Rafiki Mwema
Holding the hand of the future
We are so excited to have our CEO Sarah Rosborg and our dear friend and supporter Sonya Driver from Eco Tan be the cover gals on the June edition of the Holistic Bliss magazine 😱
“Featuring the incredible founders of Rafiki Mwema Anne-Marie Tipper and Sarah Rosborg and the philanthropic work of Sonya Driver, pioneer of Eco Tan.”
Enjoy and please share the FREE link below: https://issuu.com/nessfinn/docs/holistic_bliss_jun_vol_124
After a recent request about the desperation these children on the street have now because of Covid and because no shops or restaurants are open for them to get food scraps or to beg passers by for money. We were feeding them once a week on a Sunday but thanks to the generosity of those who donated we have been able to arrange to meet them everyday (a minimum of 70 kids each day) to feed them. EVERY DAY. They have made it clear that they see us arrive each day and feel ‘hope’.
A lot of you might remember how we were told to “stay away from these ‘street kids’ as they were violent and would kills us for less than a dollar” also that “They can’t be helped and no use wasting our time, money and resources on them” … well, something happened last week that made my heart break and repair all in one moment..
On one of our days of feeding, a few of the boys would take a plate and return back to us.. this happened days in a row. We asked the boys and as they are beginning to trust us, they told us where they had been taking this food. .. they were helping a young girl and a 4 month old baby who is living on the streets but in hiding and they had been taking food to them 😭 😭
We found the girl and asked the situation. She has been living in a room (pictured in the first picture) paid for by a ‘good samaritan’ who had decided he could no longer help so they stopped paying. The landlord then locked the girl and baby out of the room after to the rent was in arrears for 2 month. Leaving them no option but to live on the streets 😭
They had been living on the streets for 2 months when we found them the other day thanks to these boys. We agreed to pay the arrears on the room so we could get her in there to get her what items she owned. She was very grateful for that in itself but we did not feel comfortable leaving her in that room after the landlord has locked her out and it also leaked very heavily and it is rainy season. so we immediately got started on looking for a room nearby.
We found something that has no leaks, has electricity and is affordable for when she can take over paying the rent on her own. Thanks to an angel who most of you know as Grandma Kate Doyle (she purchased Doyle Farm for us🥰) we have been able to secure this rental, pay electricity in advance, purchase a new bed and all new bedding, bulk food, a gas cooker and all utensils items needed to cook, clothes for her and the baby.
To say she is overwhelmed would not even cover it. To be totally honest she is a little frightened.. a little frightened because she is wondering what we might want in return for this. She is in disbelief that someone would just do this for them to recieve nothing in return. We understand that and we will help her see that sometimes, just sometimes the world can be a beautiful place and she deserves all of these items for her and her baby.
We will let her settle in and once she is calm and understands that there is nothing we need from her our outreach team will start to work with her to see what kind of job she might like to do and we will do all we can to help her on that road of being self sufficient to look after her and her baby.
It’s nice to see a nice ending to such a sad situation.. there are so many that dont end like this. So many people need our help but we can only do what we can do with what we have. thank you for helping us do the work we do. Keep spreading the word and we will be able to help more people have endings like this.
There is nothing quite like messy play! We encourage our children at Rafiki Mwema to play as children. Enjoy their childhood!! Get dirty! There are so many benefits to messy play. Our founder Anne-Marie Tipper lets us know of a few of the reasons we encourage it and always will.
Messy Play inspires curiosity which allows them to explore and discover the world around them
(Taking in the wonder of the world and understanding who they are)
Messy play makes you smarter
(Dirty hands – smarter brain)
Messy play helps with future planning and problem solving
(If I can sort this dirt over here it will help me to knock the stones down!)
Messy Play builds self-confidence and self-esteem
(I did that all on my own – I feel good)
Messy play has no rules and promotes independent learning
(I love doing my own thing but I’m also happy when my sisters join me)
Messy play helps our children by stimulating their senses and helps with communication, social and emotional development as well as physical development
(Sometimes I feel left out and don’t say much but when we are rolling in the puddles my voice jumps out of me and I talk to my family. That feels nice)
Messy play is fun and creates independent and creative thinking
(Have I got enough dirt to fill this bucket)
Our children sensory seek, even as teenagers – and we encourage it for all the right reasons – they can share feelings or shock, and joy, even disgust, with their peers without fear of judgement, which helps them with their own emotional development
(I didn’t know sand and dirt felt almost the same and when you add water it gets so heavy! I learnt something new)
Messy Play brings a childhood to those who had it stolen
(I feel free and happy when I play like this. I don’t think about my worries)
A huge thank you to each of you who purchased one of our raffle tickets and also shared our posts to help us promote!
1st PRIZE WINNER
K. Banks
Ticket Number: #151
2nd PRIZE WINNER
J. Marquez
Ticket Number: #31
| Image | Prize Level | Description | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1st Prize | Purchase your ‘A PIECE OF AFRICA’ raffle ticket for a 1 in 300 chance to experience Kenya in all it’s glory. This 7-day Safari, brought to you by Tourica Tours will take you on an epic adventure through two of Kenya’s most renowned game parks.
You and a friend could be off to Kenya on an all inclusive 7 day Safari with Tourica Tours, simply by purchasing your raffle ticket for $100, you will not only go in the draw to win this amazing prize package but you will be contributing to Rafiki Mwema’s social enterprise program to create employment opportunities for our families and the community in Nakuru as well as vocational training programs and tackle poverty. This amazing prize package includes an all inclusive 7 day Safari including Maasai Mara and Amboseli for two as well as a $5,000 flight centre voucher to cover the flights for 2 to Kenya. We have extended our Raffle to 2nd May 2020 so you now have more time to get your tickets! |
$15,000.00 |
 |
2nd Prize | The runner up will be the lucky winner of a stunning custom painting from HIPPOCROCADUCK
Titled ‘Jasiri’ (Brave) this is a stunning artwork that resembles the strength and bravery our girls show us everyday. This painting is (1.3m x 90cm) and can be shipped anywhere in Australia to the lucky winner. |
$900.00 |
Do you remember the recent collaboration between us and Sienna Byron Bay? They launched the most gorgeous ‘Jamii Pack’ using 3 stunning colours taken from our branding.
They did a fantastic job of creating this gorgeous pack and they put so much work in to the entire campaign just so they could raise funds and awareness for us. They did just that and we are very excited to announce that they raised $3226.86 and it is sitting in our bank account ready to send to Kenya.
Thank you to Danielle and the amazing crew and community at Sienna for everything they have put into this campaign and for everyone who purchased these stunning colours. We are now completely sold out!!
Until the next collaboration! I love these amazing, creative people who think outside the box to support the work we do. Legends. all of you.
I received this update this morning from Kenya and it made me smile for so many reasons. I hope it gives you the same reaction this morning! Welcome to the family, Nice! 😬
Our cow gave birth to a female calf at the farm yesterday at around 0945Hrs. The children were very excited to see the cow which was very heavily loaded offloading her burden.😳
The children unanimously agreed on the preferable name to be given to the new calf. The sweet name was arrived at because of the following reasons:
-The calf is very beautiful, attractive and well decorated 🎀
-The calf was born at a time when people are stressed and have less hopes and worry about the spread of Covid-19, the coming of the calf gave them hopes of success and prosperity again 🕊️
-They are very happy since they will be getting additional litres of milk for their morning tea, a drink that our children love so much 🥛
-The birth of the calf has brought joy to them since it is an addition of a member of our family at RAFIKI MWEMA the number of the entire community has increased 🌐
-The birth of the calf came at the time when the rains are pouring down every day, the grass grows and the cows get their food easily and in plenty, so the mother of the calf will ever be satisfied and strong enough to feed the calf well 💪
Because of all this reasons that made her name to arrive at. The children therefore name her ‘’NICE’’ 😍👌🐮
