Why does βthe Beastβ think education is key?
βDream big! You can achieve your wildest dreams." Tendai Mtawarira was a fearsome opponent on the rugby pitch β but now works to help children reach their potential.
βDream big! You can achieve your wildest dreams as long as you work hard and get yourself in school.β
Nicknamed βthe Beastβ, Tendai Mtawarira is the most-capped prop to have played for the Springboks.
Born in Zimbabwe, his talent at rugby was quickly spotted and he was offered a bursary as a teenager to train with the Sharks in South Africa. In 2008 he was called up to play for the national squad as heβd lived in the country for enough time.
But in 2010 he was barred from playing because of a controversy over his nationality. It took the intervention of Archbishop Desmond Tutu before he was able to play for the team again.
He also struggled sometimes as a big, aggressive child. And so - now heβs retired from rugby - his new passion is helping children and young adults reach their potential, through his βBeast Academyβ and also as an Unicef ambassador.
Alan Kasujja speaks to the Beast β just back from a trip with Unicef to South Sudan β but also with a young South Sudanese woman whose journey has taken her from cattle camp, to street child, to finally becoming an βinspiratorβ who helps other young people to realise their goals.
NOTE: Correction made at 0645 GMT changing UNHCR to Unicef.
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Africa Daily
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