Rev. Bonga Mzini Receives Commonwealth Points of Light Award for his Community Service

By Relebohile Sera

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Rev Bonga Mzini Receives the Commonwealth Points of Light Award
Rev. Mzini Receives the Commonwealth Points of Light Award

Reverend Mzini was awarded a Commonwealth Points of Light award which recognizes outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community.

The award was presented by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Nigel Casey MVO. The event was held on the 14th March at The Commonwealth Big Lunch at Kick4Life in Maseru, Lesotho.

In every community there are households with disadvantaged children and orphans left to fend for themselves. This brings to light the question of what each one of us is doing in our communities to ensure that such households are taken care of.

Reverend Bonga Mzini is one of the few who has seen to it that he makes a change in his community. He is a pastor, serving under the Apostolic Faith Mission of Lesotho at the Mount Moorosi Assembly. He is also engaged in community development programs or projects.

“I initiated and started a feeding program targeting orphans and the most vulnerable children.” He said. Through the feeding program they currently reach 330 kids that they provide with food daily. One meal every day.

“We are doing all these with the help of some church members as well as village help workers (volunteers).” He added that they have a target to reach 1,000 kids by the end of 2018, not just in Mount Moorosi but throughout the country.

“I have a prominent partner which is World Vision Lesotho. Therefore, as one stakeholder, faith leader, it was easier for me and other faith leaders in my area to partner with World Vision in addressing the children’s needs. “World Vision Lesotho through their Area Program offices (used to be known as ADPs) partners with relevant stakeholders to meet the needs of a child.”

“Apart from my theological background as a pastor, I have been trained as a facilitator on different models with the help of World Vision Lesotho in its Area Programs (APs) across the country.” Reverend Mzini said. The models are World Vision programs prepared to empower and enable faith leaders to become changing agents in their various communities.

“I don’t only train and empower faith leaders at Mount Moorosi alone, but in all the APs throughout the country, which are currently 12 in number, to advocate for issues like child protection and gender based issues.”

He holds workshops for faith leaders and Sunday school teachers in over 50 churches to equip them with necessary knowledge and skills to address the relevant challenges faced by the community. He also works with other community stakeholders such as local chiefs, police, teachers and counselors to ensure the well-being of communities in his area of Mount Moorosi.

“All the models are relevant to the needs of people and to answer and overcome the common challenges the communities face today, particularly the faith communities.”He added. The models include the following: Channels of Hope for Child Protection, CoH for Gender, CoH for Maternal Newborn & Child Health, Empowered worldview and celebrating families, etc.

The Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II renders the Commonwealth Points of Light awards to thank inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the differences they are making in their communities and beyond.

One outstanding volunteer from each of these countries is recognized with a Commonwealth Points of Light award. Reverend Mzini is the 30th Commonwealth Point of Light.

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