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Ivan Zhakata

Herald Correspondent

Acting head of Lusitania Primary School in Greendale, Harare, Dr Patricia Gonde has been nominated for the 2023 Women Changing the World Awards.

The Women Changing the World Awards, presented by one of Oprah Winfrey’s favourite guests, Dr Tererai Trent, celebrate and recognise women achieving outstanding success in sustainability, humanitarian work, leadership, advocacy, tech, product development, education, health and innovation.

The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women leading the way in making the world a better place and inspire other women to answer the call to take action.

Dr Gonde is a versatile educator with more than three decades of experience in the education field.

She said her mantra, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle”, said it all about her as a phenomenal woman.

“Beyond my career, my impact extends beyond the walls of the school. I am an author of a motivational book, international speaker, social activist, humanitarian, global educator, global coordinator and brand ambassador of different international organisations,” she said.

“I am also a board member of a local and international organisation. I am also well-versed in sustainable development goals and how they can be applied in the education sector.”

Dr Gonde said her work was important because she believed in nurturing youth with the right skills to change the world.

She is a changemaker committed and determined to help young and vulnerable people achieve their dreams and is committed to nurturing global citizens.

Dr Trent’s powerful call to action through these awards aims to awaken hearts, give permission to recapture dreams and inspire the women of the world to come together to forge a brighter path for all.

Creating change in the world can be challenging and Dr Gonde has advised others to think about following their calling to make a difference.

She rightly said: “Change begins with you!”

Dr Gonde said she was proud of her achievements and in the last 12 months she has earned many international accolades in the field of education, including the Africa Award for Excellence for outstanding individual achievements and exemplary contributions towards education in Africa.

“I also received the outstanding young innovative Africa Award for promoting the actualisation of SDG’s active citizenship, youth participation, community service, good governance and policy advocacy in Africa,” she said.

Dr Gonde attributed the success to determination and hard work.“I am committed to continuing to make an impact through my work, and vision for the future, to assist children of women prisoners to have access to education, promote young writers to publish their books, emancipate the girl child through education so that they do not succumb to early marriages, empower the youth to use their voice to speak out and be involved in the decision-making process, conscientise the youth through education that would enable them to create change in their communities,” Dr Gonde said.

The winners of the 2023 Women Changing the World Awards will be announced at a glamourous event in London, United Kingdom, on April 18.