In an inspiring Zoom conversation, Megan Webber, Co-Founder of KnowTheGlow (KTG), reconnected with Daniel McKenzie, Executive Director of KidzCan Zimbabwe. Their relationship dates to 2019 when they first discussed raising awareness for retinoblastoma (RB), long before KTG began a global initiative. Today, KTG’s international reach and targeted materials are empowering organizations like KidzCan to make a larger impact.
Daniel, joined by KidzCan’s Program Manager Pamela Makanjera, shared the incredible journey KidzCan has undertaken. In 2021, KidzCan joined St. Jude’s Global Alliance, a monumental step that brought invaluable capacity-building resources to the organization. The alliance provided KidzCan with tools for fundraising and inspired them to build the Rainbow Children’s Village—in partnership with Round Table Zimbabwe and the Meikles Foundation- a haven where children and families from rural Zimbabwe can stay, free of charge, while undergoing treatment, helping to prevent treatment abandonment. Phase one and two included 15 patient rooms, with phase three set to add 11 more, all funded by $1.2 million raised locally.
Daniel attributes KidzCan’s growth to collaboration and community support, saying, “If Danny Thomas could dream, then I can dream too.” Guided by St. Jude’s tools and a philosophy rooted in compassion, Daniel’s team also supports other services, including diagnostics, chemotherapy, and transportation for families, helping bridge gaps where government resources fall short.
KidzCan is tackling late-stage diagnoses by training nurses across Zimbabwe. Partnering with the Ministry of Health, KidzCan has educated nurses in three provinces so far, with plans to reach all ten. Training focuses on recognizing signs of RB, Wilms tumour, and leukaemia and ensuring correct referral pathways. Daniel emphasized the importance of empowering healthcare providers at all levels, saying, “It’s about giving every clinic the knowledge and tools to recognize childhood cancers early.”
In an unprecedented move, KidzCan also partnered with the Apostolic Churches Council of Zimbabwe, a traditionally conservative group that previously resisted medical intervention. A recent change in leadership opened doors for awareness campaigns, and KidzCan is now working with 600 bishops to bring critical health messages to rural congregations. Despite challenges like limited internet access, the council’s support is already yielding positive results, with an eager team ready for the next awareness and training initiatives.
KidzCan’s work extends into Zimbabwean schools, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) awaiting approval from the Ministry of Education to enable awareness efforts in every school. Daniel dreams of adding childhood cancer information to Zimbabwe’s “Road to Health Card,” a card given to all new mothers at the birth of their children, empowering parents to advocate for screenings. With creative partners like Delta Beverages, KidzCan has also raised awareness by branding water tanks in schools, encouraging hand washing during the pandemic while subtly educating communities about cancer prevention.
In their quest for sustainable impact, Daniel and Pamela plan to develop a long-term training program that will equip community healthcare workers to recognize signs of childhood cancers without repeated on-site training. “Every city should have a trained health worker who can then train others,” Pamela explained. Daniel’s innovative vision includes employing ambassadors in each province to serve as dedicated childhood cancer educators, a suggestion that Megan saw as having “huge potential” for long-term community engagement.
KidzCan’s initiatives extend beyond awareness campaigns, reaching third- and fourth-year volunteer medical students eager to learn about childhood cancer. With proposals in the pipeline, to officially work with the University of Zimbabwe fostering a new generation of healthcare professionals who will recognize childhood cancers early, changing the lives of countless children.
Megan and Daniel’s conversation underscored the value of KTG’s simple, impactful messaging. Daniel praised the accessibility of KTG materials, envisioning a future where early diagnosis becomes a reality in Zimbabwe and mortality rates due to late-stage presentation can substantially decline. With the resilience, passion, and visionary leadership exemplified by Daniel, KidzCan Zimbabwe is on a path to create a brighter future for children facing cancer across the country.
