Rafiki Mwema

Holding the hand of the future

sarah

Our Christmas Party at the Farm

On Wednesday we had our Christmas party. What an amazing day it was!

We started off with games where we had egg and spoon races, sack races and tug-of-war! It was such amazing fun. We put our children into mixed teams of small girl small boys big girls big boys and staff and they all competed against each other. Everyone that took part in every single race was given a chocolate medal. I think that might of been the highlight of the races.

We then had the most amazing lunch cooked by a chef from a local restaurant, who supports us in all our functions. It was beautiful as usual, and the children were still full way into the evening so they couldn’t eat anything more!!

Mind you, that might have a little bit to do with the ice cream and candy floss! We went FOUR times over our budget for ice cream!! How can you say no to the most adorable children on the planet when they say just one more!

We spent the afternoon and evening dancing dancing and more dancing. It was so lovely, so family, and everything we needed was there within our family.

Thank you to everyone who made this day possible. In the lives of such traumatised and neglected children, these days live on forever in their memories. These days remind them just how much people outside of our farm love and think about them.

You change lives. Thank you

Sydney to Hobart for Kids in Kenya

Two Lennox Head mums with very different backgrounds are set to compete in the 75th  Sydney to Hobart race to raise awareness and funds for Lennox-based children’s charity, Rafiki Mwema, proving it is never too late to follow your dreams, whilst standing up for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

This duo is something of an unusual combination for this kind of event, consisting of well-known travel blogger Clare Southwell and Aussie stuntwoman Marese Emanuel.

Clare is the founder of online community, Take Me To Australia and was an established dinghy sailor in her younger years. After competing around the world and sailing with two times Olympian Sarah Ayton, she left the sport behind in her early twenties – a reluctant side effect of not quite making it to the top like her compatriot.

Years later and with ego aside, Clare made a comeback to sailing in early 2019, sailing in her first off-shore racing series on a large yacht based at Southport Yacht Club, and getting back into regular dinghy racing on 15ft skiff. But it was a chance trip to Hobart that landed her a place in the Sydney to Hobart.

Clare said;

“During a trip to Tassie, one of my good friends was staying on ‘Magic Miles,’ a 62 ft Hobart yacht. One evening we arranged a leisurely sail with the skipper. I took the helm and memories came flooding back. That’s when I knew I couldn’t live without sailing any longer. After sailing the boat that evening, the crew told me to stay in touch and see how I went during the year.

The day I returned home I was making enquiries about how I could join a crew in Southport, the closest yacht club to my hometown of Lennox Head. Six months later I got a call asking me how my sailing was going and to see if I’d like to sail in the Sydney to Hobart. I’ve never been so excited or scared about anything in my life. I know how dangerous and unpredictable the Sydney to Hobart can be, but something instinctively told me that I needed to do it, and do it for a bloody good reason”

It was Clare’s friend Marese Emanuel, an established stuntwoman, doubling for some of Australia’s most well-known actresses, staying on ‘Magic Miles’ that evening and she didn’t hesitate when Clare asked her to start training to accompany her on this venture of a lifetime.

Whilst the vast majority of the crew are highly experienced sailors, many of them competing in multiple Sydney to Hobart’s and international races, the skipper was keen to bring a balance to their usual all male crew.

Magic Miles skipper said;

“This year is a very special race. The 75th year of one of the toughest offshore races on the international calendar and the fourth Sydney to Hobart for Magic Miles. We are there to finish safely and enjoy a very special experience with a good team. These two women bring very different experiences and skills to the boat and we’ve no doubt that they will be a great asset. It’s an exciting year to be taking part.”

Clare added;

“My biggest concern is the lack of sleep, with 3 to 4-hour rotations. I don’t think anyone finds that easy. In saying that, I’m absolutely determined to take this on. I really believe that it’s never too late to do what you love. Both Rese and I are mums to young kids and would love them to see us leading by example. Hopefully one day they will do the same and chase their own dreams without age, anyone or anything stopping them.”

The two women have embarked on a hardcore preparation program including the offshore/Category 1 Survival and Sea Safety course, numerous offshore races including Hamilton Island Race Week, different practice legs prior to the race, and a vigorous mental and physical regime to prepare them for any eventuality. They are both very aware that they need to complement the highly experienced team and make safety an absolute priority.

It goes further than Sydney and Hobart…

With the aim of highlighting that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, and empowering young girls to strive for their goals no matter how big they are, the two women will be raising funds for Rafiki Mwema; a charity that  provides safe and therapeutic homes for young children in Kenya who have suffered horrific abuse. Rafiki Mwema was recently recognised for their life changing efforts by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The funds raised will help to provide the young girls who are ready to leave the homes, with tools and training to pursue a career of their choice. By establishing a stable job, it will allow the girls to safely rent a home away from their abusers and to maintain a level of income that will support them safely into the future.

You can make support the women’s fundraising efforts here:

We look forward to seeing Clare and Marese leave the shores of Sydney on Boxing Day and arrive safely for the New Year celebrations in Hobart.

Trauma training with our local court

Trauma training with our local court

To sit in front of a room full of prosecutors from the Nakuru courts was one of the most exciting trainings I think we have ever done. We talked about attachment and trauma and linked it to how that might look in the courtroom, with victims who come before the magistrates.

Everyone in the room was fully engaged, they asked very relevant questions, and we were able to help them to understand some of the complex behaviours that are presented before them. One of the questions was about children who smile and seem to be very friendly with the person that violated them. We were able to help them understand, that what they were showing was total fear of the person that abuse them. They felt they needed to keep that person on side in case they weren’t sent to prison, and were able to carry out threats they may have made, about killing them and their families. This felt highly useful to the prosecutors, who often perplexed by smiling children, when there was alleged sexual abuse.

So much excitement from this training.

Trauma training with our local court

Lots more work to do, around supporting the team that we met the last two days, and the fact that every single day in their life they listen to and fight for victims of abuse and trauma. They don’t have the opportunity to process this information before they’re back in court again with another new case.

I would like to personally thank Peter and Eric for their amazing contributions to this training. Eric‘s knowledge of the courts and the way that are girls presenting court was absolutely essential. Peters insight into what a child with trauma feels when they’re standing in front of adults who are claiming to want to help you. He talked about how when he’s asked questions his brain literally goes into freeze. This means he cannot even hear what is being said to him. He explained that children in court will literally shut down, and will look like they are disrespectful and not listening. he helped the whole room to understand that these children are in protection mode, and are fighting to save themselves. Literally fighting for survival so they shut down their brain.

I truly believe that this training is invaluable and has had a lifelong Impact to the professionals that attended.

Thank you so much to everyone from Rafiki Mwema who helped to make this possible