A 33-YEAR-OLD Nyazura-based Family of Glory Church pastor and musician has been making a difference in her community through spreading hope and love by caring for vulnerable children through her charity organisation, Victoria’s Love and Hope Charity Trust.
Also a songwriter, Victoria Duduzile Matsokotere’s philanthropic work has been described as a ray of hope for vulnerable children in her community as she also teaches them about the dangers of drug and substance abuse and premarital sex, at the same time encouraging them to make positive choices.
Not married and with no children of her own to take care of, Matsokotere has taken on the responsibility of caring for nine children from diverse backgrounds who are fully under her care in rural Nyazura, Manicaland province.
She also welcomes a larger group of up to 40 children each and every Saturday for lunch and fellowship at plot 56 A, Rujeko, a programme she has sustained for the past eight years.
Matsokotere developed a passion for serving others after completing her chaplain and pastoral education in Harare.
However, her journey has not been without challenges.
Despite her dedication, she said she lacked adequate resources to support her children and programmes.
With no donor or organisation to rely on, she and her mother, Pauline Matsokotere, have been shouldering the burden to feed the vulnerable children.
- Information key to climate change mitigation: FAO
- Pupil commits suicide over satanism taunt
- Apostolic women suffer in the name of religion
- Apostolic sect members embrace measles vaccine
Keep Reading
“One of our biggest struggles is accessing adequate water, a basic necessity for our daily operations,” she told NewsDay Weekender.
Despite the challenges, Matsokotere has remained determined and unwavering, hoping to expand her outreach programmes and provide more support to children under her care.
“We need more resources, in this case financial assistance so that we rescue more vulnerable children here in Nyazura. These vulnerable children need care and love,” the philanthropist said.
“For now, we continue operating on a tight budget. We were called for charity work and we have to soldier on until more children are rescued and fed.”
With adequate resources, she expects her impact to be felt even more profoundly in her community and other provinces.
Through her passion for music and ministry, she has been to various schools including St Nicholas Musembure Primary and Mahusekwa Secondary in Mashonaland East province as well as private colleges encouraging learners shun drug and substance use.
“Currently, I am volunteering at schools in the Nyaungwe cluster under Makoni district, specifically Mavhudzi High, Rukweza Schools, Handina Adventist Mission and Mahere Primary and Secondary schools,” Matsokotere said.
“I have also had the opportunity to minister to inmates at St Thomas Prison in Marondera and Little Kraal Prison in Nyazura.”
Matsokotere was raised in Bulawayo, where she began her educational journey at Petra Primary School.
She later enrolled and completed her high school education in 2009 at Kyle College in Masvingo.
She credited her generosity and compassion to her father Hope Matsokotere, who died last July.
“I lost my father in July 2024 and my mother consistently supported our extended family and helped numerous individuals achieve their dreams, sowing the seeds of philanthropy in my life,” Matsokotere said.
“Unfortunately, due to socio-economic hardships we have faced over the years, our family businesses in refrigeration collapsed. The heart of charity, however, remained steadfast.
“This charitable spirit is a family trait. The name of my charity was inspired by my grandfather’s name ‘Love’ and my father’s name ‘Hope’, a reflection of our family’s legacy of kindness. I have made it my mission to also continue this noble work.”
After high school, she worked as a volunteer at the local church she was attending, Family of Glory ministry, focusing on youth outreach programmes and evangelising in marginalised communities.
In 2017, she pursued a diploma in chaplaincy under the Zimbabwe Prison Ministries International and furthered to get her degree in Theology under the Christlife Bible Institution in Mutare last year.
Those willing to assist Matsokotere’s philanthropic works can contact her on 0773 056 603 or 0712 200 447.
