Zimbabwe  ·  Education  ·  Family  ·  Future

Building a generation that
knows what’s possible.

KAZOKU Foundation funds secondary education for underprivileged children in Zimbabwe — starting with scholarships, and growing toward a full residential home where young people can live, learn, and thrive.

Apply for the scholarship Our full vision
Why KAZOKU exists

Education opens doors — but only if you can get through them.

Founder Michelle Marufu moved from Zimbabwe to Armenia, then Canada. The gap she experienced — between what she knew and what she needed to succeed — became the foundation of KAZOKU. She saw how limited perceived choices, lack of practical skills, and financial barriers keep talented young Zimbabweans from reaching their potential.

“Our goal is to raise a generation that knows what’s possible, understands how to access opportunity, and uses that power to reshape their financial future — and their family’s.”
— Michelle T Marufu, Founder & Partnerships Director
The roadmap

Two phases. One vision.

KAZOKU is building something bigger than a scholarship. The long-term goal is KAZOKU House — a residential home in Bulawayo housing 32 children through their full secondary education. The scholarship is how we start.

Phase 1 — Active now

The 2026 Scholarship

Full O Level funding for Grade 7 graduates entering Form 1. School fees, ZIMSEC exam fees for up to 10 subjects, and stationery — paid directly to the school each term. No cash changes hands with families.

Phase 2 — Coming

KAZOKU House, Bulawayo

A safe gated residence in Selborne Park housing 32 orphaned children (ages 13–18). Full-time schooling, counselling, mentorship, life skills, internships, and a clear pathway to life beyond KAZOKU.

KAZOKU House — the bigger picture

More than a roof. A real foundation for life.

KAZOKU House is built on three pillars — Community, Action, and Skill. Every resident grows academically, professionally, and personally. They leave not just with an O Level certificate, but with the mindset and skills to build something lasting.

C

Community

A family environment — supervised school life, weekend activities, and positive relationships that teach belonging and giving back.

See community →
A

Action

Mentorship, skills workshops, public speaking, financial literacy, and internship exposure — building a broader view of what’s possible.

See action →
S

Skill

Practical skill-building, coursework, and coaching from a partner network — creating tools to generate more options for life beyond KAZOKU.

See skill →
The KAZOKU vision
“Our goal is to raise a generation that knows what’s possible, understands how to access opportunity, and uses that power to reshape their financial future — and their family’s.”

KAZOKU provides a comprehensive program to increase the availability and perception of options for young people in Zimbabwe.

Learn more
Michelle Marufu, Founder of KAZOKU Foundation
Our founder

Michelle Tendai Marufu

“I have 2 passions; education & economic mobility. My pursuit for education led me to meet people who would not only inspire me, but broaden my way of thinking to include a wider range of options available to me.”

“‘Options’ is a word you’ll see and hear used a lot here. I strongly believe a good set of options paired with an understanding of, and confidence to exploit them can be key to mobilising the young people we work with and their families.”

“I invite you to support us in opening young eyes to the options they have that they might otherwise miss or fail to dive into.”

United World College Dilijan ’17 · BA University of British Columbia ’21 · LLB University of Suffolk ’26
Why we fund education

From survival mode to visionary thinking

“For many of our students, the financial pressure isn’t just background noise — it’s the loudest thing in the room. They’re trying to focus in class while worrying about how they’ll pay next term’s fees, how they’ll get to school, or whether they’ll have a proper uniform. That’s reptile mode. And that’s what we’re trying to change.

We’re not just paying school fees. We’re creating space for something bigger — a shift from scarcity to stability, from survival to strategy. When a student doesn’t have to worry about transport or tuition, something beautiful happens: they start to breathe easier, they raise their hand in class, they think about their future. They start to dream. That’s visionary mode — and it’s where we believe our students belong.” — Michelle Tendai Marufu
Our scholarship

Full O Level funding — directly to the school.

All payments go straight to the school. Students and families never handle money on our behalf.

Full school fees

All three terms every year, across the full 4 O Level years, as long as scholarship terms are met

ZIMSEC exam fees

Registration for up to 10 O Level subjects, paid to the school to forward to ZIMSEC

Basic stationery

Exercise books, pens, pencils and rulers — allocated at the start of each academic year

Who can apply
Academic promise

Completing Grade 7 in 2025 with excellent results expected in ZIMSEC exams

Financial hardship

From a household where secondary school fees are a genuine barrier to continuing education

Drive & character

Recognised by teachers for healthy academic ambition and exemplary conduct

Future vision

Interest in furthering education beyond O Levels and widening options through extracurricular activities

Our program

Community. Action. Skill.

Community
Activities that foster understanding of the community, engagement and giving back.
  • Attending formal schools and engaging with students, staff and stakeholders
  • Student jobs — tutoring, event co-ordination, social planning
  • Project weeks — library clean-ups, mentoring younger children, teaching skills
Action
Activities that encourage the pursuit of and participation in a practical activity or passion.
  • Group and individual projects using skills from workshops and extracurriculars
  • Internships and volunteer positions
  • Seeking post-secondary academic, work and entrepreneurial opportunities
  • Exploring different work and life structures — career consultation
Skill
Activities that encourage learning new skills and harnessing skills for creating more options.
  • Mandatory extracurriculars — public speaking, writing, sports
  • Diverse mental coaching and mentoring from partner network
  • Programs and coursework to widen skillset for post-KAZOKU life
Why give?

Your gift doesn’t just fund tuition — it unlocks opportunity.

You believe in the power of education to transform lives.

With your support, our students can achieve what once felt impossible — not just for themselves, but for their families too.

It’s the key that opens doors, expands options, and builds futures full of promise.

Get involved

How can you help?

Let us help you achieve your vision for what you want out of your philanthropy…

Sponsor

  • Fund a named scholarship or exam fees
  • Offer financial or in-kind resources
  • Help grow the program and increase its reach
  • Share relevant grants for students post-KAZOKU

e.g. monetary contributions, school supplies, uniforms, sporting equipment, electronics

Volunteer

  • Mentor and be a tangible role model for students
  • Lead skill-building workshops or project weeks
  • Assist with program events and fundraising
  • Share activities and expertise with students

e.g. mentorship, workshops, project weeks, tutoring, coaching, social media outreach

Community partner

  • Offer your facilities for events or student needs
  • Provide community service opportunities
  • Support sporting activities, arts events, competitions
  • Resources that benefit the students and program

e.g. sports fields, classrooms, computer labs, event venues, library clean-ups

All sponsors receive a comprehensive report on the impact of their donation.

Get in touch with us

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

MM

Michelle Marufu

Founder & Partnerships Director

VM

Veronicah Marufu

Program Manager

Get in touch

Get in touch with KAZOKU

Whether you want to apply, sponsor, volunteer, or partner — we’d love to hear from you.

Ready to be part of this?

Whether you’re a student applying for the scholarship, a school nominating a candidate, or a donor who wants to help build something lasting — we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us