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Update on Elizabeth, our teenage queen

We want to provide you with an update on Elizabeth. A beautiful girl who came into our care a few years ago. Her story is the stuff of nightmares. She has suffered unimaginable trauma and …

We want to provide you with an update on Elizabeth. A beautiful girl who came into our care a few years ago. Her story is the stuff of nightmares. She has suffered unimaginable trauma and abuse. Her road to recovery will be lifelong and we’re here for her every step of the way.

Warning: the content of this post may be triggering for some.

*Elizabeth’s Story

Elizabeth has lived a life not many of us could survive. It is a past which continues to haunt her and impact every aspect of her life today. She was prostituted for 10 years, until she came to us at 12 years old. Now at 19 years of age, she still suffers heavily from the trauma. While struggling with daily activities many of us take for granted, she can clearly recall the details of all the evil men that raped her. It is consuming. School is hard for her to manage and she believes her ‘job’ is to have sex with all men.

Elizabeth has been loved and cared for everyday since coming into the care of Rafiki Mwema. She is safe and supported. She has accessed therapy when available. However her road is difficult and complex. She has PTSD and the psychiatrist also diagnosed her with bi- polar. Her head simply can’t cope with the years of abuse she experienced. She is frightened and can act out when feeling threatened or not secure.

If we were not here for her she would have to go into a psychiatric ward which would be absolutely terrifying for her and very dangerous. To safely accomodate Elizabeth and provide for her needs, we built a small house for her and her carer on our land. This allows her to live her best life but still remain under our therapeutic care. The house was made possible by our incredible supporters who rallied together to support one of our most epic fundraising events to date – Trek for my Rafiki 2019 – which raised an amazing AUD $52k. With further support from our very own ambassador Constance Hall, we were able to make this dream come true in 2020 when we officially opened the doors to Elizabeth’s new home, ‘Āhuru Mōwai’ (a sheltered haven).

An update on Elizabeth

Elizabeth now lives in ‘Āhuru Mōwai’ full time, and is happy and proud of her home. She cleans the space and puts everything in order in her free time.

School also brings Elizabeth a lot of joy. She attends every day and when she arrives home she will run to the staff, small girls (and everyone else!) to greet them and share a story about her day. She speaks positively about her teachers and say they love her.

Elizabeth has been calm for the past few months and interacts well with the other girls and staff. She can get overwhelmed and have trouble regulating emotions, but also regularly shares her happiness by singing and dancing. Her health is good and she is receiving the help she needs.

We would like to thank you all for your continued support and interest in this update on Elizabeth. You have helped us provide her with a safe and secure home for life.

If you’re interested in supporting Rafiki Mwema as a Sponsor, we’d love to hear from you. More information can be found HERE.


*Name changed for privacy reasons.

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