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  50. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  51. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  52. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  53. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  54. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  55. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  56. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  57. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  58. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  59. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  60. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  61. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  62. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  63. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  64. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  65. Pingback: serialebi qaerulad
  66. Pingback: Natural Food
  67. Pingback: Link
  68. Pingback: wix website
  69. Pingback: anniversary
  70. Pingback: anniversary
  71. Pingback: Situs Slot Online
  72. Pingback: batmanapollo.ru
  73. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  74. Pingback: psy
  75. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  76. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  77. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  78. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  79. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  80. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  81. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  82. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  83. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  84. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  85. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  86. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  87. Pingback: buy albuterol
  88. Pingback: 000
  89. Pingback: samorazvitiepsi
  90. Pingback: cheap sex cams
  91. Pingback: Carlson Putin
  92. Pingback: OnOverseas.Com
  93. Pingback: batman apollo ru
  94. Pingback: buy tadalista
  95. Pingback: stromectol
  96. Pingback: OnOverseas.Com
  97. Pingback: live sex cams
  98. Pingback: frt trigger
  99. Pingback: levitra 20mg
  100. Pingback: 늑대닷컴
  101. Pingback: Bandar judi online
  102. Pingback: Best sunscreen
  103. Pingback: bandar slot
  104. Pingback: tab dapoxetine
  105. Pingback: 6.5 prc ammo
  106. Pingback: 300 win mag ammo
  107. Pingback: 44 mag ammo
  108. Pingback: buy cenforce
  109. Pingback: nangs Sydney
  110. Pingback: Skywhip tanks
  111. Pingback: talkeithstranger
  112. Pingback: indian gay chat
  113. Pingback: free online chat
  114. Pingback: omegle text chat
  115. Pingback: talk for strangers
  116. Pingback: y99
  117. Pingback: clomid 50mg price
  118. Pingback: itsmasum.com
  119. Pingback: itsmasum.com
  120. Pingback: itsmasum.com
  121. Pingback: amoxicillin 250mg
  122. Pingback: viagra pills
  123. Pingback: vidalista 40
  124. Pingback: cenforce 250 mg
  125. Pingback: itsmasum.com
  126. Pingback: ny jobs central
  127. Pingback: atlanta job search
  128. Pingback: job search
  129. Pingback: baghdad jobs
  130. Pingback: osaka jobs
  131. Pingback: uk jobs
  132. Pingback: philadelphia jobs
  133. Pingback: bluecollar jobs
  134. Pingback: jeddah jobs
  135. Pingback: vancouver jobs
  136. Pingback: tokyo jobs
  137. Pingback: minneapolis jobs
  138. Pingback: denver jobs
  139. Pingback: chicago job search
  140. Pingback: vienna jobs
  141. Pingback: newyorkcity jobs
  142. Pingback: clomid for women
  143. Pingback: cost clomid
  144. Pingback: buy online priligy
  145. Pingback: itsmasum.com
  146. Pingback: buy advair diskus
  147. Pingback: itsmasum.com
  148. Pingback: Sildenafil 500 mg
  149. Pingback: stromectol 6 mg
  150. Pingback: Viagra Sildenafil
  151. Pingback: usos del ventolin
  152. Pingback: Sildenafil 50
  153. Pingback: buy fildena 100
  154. Pingback: FB URL Shortener
  155. Pingback: buy Cenforce pill
  156. Pingback: fildena 25
  157. Pingback: live webcam girls
  158. Pingback: live cam girls
  159. Pingback: free sex webcams
  160. Pingback: Kampus Tertua
  161. Pingback: 918kiss
  162. Pingback: merck stromectol
  163. Pingback: stromectol cvs
  164. Pingback: pg slot
  165. Pingback: 918kiss
  166. Pingback: stromectol tablets
  167. Pingback: iversun 6
  168. Pingback: iverheal 3
  169. Pingback: stromectol pills
  170. Pingback: yaltalife.ru
  171. Pingback: tadalista 10
  172. Pingback: film kinogo
  173. Pingback: vidalista 20mg
  174. Pingback: human design
  175. Pingback: Opsumiologist
  176. Pingback: iverscab 12
  177. Pingback: ivermerc 12
  178. Pingback: rybelsus price
  179. Pingback: rybelsus diarrhea
  180. Pingback: vidalista 60
  181. Pingback: levitra discounts
  182. Pingback: malegra pro 100
  183. Pingback: malegra como usar
  184. Pingback: ivermerc
  185. Pingback: stromectol near me
  186. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  187. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  188. Pingback: itme.xyz
  189. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  190. Pingback: iverford 12
  191. Pingback: MasumINTL
  192. Pingback: FB URL Shortener
  193. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  194. Pingback: itme.xyz
  195. Pingback: itme.xyz
  196. Pingback: Bulk URL Shortener
  197. Pingback: FB URL Shortener
  198. Pingback: itme.xyz
  199. Pingback: masumintl
  200. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  201. Pingback: masumintl
  202. Pingback: itme.xyz
  203. Pingback: cenforce 50
  204. Pingback: Bulk URL Shortener
  205. Pingback: itme.xyz
  206. Pingback: Bokeo Thailand
  207. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  208. Pingback: itme.xyz
  209. Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
  210. Pingback: itme.xyz
  211. Pingback: itme.xyz
  212. Pingback: Bulk URL Shortener
  213. Pingback: FB URL Shortener
  214. Pingback: buy almox
  215. Pingback: sildigra 250mg
  216. Pingback: scavista medicine
  217. Pingback: vidalista 60
  218. Pingback: fildena 100mg sale
  219. Pingback: clomid 50mg
  220. Pingback: cenforce D tablet
  221. Pingback: priligy
  222. Pingback: itme.xyz
Back to top button
   

Giving Back To Our Community Is The Hallmark Of Our Tradition

Paying Tribute To Our Living and Late Legends Is A Measure Of Our Heritage.

ZimLegends Is In A Class Of Its Own, Zimbabwe’s First, Largest, As Well As The Most Comprehensive Legends Online Database. 

www.1zimlegends.com 

www.zimlegends.co.zw 

For Inquiries and To Submit Nominations:

Please contact us at - masukajm@yahoo.com or jmasuka@hotmail.com

     

ZimLegends - The Home Of Unparalleled Excellency  

Zimbabwe Legends - WALKING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE – LEST WE FORGET