Letters for my Rafiki

There has been lots of change at our girls house with two of our little ones making the next step home. This is always an anxious time, despite all the months of preparation and planning. We have worked hard with our girls to prepare them for the task of giving evidence in court, that’s after being subjected often to intrusive medical procedures, following their abuse; we have connected and worked with the families and their communities to help them to manage the stigma that their families may encounter – because their baby girl was attacked and violated. Makes no sense for these beautiful baby girls and their families, they are innocent angels, how can they be rejected by the communities that need to protect them. We help change those thoughts.

After months, and in some cases years, of work our brave girls are ready. The staff have therapeutically parented them, their key worker has built connections and supported them through every step of the way. They have been to school (albeit sometimes on the floor of one of our bedrooms) and they are going.

The night before our little ones leave the girls and staff celebrate their time together. This can be very hard for both the girl leaving and those left behind. Friendships are challenged as the journey back to home begins.

But thats not the end. Our outreach team will be physically and emotionally supporting our girls until adulthood and beyond. We will check they are free from the risk of further sexual harm; we will check that our girls are not be marginalised; we make sure they will go to school. We will be their safety and their friend.

We can’t fight the poverty but we can fight for the rights of these babies. They are forever Rafiki.

Their lives are in the hands of their families, just as they should be. Their hearts are held close to ours; just as they should be

Thank you for all your support. We need you to like, comment, share and sponsor to help us bring the girls to a place of safety where they can stretch their damaged wings and fly off as whole as they can be.

So fly girls, back to the nest you came. You are home now and you can start to become the young woman you are destined to be.

We will miss you but we are proud.