CAV Founder, tsitsi mutseta
Inspired by compassion, moved to serve.
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In 2007, Tsitsi Mutseta was a full-time student at San Diego State University (SDSU), majoring in Public Health. She had come to the United States in 1999 from her home village of Rundogo, in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe. When Tsitsi left Rundogo, people were surviving on subsistence agriculture, as in many rural Zimbabwean villages. Then Rundogo was struck by devastating disease: HIV/AIDS (which claimed 4 of her siblings), cholera, and malaria. Survival became even harder. |
Subsistence agriculture in Rundogo, Zimbabwe.
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Within 5 years, almost half of Rundogo had vanished, leaving no one between the ages of 18-40. All who remained were either orphans or the elderly who took charge of their care. |
Tsitsi had stayed in close contact with her home village, and now, her people asked Tsitsi for help. She was the only one who had ever traveled to America.
HELP FOR THE ORPHANS
By 2007 – in addition to her university studies – Tsitsi was working 3 jobs to earn money to send home . . . to keep the orphans in school, to clothe them, to feed them, and even, sadly, to buy them coffins.
That same year, Tsitsi herself received a tragic diagnosis: stage IV breast cancer.
HELP FOR THE ORPHANS
By 2007 – in addition to her university studies – Tsitsi was working 3 jobs to earn money to send home . . . to keep the orphans in school, to clothe them, to feed them, and even, sadly, to buy them coffins.
That same year, Tsitsi herself received a tragic diagnosis: stage IV breast cancer.
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Knowing that her time was short, Tsitsi threw herself into this effort with her whole heart. “I don’t have time to be sad,” she said.
Along with fundraising efforts, Tsitsi hand knitted caps to sell for profit, and she grew and sold produce to raise money to send home.
2007: CAV IS BORN
Ever courageous and hopeful, Tsitsi decided to start the all-volunteer, nonprofit charitable organization Compassion for African Villages, to ensure that continuing assistance would reach Rundogo and beyond.
Ever courageous and hopeful, Tsitsi decided to start the all-volunteer, nonprofit charitable organization Compassion for African Villages, to ensure that continuing assistance would reach Rundogo and beyond.
Tsitsi founded a chapter of Compassion for African Villages at SDSU, where she worked tirelessly with others to raise awareness about poverty and social injustice in Africa, and to raise money for relief efforts in African villages, including her home village of Rundogo. She inspired all who knew her to become involved, and many became active board members in CAV to keep her efforts alive.
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First Lady Michelle Obama, left, holds vegetables grown by Tsitsi Mutseta at New Roots Community Farm April 15, 2010. (AP photos/ Lenny Ignelzi)
in memoriam
