What does Mukana mean?

Mukana is a Shona (Zimbabwe) word meaning Opportunity. Mukana Access Initiative is therefore an initiative to provide opportunity and education access for financially disadvantaged students. Our acronym MAI is also coincidentally the Shona word for mother :)

Why donate to MAI?

Mukana Access Initiative offers students from low income backgrounds the chance to attend school by paying their tuition on a term by term basis. We are working with school teachers in Zimbabwe and the Future Wings Foundation to understand the needs of students and provide support.

Where do my dollars go?

At MAI, we work to ensure that every dollar we receive is used towards our mission. Our network in Zimbabwe receives your funds monthly and at the beginning of every academic term to ensure that kids are able to attend school. Our help is not retroactive - we allow parents and guardians to focus on paying their arrears by covering tuition from the point of onboarding and onwards. We are currently working with 3 schools in 2 provinces in Zimbabwe.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes, Mukana Access Initiative is a non-profit 501(c)c(3) organization able to receive tax-deductible contributions year round. Your generous contributions will go directly toward the resources that MAI provides for students facing challenges with tuition. Our EIN/Tax ID number is 33-4775519.

How is MAI delivering resources in Zimbabwe?

We have a member of our team based in Zimbabwe who is responsible for vetting students in liaison with students’ educators and who ultimately pays the tuition directly to the school to ensure proper distribution of funds.

We have also partnered with the Future Wings Foundation. Their mission is broader than tuition, encompassing areas such as school infrastructure construction and maintenance, period poverty alleviation and school uniform distribution. Future Wings Foundation already has established databases of students in need, and we are partnering with them to assist on the tuition front so that they can focus on other areas of their mission. Check out their work here.

Who founded Mukana Access Initiative?

Taku Mhuru is the founder and current Director of Mukana Access Initiative.