Faustinah Ndlovu is walking 21km with a bucket of water on her head to raise money for a school in her native Zimbabwe.
Rotorua's Faustinah Ndlovu is on a mission to walk 21km balancing a 20 litre bucket of water on her head - to raise money for her former primary school in her homeland.
Ms Ndlovu grew up in a small Zimbabwean village where carrying water was an everyday task.
"Crossing pathswith venomous snakes fetching water was my reality for 25 years in Zimbabwe were I was born and raised," she said on her Givealittle fundraising page.
"I started carrying 20 litres of water on my head when I was only 10 years old."
But the walk would be quite a challenge for her, as she had been in New Zealand for 14 years and even at home had never carried 20 litres of water that far, she said.
Faustinah Ndlovu is aiming to walk 21km with a 20 litre bucket of water on her head next month, starting at the lakefront. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
"I told my mum and she's a bit worried, but I'm keen to do this for the kids back home. It means a lot."
Ms Ndlovu said the money raised would go towards a new building at her former primary school in Zimbabwe, which needed a toilet, paint and furniture. She also hoped to help build a library.
She said it would basically "change the life of the kids at my old primary school".
She has been in training since the beginning of May.
"Every day when I have got some time I will be out walking."
Ms Ndlovu said she had submitted an application for a new world record attempt with Guinness World Records for her July 9 walk, and was waiting to hear back.
Meanwhile, Ms Ndlovu is still looking for a home for her giant knitted doll named Tariro.
The doll is also a challenge Ms Ndlovu undertook to raise funds for the school, and is 4m high, weighing more than 90kg. Through knitting projects and a Tariro knitting group in Christchurch, 36 dolls had been donated to Christchurch Hospital and about 25 to Rotorua Hospital, she said.
People who wish to contribute to Ms Ndlovu's fundraising walk can visit https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/walkfordomboreshato.
For more information on the Tariro Project visit https://www.facebook.com/tariroprojectzimbabwe/.
