Exploring the Meanings of Philanthropy in Rural Contexts: The Case of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The role and place of horizontally based forms of philanthropy has not been adequately understood or unexplored. There is very limited information on how ordinary Zimbabweans engage in acts of philanthropy. Is solidarity a part of philanthropy? There are many reasons to suggest that the solidarity evident in associational forms, which entail giving either of time, labour, or financial resources, is a vital dimension of philanthropy. The detailed discussion, through thick case study descriptions, explored the emergence of solidarity-focused associational forms within the newly resettled areas of Zimbabwe.