The Toronto Zimbabwean community gathered on May 21 for a dinner and dance to raise money for Tinashe and Tinotenda — the conjoined twins flown from Zimbabwe and separated at the Hospital for Sick Children in March. The event's theme was Any Child is My Child, reminiscent of the traditional Zimbabwean practice of all parents caring for all children. "It takes an entire village to raise a child," said Margaret Zondo, administrator of the Presbyterian Church's International Ministries and one of the event's creators."These kids are really not their mother's kids. They belong to everyone in Zimbabwe."
Once regarded as the best in Africa, Zimbabwe's health care system is now in virtual ruins. Ravaged by poverty, the spread of HIV/AIDS, political and ethnic fighting and a controversial leader in Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe is struggling to break its negative international image. Zondo, who came to Canada from Zimbabwe in 2001, is discouraged by the media's coverage of her native country. "This event takes the spotlight off of the negative for once and puts it on the positive. It shows that things like this can happen among Zimbabweans."
Held at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, the event attracted about 400 supporters and raised nearly $8,000.Donations are still coming in thanks to the opportunity to make contributions online. Money raised goes to the Herbie Fund of the Sick Kids Foundation, which has helped 450 children from 80 countries come to Sick Kids for life saving treatments. The twins are currently waiting for a second surgery to repair a cleft lip and palate.
"Against all odds, we brought together a community that is otherwise divided along political and ethnic lines," said Zondo. "We were very humbled. It was a community-building event between Zimbabweans and between Zimbabweans and Canadians. It was the best way to say thank you to Canada." – AM
