Building the future
Jasiri Rafiki School
Jasiri Rafiki (translated to ‘Brave Friend’) School, a beacon of hope and education nestled within the heart of Rafiki Mwema.
A future full of promise
Jasiri Rafiki School was founded with a simple belief: Every child deserves an education.
Over time we’ve learned something equally important – true healing happens when children are woven back into their communities, not separated from them.
That’s why Jasiri Rafiki School today serves a very specific and intentional purpose. To support children’s education through their healing stages with the goal to re-integrate them into their community.
Read A Future Full of Promise blogLove learning
A symbol of empowerment and opportunity
Before the establishment of Jasiri Rafiki School, our girls received their education in makeshift classrooms within our therapeutic houses. Despite the limitations, their determination to learn never wavered. With the generous support of our donors we were able to turn our vision into reality.
Today, Jasiri Rafiki School stands as a symbol of empowerment and opportunity. We are able to provide a nurturing environment for our students to thrive.
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We believe in community integration rather than being isolated on Doyle Farm. It’s always better for the children to return to their community as soon as they are able and it’s safe for them to do so. Every decision we make is oriented toward one goal: giving each child the best possible chance at a full, connected life in their community.
Jasiri Rafiki School is designed to be a bridge, not a destination.
Girls in active court cases
When a girl is involved in an ongoing court case and her safety is at risk, she studies with us at Jasiri Rafiki. She receives a safe, stable education until it’s safe for her to transition to a community school.
Young children
When girls are simply too young for community school, Jasiri Rafiki is their home base until they’re ready to go off into the wide world on their own.
Boys in early recovery
When boys first come to Rafiki and are still recovering from drug dependency, they’re not always ready to step into a community school environment where temptation is prevalent and constant.
Jasiri Rafiki gives them the time and space they need before making that transition.
“Education is not just about academics; it’s about fostering resilience, healing, and community integration.”
What happens at Jasiri Rafiki School
Jasiri Rafiki is more than the sum of its concrete parts – it’s a place of learning, healing, and growth across many areas necessary for a successful Kenyan life.
We utilise the school for many different purposes apart from traditional schooling. It houses a Sewing Room, Play Therapy Room, Computer Room, Music Room and Staff Hub.
Sewing room
Sewing, shoe mending & vocational training
Our sewing room is a hub of skills and creativity. Led by the irreplaceable staff member we affectionately call Saint Veronica, this space is where clothing and shoe repairs are done, and where real confidence is built.
Real life skills are taught to prepare children for work as a seamstress or cobbler, or just for skills to keep in their back pocket to make life easier as they raise their own families.
We are so fortunate to have been gifted a sewing machine and a cobbler machine from Create Care Global.
“The magic of this machine goes far beyond repairs. It has sparked a passion for tailoring among our children, both boys and girls. Every evening after school and on weekends, Veronica’s small sewing space is filled with eager young learners. They gather around to learn how to measure, cut, and stitch, picking up valuable skills that could shape their future. For children who have faced unimaginable hardships, these moments of creativity and learning are deeply empowering.
This sewing machine was made possible through Create Care Global’s campaign, “A Stitch in Time…Saves a Future”, which was run on Chuffed. It was heartwarming to see the donations roll in, proving that even in difficult times, people still come together to make a difference.”
Play Therapy Room
Healing for children looks like play
Our dedicated therapy room is equipped with toys and resources designed for play-based therapy, giving children a safe space to process their experiences.
Play is vital to every child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and language development. It helps all children and young people including those for whom verbal communication may be difficult.
Play Therapy can help children in a variety of ways. Children receive emotional support and can learn to understand more about their own feelings and thoughts. Sometimes they may re-enact or play out traumatic or difficult life experiences in order to make sense of their past and cope better with their future. Children may also learn to manage relationships and conflicts in more appropriate ways.
In Play Therapy children have an opportunity to understand their lives through play.
By using various media (sand, paint, small world play, puppets, clay, music, drama, storytelling and movement) children begin to understand muddled feelings and upsetting events that they haven’t had the chance to sort out properly.
Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, as adult therapy usually expects, children use play to communicate at their own level and at their own pace.
Digital skills
Computer room
In 2023 we received a generous donation from The Greenlight Foundation which allowed us to purchase computer equipment and supplies for Jasiri Rafiki, making a huge impact by giving our children access to technology and digital skills.
Children use our computer room to complete homework, pursue further studies, and build digital skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Read Facebook postMusic Room
A space for joy, expression, and creativity
Purchasing musical instruments has been a dream beyond our reach as we struggle with meeting our basic running costs every month.
Thanks to the generosity of a Christmas Angel in 2023, we were able to fulfil the dream of having musical instruments of our own at Rafiki.
From semi-acoustic guitars to a keyboard, electric guitar, mixer, speakers, and microphones, our music room boasts a vibrant array of tools to nurture the natural talents of our children.
Staff Hub
Meeting room
Jasiri Rafiki also serves as the heartbeat of our wider team – all staff meetings are held here, keeping us connected and coordinated.
Meet our amazing Kenyan StaffTogether we stand as brave friends, united in our commitment to nurturing hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
As our students progress through their journey of healing and justice, Jasiri Rafiki School remains a constant source of support and empowerment. We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to making this dream a reality, enabling us to provide a brighter future for the courageous young souls who walk through our doors.
The building of Jasiri Rafiki School
