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Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
The corona virus pandemic has affected every aspect of people’s lives, careers have been put on hold, business ventures postponed, entertainment restricted and generally life has been at a near standstill.

Passion of one’s work has however propelled Zimbabwean model, entertainer and now philanthropist Oliver Keith to use social media through his legion of fans to assist deserving people during this period of lockdown.

Oliver Keith who is based in South Africa where the pandemic is hard hitting in Africa and running his Oliver Keith Foundation said he has taken life’s day to day challenges as an avenue to aid those in need.

“As you know I have been running the Oliver Keith Foundation for a couple of years now. There are so many of our brothers and sisters here in South Africa that are in desperate need due to the world pandemic currently ravaging mankind. I initially started by collecting sanitary pads from my followers, and it’s a project that God placed in my heart. I decided to collect foodstuffs for those whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19.

“To date my foundation has become the bridge between donors and beneficiaries. I basically ask people to contact me if they have a genuine need, particularly those with children or newly born babies. I then use my platform to raise funds and make sure that no baby is out of diapers, that no family goes to bed hungry, that no family is evicted due to nonpayment of rent, that no young girl’s dignity is compromised due to sanitary pads poverty. It takes us to help our brothers and sister. We have to stand up for one another, he said from his South African base.

This desire to assist those in need was birthed from the fact that he for one was help by strangers all over the world.

“I for one have every reason have a quest for positive change in society, because I have been helped by strangers worldwide. At one time I missed my flight in London and a stranger came to my rescue. In 2011 I needed a place to stay in Johannesburg and a stranger helped me.

We are in this pandemic together. We have to love one another and put in action. We have to demonstrate how united Zimbabweans are,” he said.

The model said on assisting  girls with sanitary pads, he realized period poverty was dangerous as young girls are forced into early marriages and forced to miss school due to lack of pads so the marriage would ensure that they has feminine hygiene products although at a cost of education and celebrating their youth.

“My foundation’s aim is reduce the effects of poverty on periods in Zimbabwe. In resource poor communities, menstruation is still often seen as an embarrassing, shameful and a dirty process. Such taboos around the topic mean many adolescent girls are often unprepared for their periods and how to manage them. Less than half of girls in lower and middle income areas have access to basics such as sanitary wear, soap and water, or facilities to change, clean or dispose of hygiene product,” he said.

The Oliver Keith Foundation is a safety haven for young girls. It seeks to preserve the dignity of young girls through providing them with decent sanitary wear, stationery, career guidance, and offer them activities that will help keep them motivated, involved and engaged in their dreams and careers.

“We quest to be their crowning glory. The Foundation believes that young women are the custodian of the future, therefore, we aim to create a positive change in the lives of young girls through offering them guidance and nurturing them into world leaders” he added.