Pen pal friendships- a story of pure love

EVEN though the idea of having a pen pal has somehow become less popular, there are individuals in this century who still who engage in pen pal friendships to build meaningful relationships while making a difference in other people’ lives.

Meet pen pals, Zima Dlodlo and Rejoice Tshili who have been writing and receiving letters from each other for a year now.

Zima is 16 year old girl based in Scotland who has completed GCSEs studies and now doing her lower 6. Apart from her studies, she part time job so as to fund her involvement in community charity work.

Zima Dlodlo pausing for a picture

In 2018, with the help of her parents, she contacted Mopane Foundation International requesting to participate in our pen pal program. We gave her a list to choose from and she chose Rejoice as her pen pal.

Rejoice is a young girl doing grade 4 at Somakhwili Primary school in Nkayi. She comes from a less privileged household, as a result she started school very late after community’s intervention.

Rejoice Tshili in her school uniform pausing for a picture 

Zima wrote her first letter which the organisation scanned and forwarded to Tshili’s teacher who then printed and delivered it to Rejoice. Responding to the first letter, Rejoice gave her letter to the teacher who scanned and forwarded to us and we passed it to its recipient, Zima.

It was within few months of communication that Zima committed herself to forgo her luxuries by paying her friend’s fees as well as buying her uniforms every term.

Zima’s dream as friend, mentor and a sister, is to see Rejoice happily attending school and successfully completing her studies.

We are grateful for everything that Zima is doing to support her pen pal’s education.  We are highly indebted to the Dlodlo family for raising and nurturing such a leader as their daughter.

Mopane Foundation International invites all individuals who are between 10 to 18 years and interested in developing pen pal friendships with our beneficiaries. The idea behind the program is to create meaningful relationships and networks between our rural pupils and international students. It is through the program that they can also improve their English language. For more details, contact us on: nekenomsa@yahoo.co.uk