Support 2000 adolescents holistically in Kenya

Hi, my name is Camilla Wirseen and I am the founder of an organization called The Cup Foundation and the initiator of a holistic methodology that is targeting underprivileged adolescent girls and boys called Rafiki.

It all started when I learned that 15 - 30 % percentage of girls were having transactional sex for sanitary pads. At the time, I was working in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya implementing an innovative sanitation solution in 2012.

The reason for this wasn't only only because the young girls lacked money, but also because they were afraid and too ashamed to tell their parents, teachers or other adults about their need. Some hadn't even told their mother about their menarche. This also affected their school attendance. We now know that 25% of young girls miss school because of their period.

Then I then came to learn that many teenagers were carrying other terrible and heavy secrets alone - including boys - that they had a lot of questions about basic sexual knowledge that put them at risk for early teenage pregnancy, HIV/Aids and becoming a school dropout.

To overcome this gap in communication the Rafiki method recruits young adults, 20 - 26 year olds to become ‘peer’ supporters for these younger kids. Closer to the age of those they work with, the Rafiki recruits become role models and understanding nurturers, as they have more in common and are closer in age to those they help. They understand the children's world and situations they find themselves in.

Volunteers are trained during a three day workshop where they are given simple tools on how to reach out and connect with the children. This program is a support and prevention initiative (where trainees are give the information that can prevent things from happening and how to offer support if for example, the children need professional help, medical care and/or counselling etc).

This workshop has been implemented successfully in different countries in Africa and has now reached more than 30 000 children in Kenya. This simple method is based on trust and the peer education philosophy making children feel they are in a safe space and that it’s Ok to reach out for information and support. The program is long term, meaning that the Rafiki trainers return to check on how the children are doing.

In 2021 four grassroots organisations from different parts of Kenya joined Rafki Network for Change which is aimed at promoting and scaling the Rafki concept.

Each organization’s team members have been trained in a ‘Train the Trainer’ workshop except for Samba Sports Youth Agenda, which is led and founded by a charismatic man called Mohamed Ali Mwachausa who holds a Masters Degree in Project Planning and Management. Mohamed leads a team of 64 volunteers whose focus is on children living in the coastal region of Kenya, called Kwale.

The crowd funds will be used to run a new training workshop in Ukunda Kenya. During this three day workshop, 25 new Rafikis, both young men and women, will be trained and 1000 menstrual cups will be donated and distributed to girls in the area ensuring they can finish and focus on school. Each trainer has the possibility to reach 200 boys and girls each in one year adding up to as many as 5000 altogether.

During the workshop the four founding members of the Rafiki Network for Change and I will meet to discuss how to further scale and create awareness of the Rafiki concept. Together we will also finalize a manual for the Trainer to Trainer Workshop so it can be duplicated and more organisations reached with this simple and effective child support and prevention program.

The 3000 USD will be used for food etc for the 30 participants during three days, transport and hotel for a few participants and transport costs of 1000 menstrual cups from Sweden to Kenya.