FRIDAY NIGHT
On Friday night I posted this update on Facebook after getting news from Kenya that our little one ran out of court crying and was unable to testify against her rapist. I had a plan but I need to put it into place before I told anyone my thoughts..
This was my most commented on/liked photo on instagram EVER. It obviously affected many people.
SATURDAY LUNCH TIME..
So on Saturday I started early to work on a campaign to help her. What could we do collectively that would make a difference. So many people wanted to help but they didn’t know how. I reached out on facebook with my idea..
Some of you may have followed the story of our smallest girl who has had to attend court recently to face her defiler.
Yes, I know. It’s ridiculous that a THREE year old should have to come FACE TO FACE with the monster that raped them. It’s unbelievable that this monster should also be able to interrogate them as well. But it happens and this is just the way it is in Kenya.
This is why, 2 years ago, we raised funds and installed the very first video link in Kenya! (See information on this here)
But unfortunately there are more than 1 courthouse in our area and not all of our children go to this main court where we have the video link. We have wanted to put video links in all of our surrounding courts but our lack of funds has stopped us.
Our sweet baby has had to attend this court 2 times so far to face this ‘man’ and both times she has not been able to testify because of her fear. Now this is happening, I am ANGRY. I am FURIOUS. How dare he? Re-Traumatise this little girl over and over again in the hope she will not testify so he can walk free to do it again? NO WAY.
We all say ‘how awful, how can this happen, what can I do etc etc’ I have something you can do. I want to raise enough funds to get a video link into this courthouse (safe/soundproof room with TV screen and all sound equipment/video camera in room and in courthouse with screens etc so they NEVER have to face them again) and installed and working in time for her next court hearing in ONE month. To do this I need to raise the funds ASAP and get started on the installation because if you have been to Kenya you know things happen a little slower than is ideal.
What do I need? I need $20,000 AUD and I have pledged to not sleep until this happens. Let’s show our Rafiki we are behind her.. and not just her, the hundreds of others who will utilise this video link in the future. Let’s get angry and let’s do something together.
#WEAREWITHYOURAFIKI
#GETANGRY
#RAFIKILINK
👇🖤 Donate here. Tax deductible in Australia🙏
SATURDAY NIGHT
and people started responding and donating in record time. I spent the night sharing this post everywhere I could and replying to as many comments as I possibly could.. I was overwhelmed with the response. I tried to stay awake! I was able to make it till 3am and we were sitting at approx $15K when I closed my eyes..
SUNDAY!
and by Sunday my idea that was born from a deep anxiety and anger was becoming a reality!
This morning we had written this to urge you all to donate to our latest campaign.. we were finding the right words to explain to you the importance of what we are doing.
Just as I was about to post it, my friend messaged me and congratulated me on reaching the target! (I had NO IDEA) Someone donated a whopping $4,800 to bring us up the goal and people are continuing to donate.
The campaign will remain open for 28 days when it is automatically shut down. Whatever excess funds we get exceeding the target we will put towards the lawyer fees for this case. We want to hire the best of the best to make bring this man to justice. A life in prison living in the hell he deserves.
I will still share the words we were going to post so you can see the importance of what WE ALL have just achieved.. TOGETHER. WE DID IT 🙏🖤
If you have ever thought about donating to anything and wondered when to do it, the time is now.
These babies, these small innocent little children, should never ever have to face the perpetrator in the way all Kenyan children do. If you gave even the cost of a cup of coffee today, we can make sure that these babies are protected from the trauma of facing their abuser.
In my life I’ve seen some pretty hard things, I’ve shared stories with children that would break your heart, I’ve listened to the sounds of our babies puking as they relive the fear of what happened to them. But never ever ever will I forget the extreme reaction to one of our baby boys having to tell his story in front of his abuser. His rapist who stole his childhood and loved every moment of hearing it told back to him, while boring into the head of our boy. This brave bared his soul to get this man sent to prison for life. But the cost to him was enormous.
10 years later he still paying the price for having to speak in court. For him to face the abuser. For having to tell his story publicly. He speaks so clearly, so eloquently, about how the abuse he can make sense of, but never ever having to be standing as if naked in court, to hear the most intimate details of his abuse shared out loud. To have to relate his story, to be questioned by this vile evil Paedophile; that’s what keeps him awake at night. That’s what stops him from moving on 10 years later.
You can change that. So many of you already have, and for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are helping us to make the biggest difference to victims of horrific abuse, not just our children, but everyone that goes to that court who is vulnerable will have safety thanks to you.
Please, I’m literally begging you, if you want to make a difference you can do it today. We are so close to our target, but we need to get there. We need to raise that money and more so we can change the future of our babies who have already been to hell. Please, please don’t make us take them back there.
Give them a chance of making sense of what happened to them and donate today
