#GivingTuesday Now for Rafiki Mwema
Tuesday 5th May, 2020
Even in times of crisis, we must come together to support the greater good, (though that may be coming together virtually for the time being). Thank you to our amazing Rafiki community, you enable us to continue to build and grow with your unwavering support.
We would like to rally our Rafiki community to come together for #GivingTuesdayNow to help us take care of our poorest outreach families.
With jobs scarce and food costs rising, the girls that spent time in the centre of our therapeutic programme are growing more and more scared daily.
"The world pandemic is bringing more than just the virus to our families. It is deepening their daily struggle to survive."
They are seeing their mothers, grandmothers, aunts - the very structures that have been so supported since they returned to their homes, having to make the choice to leave them unattended while they work wherever they can. This puts our already vulnerable girls at greater risk than ever.
Our outreach team phone and support as much as possible but they are deeply affected by the choices given to these families - stay and home and protect their babies or leave them unattended so they can earn a small amount of money so they can all survive. Not an easy option but the only one available to them
We would like to ask you to help us raise funds so we can remove the worry of feeding their families while lockdown, lack of jobs and high shopping costs continue.
A Rafiki child is for life
Here is our plan
We have put a target of $19,000 AUD on our fundraiser but as we know all too well the support needed in these communities is never ending. There are literally hundreds of families in our outreach alone and this does not even touch the children and adults who line our streets with no hope, no love, nothing.
We want to help these families survive this pandemic as safely as possible and build a future at the same time. We would like to be able to give them enough basic foods like maize, sugar and oil to survive but also to gift them the opportunity to run a small, safe business near their homes when this is over.
This small business can be anything from a charcoal business where they buy charcoal at a wholesale rate and then sell for a profit and continue this cycle to make money for their family. This would cost approx $50 AUD. For larger families who might have more skills we could purchase a sewing machine at approx $190 AUD, including materials, so they could mend and make clothes. Or start a food kiosk where we construct a simple structure to display grocery items to sell.
We have listed an assortment of business ideas below and we would work closely with the families to establish something that would work for them to suit their skills, location and family size.
from little things...big things grow
Business Possibilities
2,000 ksh / $30 aud
To start we would need to buy 2 sacks of charcoal @1500ksh each and about 10 tins for measuring @50ksh. A business that will have a market of buyers in all locations.
3,500 ksh / $50 aud
To start we would need to buy the raw materials enough for 40 litres of the liquid soap. Bottles for packaging can be collected from used water bottles which are locally available.
1,000 ksh / $15 aud
To start we would buy a variety of fruits - melon, pineapples, oranges and bananas. Then slice, put in a transparent bucket and sell within town or around estates.
2,700 ksh / $40 aud
To start we would construct a simple structure where grocery items could be sold. A small number of groceries would need to be purchased. Municipal levies will also apply.
12,000 ksh / $175 aud
Rearing chicken for meat and eggs. To start we would put up a structure to keep the chickens, purchase up to 10 chickens, and buy enough food to feed them for a minimum of 3 months.
13,000 ksh / $190 aud
A great business that would Involve making and repairing clothes. To start we would purchase a sewing machine, then materials for display, scissors, cotton, measuring tape etc.
Please share our important message!
We would love for you to print our downloadable poster, take an #UnSelfie and share it on social media with hashtag #GivingTuesdayNow & #RafikiMwema in the hope to spread the word about the important work we are doing and inspire them to support us as well!
Once you are done, put the poster up in your window for others to see when they are out on their walk. Social Distance safe message sharing!
