With so much heartache and tragedy going on in the world sometimes we are compelled to help any way we can.
Majority of us are unable to strap on a back pack and fly to war torn countries to hand out hygiene packs or take a month off and go and volunteer in a far flung orphanage, so we help in the only viable way we can – by donating to charity.
Whilst all donations to charities are worthy, and whatever funds make it to their destination are a great help, often the question rises as to where the money actually goes.
The well-known charities are transparent about the allocation of their funds and there is no secret that the larger the organisation, the more money goes to running the business.
Rafiki Mwema translates to “loyal friend” and as the Kenyan therapeutic safe-house that is saving the lives of girls, as young as 18 months-old, who are the victims of horrific sexual crimes it rings true to its name.
The British founder of the safe-house, Anne-Marie Tipper, and all of the administration staff work voluntarily to ensure that 100% of the funds go the girls and the running of the safe house. Run remotely from both Australia and the UK whenever the team fly to oversee their girls they pay for their own flights.
“Until recently the costs of running Rafiki Mwema have been covered entirely by us, however the bank fees, postage and creating merchandise made this model unsustainable,” says Rafiki Mwema CEO, Sarah Rosborg.
“To cover these costs we recently created a small range of Rafiki branded merchandise, and the sales of these helps us to cover some of these costs.
“The main thing we want people to know is that 100% of donations and profits go to the running costs of the house. Not 50% or 75% as with some other charities, but the whole 100% goes directly to where it is needed most – straight from you to our girls.”
Some of the Rafiki Mwema girls are the victims of their parents who sold them into prostitution, and some of them are victims of an uneducated community that believes that sex with a virgin can cure HIV, but all of these girls are victims are horrors that should never be faced by anyone, let alone children so young.
Rafiki Mwema provides a safe environment that enables the girls to heal both physically and mentally, and a place where they can learn that they have worth and deserve more than a life of violence and pain.
Donate to Rafiki Mwema now and know all of your donations goes exactly where it’s needed.
The money is spent on getting the medical help required after their abuse, putting them through the court system in an effort to bring justice, to put them through school in order to try and break the poverty cycle, and general day to day care of the 26 girls.
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