Who We Are

In February 2024, Dr. Monica Henderson embarked on her eighth international trip—but her first journey to the African continent, the Motherland. As a published children’s book author, Monica wanted her visit to be meaningful. She planned to donate books and read one of her stories to a group of students. With the help of her friend Logic Mukungurutse, a Zimbabwean native, Monica arranged to visit Simudzirai Primary School. What began as a simple act of generosity soon turned into a life-changing mission.

During her visit, Monica achieved her goal of sharing her stories with the students, but a tour of the school revealed deeper challenges. She noticed there was no cafeteria and asked where the students ate. The school director explained that meals were no longer provided since the pandemic, when a local business stopped supplying bread. Students who brought food from home often shared with classmates who had none. Shocked, Monica asked for clarity: “Are there students here all day without eating even one meal?” The answer was yes.

Monica’s thoughts turned to her own childhood in the United States. As a poor student, she had relied on free school breakfasts and lunches. She even volunteered as a cafeteria aide in middle school to pack leftover food to take home for dinner. The memory of those struggles—and the nourishment that had sustained her—made the students’ plight deeply personal.

As she continued her tour, Monica noticed that some students weren’t wearing school uniforms and asked why. The director explained that while uniforms are a government mandate, many families couldn’t afford them. Until they could, their children attended school out of compliance. Monica recalled being a fifth grader, embarrassed by her worn clothing, until an organization called Dignity U Wear gifted her three brand-new outfits and a pack of underwear. Decades later, she still remembered the profound impact of that simple act of generosity.

Monica felt a powerful call to help. As she shared her thoughts with Logic, he expressed the same determination. A native of the area, Logic had attended a nearby school with similar struggles. He reflected on his journey, from teaching English in China to studying Mandarin at Beijing University of International Business and Economics and realized how much education had transformed his life.

Together, Monica and Logic decided to be the change they wanted to see. They founded Advancing Africa Through Education to address the critical needs of disadvantaged schools and underprivileged students. Drawing on their global connections in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia, they began collaborating with international schools and nonprofits to build a network of global supporters.

What started as a book donation became a shared mission to empower students through access to education, nourishment, and dignity—changing lives one school at a time.