Empower the Future Generation of Creative Artists

Let’s Get Tanaka to Harvard!

We met the May 15th deadline but I did not pass the certification as loans are not accepted by HGSE. I now need to raise $40,000 by May 31st to secure my place.

Hello, friends! I’m a scholar, musician, and aspiring educator from Zimbabwe with a dream that’s bigger than myself: to build a world-class School of the Arts for young Africans. It’s right within the grasp of my fingertips, I can feel it!

Growing up, I was fortunate to attend a school that taught me how to play the mbira, a sacred musical tradition and intangible cultural heritage that we could risk losing if we do not increase spaces for students to learn these instruments. In most parts of Africa, Arts Education is overlooked, pushed aside in favor of subjects like Math and Science. Yet what if nurturing artistic talent is exactly what Africa needs to unlock untapped potential?

At 18 years old, I discovered my purpose: “to empower artistically gifted Africans by establishing a world-class school that nurtures and develops their talents.” Fast-forward six years — that dream is finally within reach.

I have been accepted into the Harvard Graduate School of Education to pursue a Master's in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship, with a concentration in Arts Learning. Harvard will equip me with the tools, network, and knowledge to bring my vision to life — to create a thriving ecosystem where young artists can transform their futures.

But I cannot do it alone.

Every dollar you donate is not just an investment in my education — it is a seed planted for the next generation of Zimbabwean and African artists, dreamers, and creators. Together, we can build a future where the arts are valued, nurtured, and celebrated.

You can explore my work on my website or my YouTube channel.

With gratitude,

Tanaka (SunniChi)