Women for Women in Africa

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BUILDING CAPACITY
DRIVING CHANGE and PROMOTING EQUITY. Where the sheer desperation for food and water leads to crime, prostitution, drugs and violence.

Women for Women in Africa (WFWIA) is an Australian-based, volunteer-run charity creating lasting change in Kibera—Africa’s largest slum—through the power of education and training. Imagine growing up in a place where over one million people live in an area that is 630 acres (the size of 10 MCG fields), where families of up to 10 people are crammed in to mud and tin huts with no running water, electricity or any type of a sewerage system. This place is called Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. You would imagine that in Kibera hopelessness prevails above all else in the minds of its inhabitants....but this is not the case. These are people who are full of the most heartwarming hope, strength and determination to do all they can do, and not only for themselves, but for their whole family, as they strive to move away from the slums of Kibera. People who, if they could just be offered that initial helping hand would make their own difference to the world. WFWIA provides this hand. As the organisation continues the grow it currently has 260 sponsored students who are guaranteed a primary, secondary and post secondary education, a growing number of students who are able to attend a newly built informal school on the edge of the slum; women from the slums are receiving skills training and hundreds of men, women and children have been assisted with medical care. WFWIA believes that it is not about pity, it’s about making a difference. For information on how to support this cause please go to the website or contact the organisations wonderful creator Marguerite Ryan at [email protected] or Michael Buckley at [email protected]. WFWIA is a Member of ACFID- a self-regulating body of Australian NFPs. We abide by the ACFID Code of Conduct, found at http://www.acfid.asn.au/code-of-conduct/code-of-conduct .

26/10/2026

22/10/2026

STILL RIDING THE HIGH FROM THE PLAY IT FORWARD GALA FUNDRAISER! ✨

We are still buzzing from such an incredible night! 🥂And because two posts just wasn’t enough, we’re sharing a few more special moments from an evening filled with generosity, good vibes, and people coming together for an amazing cause ❤️

An event like this doesn’t happen without a whole lot of heart, talent, and behind the scenes magic. So, we want to give a HUGE shoutout to the incredible people and businesses who generously donated their time, skills, and creativity to help bring the night to life!

A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING SUPPORTERS:
🎤 MC: Akec Makur Chuot  🎧 DJ: Stuey  🎶 WFWIA Ambassador and Entertainer: R U V A R A S H E  💃🏼 Performers: Stage School Australia
🌷Flowers: Wild Stems  📸 Photography: Declan Purvis from Declan Purvis 🎥 Videography: Consta Theoharis from Consta Creative  🔨 Live Auction: Phil De Fegely 📚Booklets & Marketing Collateral: Bite Visual Communications
🖨️ Printing: Dustin Pullin from MMP and Snap Printing Melbourne

To each and every one of you, THANK YOU! Your generosity, talent, and support helped make the Play It Forward Gala Fundraiser so special. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re so grateful to have such incredible people in our corner.

Here’s to the amazing memories made, the people who made it happen, and the good we can do when we come together!

15/10/2026

A little look back at Play It Forward 🎬

Some nights are worth reliving, and this is definitely one of them!

We are so excited to share this beautiful highlight video from our Play It Forward gala at the MCG, capturing some of the atmosphere, energy and special moments that made the evening so memorable.

A HUGE thank you to Consta Theoharris from Consta Creative who generously came on board and put his time, care and creativity into filming the evening and preparing this incredible video for us.

We hope you enjoy this little trip down memory lane as much as we do 💙

12/10/2026

WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY NIGHT!

Our biggest and most successful fundraising event ever!

On Friday 2 October, 415 guests came together at the iconic MCG for Play It Forward … Where Generosity Changes the Game.

And what a spectacular night it was!

An unforgettable celebration of generosity, friendship, shared purpose and the extraordinary power of people coming together to make a difference.

We are absolutely thrilled to share that, together, we raised an incredible $351,000! A record-breaking result for Women for Women in Africa! ❤️

To everyone who joined us, donated, bid generously in our auctions, sponsored a student, contributed a prize, volunteered, entertained or supported us in countless other ways, THANK YOU!

Your generosity reaches far beyond one remarkable evening. It will help create opportunities for children to access education, empower women with skills and pathways to independence, and bring hope to families living in Kibera.

Because when we come together, generosity becomes opportunity. And opportunity changes lives.

Thank you for helping us Play It Forward!

Photography from the very talented Declan Puvis Declan Purvis

01/10/2026

✨ The day we’ve all been waiting for is here! ✨

Tonight is the Women for Women in Africa Play It Forward Gala and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share this special evening with you!

One of the fabulous live auction items being offered tonight is an unforgettable 2-day King Island Fly Away experience for 6 people, valued at $11,000! ✈️🌿

Fly by private plane to discover King Island’s hidden coves, ancient calcified forest and dramatic seal rocks. Indulge in a crayfish lunch, enjoy a delicious dairy tasting, and unwind at a beautiful wilderness retreat, all accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide.

Pure wild beauty. Exceptional flavours. An experience you’ll never forget. 🦞

A huge thank you to Tony and Sandy Kirkhope from Australian Air Safaris for their incredibly generous donation. ❤️

01/10/2026

🏁 GET EXCITED! 🏁

We’re thrilled to reveal this incredible Live Auction item, going under the hammer at tomorrow’s Play It Forward Gala Fundraiser!

An exclusive Mercedes AMG Drive Day Experience for 12 Drivers, valued at $10,000!

Get ready for an unforgettable day of luxury, performance and stunning scenery!

The experience kicks off with a catered breakfast, before setting off along the beautiful roads of the Mornington Peninsula.

Along the way, drivers will have the opportunity to experience a selection of Mercedes-AMG performance vehicles, swapping between models and enjoying the ultimate driving experience.

And to top it all off, the day includes a hosted lunch at a premium Mornington Peninsula winery. 🍷

A truly spectacular prize and one you won’t want to miss!

Kindly donated by Joseph Haddad at Mercedes Waverley.

28/09/2026

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 🎉

The Women for Women in Africa Play It Forward Gala is this week, and we are SO excited to showcase our incredible major live auction prize!

A Luxury Kenyan Safari Experience for Two, valued at $46,000!

Journey into the wild heart of Africa on an extraordinary 11-day, 10-night luxury safari through Kenya’s most breathtaking landscapes.

From the elegance of Nairobi’s 5-star Serena Hotel to unforgettable encounters with lions, elephants and rhinos across Ol Pejeta, Samburu and the legendary Masai Mara, every moment promises adventure, wonder and once-in-a-lifetime memories.

✨ Sleep beneath star-filled skies in exclusive luxury tented camps
🐘 Track the Big Five at dawn and dusk
🌅 Explore some of Kenya’s most spectacular landscapes
🦒 Experience one of the world’s greatest wildlife destinations

This extraordinary prize has been generously donated by Richard Ruskin, a long-time supporter and Board Member of WFWIA and owner of African Travel Specialists

We can’t wait to see this incredible experience go under the hammer at the Gala! 🩷

24/09/2026

✨ ONE WEEK TO GO! ✨

The Women for Women Play It Forward Gala is just ONE week away and we are thrilled to announce that the event is officially SOLD OUT! 🎉

Can’t make it to the Gala but still want to support the cause? Or attending and want to get your bids in early? Our Galabid auction is now LIVE! 🥳

We have an incredible selection of prizes up for grabs, and we can’t wait for you to check them out 🛍️

Most importantly, 100% every dollar raised through the auction will go directly to supporting the opening of our new women’s training centre.

Your bids can make a real difference 💫

Head to the link in our bio on Instagram, or the link in the comments on Facebook, and let the bidding begin!

25/06/2026

Right now, women in Kibera are being forced to make impossible choices for their children.

They watch their homes being destroyed. And carry what they can, as they desperately search for somewhere safe to sleep.

Our centre has been inundated with requests for help, and so we have established an emergency relief fund to provide urgent practical support from women and children facing displacement.

Please donate to our Safe, Skilled and Strong Appeal (donate link in Instagram bio and Facebook comments).

Your gift will help women and children get the urgent support they need to stay safe and start again.

18/06/2026

Digital skills can open doors to study, work and independence. Help students in Kibera to keep learning through our ICT Youth Program.

Please donate to our Safe, Skilled and Strong Appeal (donate link in Instagram bio and in Facebook comments).

Your gift can help unlock a brighter future.

Address

PO Box 7373 Brighton
Melbourne, VIC
3186

Website

http://www.womenforwomeninafrica.org.au/

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