Live in Love

06/10/2025

I shared recently that a number of people or families whom Ritah and I are in regular communication need help with tertiary education and/or school fees for their younger family members.

We have a young man in Nairobi who is having to pull out of an electrical engineering degree because his dad cannot afford the fees. His dad was my driver when in Kenya and has helped me investigate a person who turned out to be a scammer.

We have a brilliant young woman in Lahore, Pakistan, who began her Intermediate year for medical study at age 14. Her family are poor yet work tirelessly to help other children and families trapped in poverty. I have personally supported this family with complex medical and other needs and have been able to help this wonderful young woman to keep studying but cannot afford her next fees.

We have a family near Kampala, Uganda, with whom I have been in daily communication for over three years. The father is part of Ritah and my investigative team in Uganda and he and Ritah's brother teamed up to help us expose one very tricky young criminal. Again, I have supported when able but they are really struggling to keep their children in school and this is beyond my means right now. They have already had to be kept home because of unpaid fees.

I have a very dear friend in Laikipia County who never asks me for help but I know she is really struggling to keep her son in tertiary study and her daughter in school.

Ritah and I have developed, and continue to refine, a very careful process to keep everyone involved safe when giving to such needs internationally.

PLEASE, if you are even willing to consider picking up one of these needs, contact us by emailing Nicola and Ritah at [email protected]

We will not pressure you or deluge you with emails. We will explain our due dilligence process, the financial commitment involved, and, if you want to proceed, help you build a safe bridge for friendship and practical live between you and the family.

Nicola Sian Frater with Ritah Nabukalu

Live in Love's mission is to connect with people to give genuine humanitarian projects and individual needs in poorer communities with confidence the need is genuine and the money will be spent on what it is given for.

04/10/2025

At a recent interfaith peace event I met Dr Malak Khurran founder and Director of HOPE. Below is a link to his organisation.
https://hopeworldwide.org.nz/
They are West Auckland based and are running a fundraiser on 18 October.

12/09/2025

Hi Live in Love followers, especially new ones! Ritah Nabukalu and I are creating a private Facebook Group for people who wish to safely befriend and support families in poorer communities. If we know you personally we may invite you as we need enough initial member whom we know personally to launch this group.

It needs to be private to keep both supporters and those we support safe. There are many very clever criminals working in this space on both sides of the bridge we are creating. We do not want them "walking over our bridge". We have already exposed a number of them. It is very slow and meticulous work.

12/09/2025

Make a donation today to support Walk the Talk

05/09/2025

Protecting Hope:
Standing Against Fraud in Times of Crisis

Ritah Nabukalu and I are working to turn our website into a registered charity to Create Safe Bridges Between Donors and Those in Need

In moments of crisis, when tragedy strikes and communities are left vulnerable, the human response is often immediate compassion. We want to help. We want to give. We want to stand with those who are suffering. Sadly, it is in these very moments that scammers rise, exploiting goodwill for selfish gain.

This is why sensitisation is so important. The more people are aware of fraudulent practices, the more effectively we can close the door to exploitation and ensure help reaches those who truly need it.

How Scammers Operate in Times of Disaster
Scammers often prey on emotions. They may:
• Pretend to be victims of fires, floods, or accidents, using convincing stories and pictures.
• Create a sense of urgency to pressure donors to make quick money transfers without proper documentation.
• Use fake organisations or impersonate trusted charities to funnel funds away from real victims.

I (Nicola) recently shared on my pwrsinal page how, during the recent Tassia fire tragedy in Nairobi, a woman reached out to me with two fire photos claiming these were of her home.

I actually did quite a lot of checking and was leaning towards believing her story and helping her. However I told her I still wanted a driver friend of mine to visit her, see her home, and confirm her story. It was only minutes later that my friend sent me a copy of their chat in Kiswahili in which she admitted to him her home was not affected and asked him to confirm her story. She promised to divide whatever money I sent 50:50 if he would do so!

Such actions not only rob the true victims of support but also erode trust in humanitarian giving.

Why Awareness Matters
Fraud in charity is not just about money. It undermines the very foundation of trust and compassion. When donors feel uncertain about whether their help is genuine, generosity shrinks and communities suffer even more.

Sensitisation helps donors to:
• Give confidently through trusted organisations.
• Learn the signs of scams and protect themselves.
• Preserve the spirit of generosity without fear.

Building a Safe Bridge:

Ritah Nabukalu and I are attempting to build Live in Love into a safe bridge between donors and vulnerable people. Our work involves:
• Researching and verifying those who claim to need help.
• Partnering with reputable NGOs.
• Linking those who need help with an NGO, the NGO with a donor, and the donor in friendship (but not direct financial giving) with the person in need.

When transparency, accountability, and community vigilance come together, compassion flows freely and safely.

In the meantime the maxim "Trust and Verify" holds true. Do not, ever, think you know someone well enough to send money internationally trusting in their word alone. Where money is concerned, you do not know you can trust someone until you have proof.

Until then, give only through official channels like Red Cross, TearFund, World Vision, Christian World Service.
• Spread awareness. Share updates and warn others against scams.
• Support sensitisation. Encourage open conversations about fraud so that others do not fall victim.

What Ritah and I are trying to build for others, we are already testing out ourselves. My dream of safe friendship and love flowing with online friendships may prove impossible. I've been working in this space now for three years and I can still be fooled by a scammer. Even checking over conversations with each other Ritah and I still sometimes feel someone is probably telling the truth only to find they are just a more skillful liar. I cannot say too strongly how difficult it is to tell whether or not a need is real.

Every crisis is an invitation not only to give, but also to give wisely. Together, we can protect hope from exploitation. Together, we can ensure generosity becomes healing in the lives of those who are hurting.

Stay safe. Stay generous. Stay informed.

21/07/2025

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