From very early days, Drawn Upon Graphic & Web Design have been supporting Rafiki Mwema.
Drawn Upon consists of husband and wife team Col and Victoria who are based in the Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia. They offer Graphic Design such as logos, branding, any type of print material, business cards and flyers, illustrated posters and product pattern design as well as Web Design primarily in WordPress.
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Q: What first drew you to volunteer with Rafiki Mwema?
Vic:
I connected with Sarah over a Facebook post back in 2013 when we were moving back to Australia from a stint in Sweden. We didn’t know each other but had a mutual Swedish friend (Sarah’s husband is Swedish) and I had an urge to comment on her post.
Some would call it fate. Some would call it my husband having done research on graphic designers in the local area we were moving to that he would be competing with, and me recognising her name.
But regardless of divine intervention Sarah could have dismissed my rather nerdy comment and moved on, but alas, she did not.
In fact, she said “Tell your husband to get in touch with me, I need help!” And I instantly loved her.
Col:
Gosh that was a while ago! Sounds about right, through my reaching out to local businesses we met Sarah and discovered Rafiki Mwema. Have been a part of the family ever since.
Q: Do you remember what stood out to you about our mission when you first connected with us?
Vic:
Col created some great logos for Sarah’s business Castle Design and as she got busier with Rafiki Mwema she also needed help in the web design department. I applied (read: begged and pleaded). Sarah warned me she was very pedantic and perfectionist and had trouble letting go of control, but in the end she decided to give me a chance and quickly realised I’m very much cut from the same cloth..
I heard a lot about Rafiki Mwema in those early days of working with Sarah as that was what took up all her time, and I remember just being so impressed with all of it. I have grown up with a mother heavily involved in Teachers without borders and international children’s charities, running fundraising stalls and giving a lot of her time.
This was a different type of engagement. With Rafiki Mwema you could physically see your impact. You knew what the money you raised went to build or support. It was exhilarating and hopeful and fantastic. And built by women! How could I not get involved??
Col:
I had always tried to help charities and not-for-profits where I could, working with Rafiki was the first time I felt like I was included in the team and became a permanent member. I appreciated Sarah’s honesty when it came to telling me what she wanted. Strangely, she has always seemed to love what I come up with. I realise now this is not an act, the boss lady knows what she wants.
Q: What made you say yes to supporting us with graphic design/web design?
Vic:
Sarah created all the initial assets. Logo, website, donor platform, the lot. When it came to the point of re-branding and getting everything visually aligned as well as functioning at a higher level she was drowning in admin work so she asked if Col wanted to take care of the re-brand.
Col:
I had heard so much about Rafiki Mwema from Vic, she was on the Board at that point. I was honoured to be asked, and I absolutely loved creating the initial brand that all the other Rafiki projects have spawned from. It’s a great feeling, being able to use your expertise to help a great cause. As you start to become involved you hear the stories of what is happening in Kenya and can’t help but be inspired by Sarah’s dedication to the children.
Vic:
Once the branding was finished we moved onto the website and at this point I guess I had proven myself worthy with all the Castle Design websites as Sarah asked me if I wanted to take it on. And of course I did! I echo Col’s sentiment in that it’s a really special feeling to be able to use your force for good. The bottom line is that we both feel really valued, we can see the impact our work is having in real time – something that is rare in volunteer charity work – and it’s a down to earth, grassroots, completely corruption free environment.
Q: You’ve supported Rafiki over the years, what has kept you connected to us?
Vic:
I stepped down from the Board once we had more experienced and competent people on board, but my support has never wavered. It’s the fight of the underdog. It’s the honest, true work in a capitalistic world that will bend for power and money. Rafiki Mwema will never bend. It’s knowing without a doubt that what you’re being told is true, that the money raised goes to where the charity says it will go, the transparency and the belief in the work. The care and love for these forgotten children who were born into a world not of their choosing.
Col:
Sarah won’t let me leave! As Vic says, Rafiki Mwema is special in that all the money raised goes to the cause. Seeing that genuine care for the children and desire to change things is all you need to remain a supporter. You know your efforts are making a difference.
Q: In a world where everyone is busy, why has volunteering with Rafiki remained important to you?
Vic:
To be honest, I would rather spend my time doing volunteer and charity work than paid work! To me, this is more “real” than any project I take on in my business. These are children suffering and my work can help their lives in a tangible way. I mostly work with small businesses who have a real heart and community spirit as well, but there is something urgent and REAL in the feeling of doing work for Rafiki Mwema.
Col:
It’s a chance to use your skills to help others. Designing is mostly used to promote a business and to help that business make money. Working with Rafiki has a different feeling behind it and it’s always a pleasure.
It’s been a highlight to watch a small charity based in Lennox Head, Australia grow and make such a difference in the lives of kids on the other side of the world. Also seeing the willingness of ordinary people as well as publicly known people to donate their time and money.
Q: Has there been a moment, project, or story that made your involvement feel especially meaningful?
Vic:
Back in the early days of Rafiki when my Web Design business was called Reindeer Riot I did a fundraiser for a basketball hoop and the kids made a big Thank You sign. It made me cry big ugly tears and totally cemented my commitment to Rafiki Mwema.
Col:
Seeing the purchase of Doyle Farm was a highlight. Giving Rafiki Mwema a spiritual and physical home. Also seeing such genuine care for the children once they are grown and ready to leave, they aren’t just sent back to the world, there’s a process to ensure it all goes smoothly. Lastly, the real change that Rafiki has managed to achieve in relation to the court system in Kenya through the use of camera link testimonies by the children.
On a personal level, it’s been a highlight being invited to the kick ass fundraising parties Rafiki has put on over the years! Also, having a lot of creative control through the trust that Sarah has in me is pretty special and makes me feel like I play a small part in this amazing organisation’s success.
Q: Looking back at the logos, graphics, or web work you’ve created for Rafiki, is there a project that stands out to you most and why?
Col:
Ah that’s hard, there’s been plenty of design done over the years. Honestly, each new project working with Sarah is enjoyable and exciting so it’s hard for me to choose one in particular. I LOVE designing t-shirts so they are always a favourite, it’s good to know that a drawing I create can be used to raise funds. Drawing the Doyle Farm map was a great project and took a lot of time.
Vic:
It was very special for me to be trusted with the new website build a few years back with design help from Barefruit Marketing. I’m still working on the website daily updating design and functionality. I love having Col there if I need any graphic design elements or help with anything Photoshop/Creative Suite.
Q: What do you hope people feel when they see the branding or designs you’ve created for Rafiki?
Col:
I hope they see a professionally branded charity that takes its cause very seriously but doesn’t take its branding too seriously. Designing collateral for a charity dealing with this specific type of trauma happening to often very young children is a delicate balancing act between representing the innocent youthfulness of the children and portraying an organisation that is not afraid to pursue and stand up to these predators. We want the children to feel part of Rafiki Mwema and be proud of being part of the Rafiki Family, and my first thought is always “Would the kids like this?” Only after that threshold has been crossed will I think about traditional and more corporate design principles and try to find a middle ground.
It’s always a process to design any of the event collateral for Rafiki. Trying to encourage people to come to an event to have a fun filled night, but at the same time deal with the reality of what they are supporting is complicated. The things Rafiki is saving these kids from are so very dark but the results are so joyous. It’s a real tug of war for the emotions but can also be a satisfying challenge for a designer.
I try to focus my design on appealing to people’s inherent humanity and desire to help others but at the same time portraying who they are helping. We all grew up with pictures of starving African children on TV and at Rafiki we have always tried to show the joy of the children who become part of Rafiki Mwema.
Q: How does it feel knowing your creative work has helped share Rafiki’s story and mission with others?
Col:
I hope it has, but there’s always more to do and I’m here for it. Of course it feels good to know I have helped in some way, but the real impetus lies with Sarah and the Kenyan team and all they do. It’s satisfying knowing that the professionals are coming up with the fundraising ideas and the new programs at Rafiki, and I get to be part of bringing it to life visually.
Visual design is the language that cuts through and defines how a business or organisation communicates. In my projects, I get to develop the personality of a brand and this is often the first point of contact that people have, so it’s vital that we produce engaging materials that tell the story you’re trying to get across.
To know that my volunteer design work has made a difference to an organisation helping people who can’t access support is very humbling. Using your skills to help others is where true happiness is found. Helping the helpless makes it even more special. When you hear the stories about the kids’ reactions to what people a million miles away in Australia have done for them it’s hard to worry about the cost of petrol or a takeaway coffee…
Q: What have you learned through volunteering for Rafiki, has it changed you in any way and what would you say to other creatives pondering supporting a cause?
Col:
I have learnt many things in the past decade but my favourite is that there are no meerkats in Kenya! (Which sucks because they are so fun to draw!)
Being involved with Rafiki Mwema has made me more aware of my privilege and makes me appreciate my life and my family every day. Sarah is an inspirational human, but don’t tell her I said that… Seeing someone devote themselves to others and not stay silent when she sees wrongs makes it impossible to not be affected. It’s a reminder that the world doesn’t revolve around us and our day-to-day issues. There are always people doing it so much tougher, and when those people are tiny little kids who need someone to stand up for them you just have to jump in and help in any way you can.
My advice to fellow creatives would be: Stop thinking about it and reach out to a charity. It’s a great way to become involved with something and meet new people. Turns out it also makes you feel good about yourself and what you’ve chosen as your career whilst using your skills to make the difference in the life of someone less fortunate. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a role within an organisation, you could just design something that can be used on products to help raise funds for that cause. If you’re starting out it’s a great way to build a portfolio, gather testimonials, and build a network of contacts to build on.
