What happened to Dora Moono Nyambe? Humanitarian influencer passes away at 32

Dora Moono Nyambe, the beloved founder and director of Footprints of Hope School, tragically passed away on December 25, 2024, at the age of 32. Her best friend and colleague, Tandiwe, shared the heartbreaking news publicly on December 26, 2024, through an emotional video announcement.

In her statement, Tandiwe described Dora as not only the CEO, director, and manager but also the heart and soul of the organization, leaving an irreplaceable void in their community.

According to Distractify, while no official cause of death has been confirmed, one of her colleagues mentioned that 'low blood pressure' might have played a role. However, the underlying reason for her symptoms remains unclear.

Mubanga Gravies, a teacher at Footprints of Hope, shared further details with Kalemba News. He revealed that Dora Moono Nyambe had been celebrating Christmas Eve with her staff and children, and showed no signs of illness or discomfort during the festivities. However, on Christmas morning, she reportedly fainted multiple times and decided to seek medical attention at a nearby clinic. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day.

On Friday, December 27, an announcement was posted on Dora Moono Nyambe's TikTok and Instagram accounts, officially confirming her passing. The message also informed her followers about a burial service planned for Saturday, December 28, inviting them to pay their final respects. The message read:

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden departure of our beloved Dora... She will be remembered as a loved mother, heroine, eace philanthropist and an extraordinary woman."

Who was Dora Moono Nyambe?

After growing up in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, Dora Moono Nyambe visited the village of Mapapa to see a friend in 2019, according to Northeastern University's website, which cites a book tour from Nyambe and Northeastern alum Joseph Schmitt — who wrote about her experiences in 2023's Under a Zambian Tree. Once there, the teacher and influencer saw the impacts of poverty, malnutrition, and a lack of access to education, as well as girls being forced into early marriages. Moved by what she saw, she asked herself:

“Why aren’t these kids in school?” — a question that sparked her life’s mission.

Dora relocated to Mapapa with her adoptive children and began working under a large mpundu tree to establish what would eventually become Footprints of Hope School. With the help of her daughter introducing her to TikTok, Dora started sharing her journey online, raising awareness, and gaining international support for her nonprofit. Her heartfelt content resonated globally, amassing over 171 million likes on TikTok and helping her secure funding for the school and its projects.

Educationally, Dora attended Immaculata Teaching College from 2011 to 2013. By 2023, Footprints of Hope had grown into a campus with 350 students, offering dormitories, a library, and a dining hall providing three daily meals. The school employed 15 teachers and educated children up to grade 7. Dora’s tireless efforts extended beyond education. She fostered 200 children and helped feed and educate 500 others.

Her final Instagram post, a collaboration with Mr. Beast's Beast Philanthropy, highlighted her ongoing commitment as she rebuilt dormitories damaged by a storm.

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In her final TikTok video, shot days before her death, Dora Moono Nyambe captioned the video 'one day at a time' and said:

"When I started to adopt, people said I couldn't do it because of my age and being unmarried."

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