Ndongera, Tanaka Admire
Tanaka Admire Ndongera is an international Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
Tanaka is a member of Chisipiti United Methodist Church, Harare East District, in the East Zimbabwe Annual Conference. He is vice president of the Chisipiti Circuit United Methodist Youth Fellowship and serves on the Evangelism, Nominations and Leadership Development, as well as the History and Communications committees. He also is part of the Nominations Committee for Harare East District UMYF Executive.
He earned an Executive Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from the University of Zimbabwe; a Diploma in Leadership and Development studies, Springdale Foundation UK; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Peace and Governance, Bindura University of Science Education.
Tanaka describes himself as a “peace-loving individual who is willing to learn and a diplomatic and flexible team player, interested in working in a culturally diverse environment.
“I have a keen interest in the field of development,” he said, “and the ability to adapt to new environments and work with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. A humanitarian at heart, I have vision, ambition and passion for excellence, as well as interest and commitment to social justice and sustainable development.”
Tanaka views Global Mission Fellows as “an opportunity to build forward and join in the pursuit of justice, responding to community crisis.”
As a recent graduate of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice, he is especially interested in pursuing environment and agriculture as a Global Mission Fellow. Tanaka is also a journalist, accredited by the Zimbabwe Media Commission. “I work with different civil society organizations on fact-finding missions and storytelling,” he said.
Tanaka seems confident that his participation in GMF will enrich his knowledge and professional development.
“My leadership trajectory,” he noted, “demonstrates my passion for environment, food security and climate justice, and I understand this is something the program emphasizes. As a church youth leader, I believe that combining my knowledge in peace and governance and joining Global Mission Fellows will prepare me adequately for problem-solving in issues pertinent to my country and Africa: agriculture, climate justice, food security, governance, leadership, social action, systems change and youth inclusion.”