Rafiki Thabo Foundation

04/09/2026

Are you on our mailing list yet? 📩

Once a month, we bring the latest from Rafiki Thabo Foundation straight to your inbox – from the stories of the scholars and young people we support, to project updates, fundraising & events, latest news, ways you can get involved and more.

It's a great way to stay connected to our work and see the difference your support is helping to make across Kenya, Uganda and Lesotho.

Join our mailing list today and make sure you don't miss our next update.

👉 Sign up by clicking this link - https://rafiki-foundation.org.uk/never-miss-an-update-from-rafiki-thabo/

02/09/2026

🎒 September means back to school for millions of children. But education doesn't always happen in a classroom. Sometimes, learning a new skill can open the door to independence, income and a very different future.

That's why we're delighted to announce our new partnership with LIFE SKILLS OASIS GROUP (LSO) in Kenya - and our first project together is already underway.

LSO supports street-connected and other acutely vulnerable children, young people living with disabilities and their families in Kiandutu, Thika.

Together, we're establishing a new skills training centre where the first cohort of 30 youth and mothers of children with disabilities will learn practical skills including hairdressing, tailoring or knitting, alongside life skills training.

For mothers caring for children with additional needs, traditional employment isn't always accessible. These skills can create opportunities for flexible, home-based self-employment, helping women generate an income while continuing to care for their children.

And there's something else that makes this project particularly exciting...the first cohort will be trained not only to use their new skills, but to train others 🌱

By us funding this initial round, the centre can also qualify for government trainers in the future, helping create a model that can become increasingly self-sustaining.

Thanks to an incredible legacy donation we received earlier this year, we've already funded the equipment needed to get the centre started. The next stage will be supporting the trainers and supervising social worker for the first eight-month programme.

What begins with 30 women and youth has the potential to create opportunities for many more.

💙 Read the full story and discover more about our new partnership with Life Skills Oasis: https://rafiki-foundation.org.uk/how-a-new-skills-training-centre-is-opening-doors-for-young-people-and-mothers-in-kenya/

31/08/2026

Potential shouldn't be limited by poverty but in Kenya, around 1.4 million children remain out of secondary school because of it.

Amani could have been one of them.

While in Form Four at school, she was forced to drop out of because she could no longer afford the fees. Instead of completing her education, Amani began working as a house help to support herself.

But she hadn't stopped dreaming of a different future.

After hearing about Rafiki Thabo Foundation through her church, Amani applied for a scholarship and, in 2024, was accepted onto our programme.

With our support, she was able to return to school.

In late 2025, Amani sat her KCSE exams, completing the secondary education she had once been forced to leave behind.

And she didn't just complete it.

She achieved the grades she needed to secure a place at university. 🎓

This September, Amani will begin studying for a Bachelor of Education in Arts, taking another huge step towards the future she had hoped for.

Without financial support, Amani would still be working as a house help, without having completed secondary school or having the opportunity to pursue her dream of going to university.

Her ability was never the barrier. Access to education was.

Thanks to our supporters, Amani was given the opportunity to return to the classroom and show exactly what she was capable of.

Now, she's off to university.

If you'd like to help more young people like Amani overcome financial barriers and fulfil their potential through education, we'd love your support.

Find out more and donate today - https://rafiki-foundation.org.uk/donate/

28/08/2026

🏅 Ever dreamed of running the Berlin or Dublin Marathons?

We've got some exciting news...

For the first time, Rafiki Thabo Foundation has secured a limited number of charity places in the 2027 BMW Berlin Marathon and 2027 Irish Life Dublin Marathon though our partners at Realbuzz.

Whether you're chasing a personal best, taking on your first marathon or looking for a challenge with real purpose, this could be your chance to run for something bigger than the finish line.

Every mile you run will help remove barriers to education for children and young people across Kenya, Uganda and Lesotho, giving them the opportunity to build brighter futures.

We'll officially open applications after this year's marathon season, but with only a handful of places available, we wanted to give you an early heads-up.

🏃 Interested?

Comment RUN in the comments below and we'll make sure you're one of the first to hear when applications open. Or e-mail your interest to [email protected] and start telling us why one of these places should have your name on it!

Who knows... this time next year, you could be preparing to stand on the start line in Berlin or Dublin, changing lives one mile at a time. 💛

26/08/2026

Reliable access to clean water is essential for every school 💧

At ACK St. Bartholomew's School in Kenya, securing a sustainable water supply has been an ongoing challenge. But together, we're helping to change that.

At Rafiki Thabo Foundation, we believe education is about more than paying school fees. It's about creating safe, healthy learning environments where children can thrive.

When the school first opened, a borehole was drilled, but the water proved too saline for drinking or cooking. It also isn't suitable for cleaning, damaging buildings and equipment, and clogging toilets, showers and science laboratory taps. The mains water supply is also unreliable, and with rainfall becoming less predictable in drought-affected Voi, finding a long-term solution has been a priority.

Working alongside local school leaders, we've explored several options to improve water access. Last year, we funded repairs to the school's toilets, showers and science laboratory taps, restoring hygiene and allowing practical science lessons to resume.

This year, we're funding major repairs to the underground water storage tank. The project began with a planning meeting between Bishop Liverson, Chair of our Kenya Committee, and the engineer leading the works.

Our Programme Support Officer, Meshack – himself a former student at the school – regularly visits the site to monitor progress and keep us updated. The next stage will improve the guttering and downpipes, helping ensure every valuable drop of rainwater is captured and stored safely for future use.

Every step brings the school closer to a more reliable water supply, and a better place for students to learn.

💙 Education is about more than school fees. It's about creating places where children can learn, grow and reach their potential.

Discover more about how we're improving learning environments across Kenya, Uganda and Lesotho by visiting our website - https://rafiki-foundation.org.uk/improving-the-learning-environment/

24/08/2026

Education doesn't just open doors. It gives you the key to your own future. 💛

For many young people, finding stable, paid employment begins with one opportunity: the chance to complete their education.

When Rafiki Thabo Foundation began supporting Solomon in 2011, he became the first person in his family to complete secondary school and continue into higher education.

After graduating in 2015 with a qualification in Tourism & Hotel Management, Solomon was able to secure paid employment - something he says wouldn't have been possible without the education he received through Rafiki Thabo Foundation.

Today, Solomon works in Kampala, helping supply bread across the city while building an independent future for himself.

His story is a reminder that education doesn't always lead to the career you first imagined.

Sometimes it leads to something just as important: the opportunity to earn a living, support yourself and build a more secure future.

Over the past 20 years, Rafiki Thabo Foundation has supported 969 children and young people to access education, opening doors to employment, independence and opportunity.

Every scholarship gives a young person the chance to build a future they can be proud of.

If you'd like to help more students like Solomon take that first step towards independence, we'd love your support.

Find out more and donate today: https://rafiki-foundation.org.uk/donate/

24/08/2026

Will you join our team of volunteers? Our Acacia UK eBay shop brings in vital funding for our work and we need more help to manage it. We'd be so very grateful 🙏

🌟 Help Us Turn Donations into Education! 🌟

Do you have a keen eye for detail and a love for finding hidden gems? We’re looking for eBay Listing Volunteers to help our Acacia UK charity shops reach more supporters online!
By volunteering just a few hours a week, you’ll be helping us turn generous donations into vital funds for educational projects in East Africa. Every item you list helps a child access the schooling they deserve. 📚✨

What you’ll be doing:
✅ Photographing unique and vintage items.
✅ Researching and writing engaging product descriptions.
✅ Helping us grow our online community.
No expert experience is needed—just a bit of tech-savviness and a passion for our cause! 🌍

Interested? Drop us a message, comment below, or pop into the shop for a chat! Let’s make a world of difference, one listing at a time.

22/08/2026

How much does it take to change a life?

Sometimes less than you might think.

💛 £10 could provide a school meal every day for a month to a child in Uganda who would otherwise go hungry.
📚 £30 could fund a month of therapy for a child with autism in Kenya.
🎓 £120 could pay for a year of high school education for one pupil in Lesotho.

Every donation, whatever its size, helps remove barriers to education and create brighter futures.

Thanks to our amazing supporters, 969 children and young people have already been supported through education, and 85% of our graduates now give back to their families and communities, creating a ripple effect that lasts for generations.

If you've ever wondered whether your donation makes a difference...

It really does. 💛

If you would like to make a one off donation or become a regular donor, please visit our website - https://rafiki-foundation.org.uk/donate/ Thank you.

19/08/2026

“Throughout my volunteering, I have been struck by how joyful the children were at learning, how much hope they have in spite of such difficult beginnings”. In this week’s Yours Magazine, Jenny Taylor shares her story, talking about her and her family’s connection to Kenya, and her support and fundraising for Rafiki Thabo Foundation and what this means to her. We couldn’t be prouder!

Jenny is one of our advocates and together with her family she has been instrumental to transforming the lives of so many young children. She’s helped us set up schools, visit our scholars, run events, and manage the bookings for a Welsh holiday home with all proceeds being donated to our work. When accepting her advocate role, Jenny explained: “I believe that ordinary people like us provide support to help those who have been through devastating experiences – people who have nothing except the hope of what could be possible.”

In the article, Jenny adds: “It’s been wonderful to be a part of something so special. I might have helped more than 1000 children have the opportunity to go to school, but I’m the one who has been blessed”.

So humble, so generous and so treasured! Thank you for everything you do for us Jenny!

Pop to your local shop now for your copy of Yours Magazine and read Jenny’s story!

19/08/2026

Exciting Update 📢 The matron's house we are building at Rwesasi Secondary School in Uganda is on track to be completed and ready for use in time for the new term which starts in September.

This means that the 100+ girls who are staying in the dormitory we built back in 2023 will have a matron nearby, keeping them safe and enabling them to access 24/7 support, ensuring they have access to care, guidance and a trusted adult whenever they need it - whether for medical support, emotional wellbeing, mentoring or help with their studies.

Because education is about so much more than classrooms.

Creating opportunities for young people to thrive also means helping them feel safe, supported and cared for throughout their education journey.

This project reflects our wider commitment to a more holistic approach to education - one that supports not only learning, but wellbeing, confidence and long-term opportunity too.

Every donation helps make projects like this possible and allows us to continue supporting students, schools and communities in meaningful, lasting ways 💙