Popular TikTok influencer and philanthropist Dora Moono Nyambe passes away at 32 on Christmas Day

TikTok star and humanitarian, Dora Moono Nyambe, suddenly passed away at the age of 32 on Wednesday, December 25.

The media personality is known for launching her nonprofit Footprints of Hope in 2019, and for building a school in Zambia.

She had chronicled her journey on social media, where she amassed around 4.2 million followers on her TikTok page and 110K followers on Instagram.

However, this week on Friday, December 27, a message was shared to both accounts to announce her shock death.

The announcement conveyed the news of the sudden passing of Dora with a sense of sadness, recognizing her as a devoted mother, a courageous figure, a promoter of peace, and an exceptional individual.

The caption of the post included, ‘The program for the burial for our beloved Dora Moono Nyambe.’

TikTok star and humanitarian, Dora Moono Nyambe, suddenly passed away at the age of 32 on Wednesday, December 25 

Nyambe’s burial was originally set for Saturday, December 28 but was then moved to December 30 ‘due to unforeseen challenges.’ 

A subsequent update shared on Saturday informed that the funeral arrangements for Dora Moono Nyambe had been rescheduled from an earlier date to Monday afternoon on December 30, 2024, citing unexpected challenges as the reason for the change.

‘We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.’ 

Additionally, the message expressed appreciation towards all those who had provided support, whether in the form of financial assistance or through other means, conveying gratitude on behalf of the bereaved family.

‘Your kindness and generosity have been a source of great comfort and strength for the family during this period.’ 

A cause of death has yet to be disclosed, but just over a week before her passing, Dora revealed that she had broken her leg in a clip shared on December 15 – but is unclear if that has any relation to her death. 

Earlier this week on Thursday, a fellow teacher who had worked for Nyambe’s nonprofit also confirmed the educator’s shock passing in a video uploaded to her main TikTok page. 

‘I am officially announcing the loss of my beloved CEO, director, manager and founder of Footprints of Hope School, who died on Wednesday, 25th of December 2024.’ 

However, this week on Friday, December 27, a message was shared to both her accounts to announce her shock death

Nyambe’s burial was originally set for Saturday, December 28 but was then moved to December 30 ‘due to unforeseen challenges’

She continued, ‘Our sister will be buried here in Mapapa at Footprints of Hope School. Thank you so much for everything.’ 

Dora’s last Instagram post before her death was shared earlier this week on Monday – and was a collaboration with YouTuber MrBeast (James Stephen ‘Jimmy’ Donaldson) for Beast Philanthropy. 

On December 15, she uploaded a separate clip while sitting inside a vehicle and briefly panned the camera to her broken foot. 

However, her injury did not prevent her from stopping to try to acquire a bus to help children be able to get to school. 

She penned in the caption, ‘A hurt leg can’t stop us! Lets get the k!ds of this remote village a school bus. We can do this!!!’  

Earlier this month, Nyambe stressed the importance of getting a new bus for the children in the village of Mapapa in Zambia. 

In a short reel, she wrote, ‘Our school is free and has rescued over 500 k!ds from SA and abuse. This is why we really need a bus.’ 

Dora worked to give children access to education in the village, and also strived to prevent child marriage. 

A cause of death has yet to be disclosed, but days before her passing, Dora revealed that she had broken her leg in a clip shared on December 15 – but is unclear if that has any relation to her death

On December 20, she uploaded a clip as she stepped in front of the camera using a crutch due to her leg injury. 

‘We have been able to stop so many ch!ld marriages and have created this safe heaven for them. So much more needs to be done for so many,’ she penned. 

Nyambe had also been open on social media about adopting 13 children and fostering around 150-200 more. 

In her final TikTok – which was also uploaded only days before her passing – she shared a montage with the kids in the village and her time teaching at the school. 

Dora could also be seen giving out books to a group of kids, as well as packing food to give to the children in the village.

‘When I started to adopt, people said I couldn’t do it because of my age and being unmarried,’ Dora wrote in text added over the reel. She then added in the caption, ‘One day at a time.’ 

On her official LinkedIn profile, Nyambe studied at Immaculata Teaching College from 2011 through 2013. And then in January 2019, she launched her nonprofit Footprints of Hope. 

In a description on the page, she shared, ‘We strive to educate, feed and house and protect the youth of the rural village of Mapapa.’

In her final TikTok – which was also uploaded only days before her passing – she shared a montage with the kids in the village and her time teaching at the school

In a description on the page, she shared, ‘We strive to educate, feed and house and protect the youth of the rural village of Mapapa’

‘100% of all the development efforts are funded through donations on our GoFundMe page. I am the director and president of all operations.’ 

When it came to her working in the village, she previously explained to her followers that she had simply visited Mapapa with a friend in 2019 while awaiting a visa. 

However, after seeing the poverty and lack of education for the children there, she made the decision to move to Mapapa with her adopted kids in order to provide a positive change. 

She was then introduced to TikTok by one of her daughters, where she was able to reach millions of viewers to share her journey and bring awareness to her nonprofit. 

Northeastern University graduate, Joseph Schmitt, wrote a book about Dora’s experience in the village titled Under A Zambian Tree in 2023. 

‘I’m trying to amplify her voice, but I couldn’t fathom accomplishing or even trying to accomplish what she’s done. She’s incredible,’ he told Northeastern Global News last year in February. 

Not long after first visiting Mapapa, Dora told the outlet, ‘By the second or third day, I was asking, “Why aren’t these kids in school?”‘ 

Following her success on social media – especially TikTok – she started to receive donations, both big and small, to help support her charitable organization. 

‘Yes, there are kids that are suffering. But that’s not all they are. They are also amazing human beings,’ she stated 

‘Lots of TikTok users are young. I think they relate to me, also as a woman who is Black,’ she explained last year. 

And when it comes to the content she shares on TikTok and Instagram, she expressed that she likes to show hopeful videos of the children. 

‘Yes, there are kids that are suffering. But that’s not all they are. They are also amazing human beings.’ 

‘They make this amazing art. They love sports. They love to read. I show these other aspects that you wouldn’t typically see in a traditional African story of the poor child wanting help,’ Dora added.