Marafiki Displaced
When the Kenyan people placed their vote for the 2007 election, no one expected the catastrophe that followed. Many people disputed the election results, and violence broke out lasting for the next 59 days. 350,000 people left their homes and abandoned their belongings, becoming refugees in their own country. 1,100 people were violently killed. Those who abandoned their homes were left with nothing, and many families grieved with the loss of their family members. Approximately 700 families relocated to Maai Mahiu, where an Internally Displaced Persons camp is now situated. The people at the camp received minimum assistance from the UN and the Kenyan government, and now 4 years later people are still living in tents, with a lack of food, water, and other necessities.
Marafiki Community International is a non profit, non governmental organization that was formed by volunteers to assist the approx. 700 families at the IDP camp. Since Marafiki has formed, the organization has assisted the IDP camp with many programs and projects, including; building and opening a school available to IDP children, running feeding programs where food is supplied to those living at the camp, as well as organizing medical clinics which provide free medical attention to those who need it. Marafiki has many proposed plans to ease the lives of those living at the camps, including projects that create job opportunities, and are also self sufficient. The proposed plans will have an incredible impact impact on those that they affect, however we need your help in beginning them.
From November 23rd until November 27th, 6 Marafiki team members will head to the camps to truly experience life as an IDP, and witness first hand the struggles that they face each day. The Marafiki team will live in a tent for the 5 days, with minimal supplies. Families at the IDP camp live on approximately $2 a day for the essentials, including food. For us to truly experience the life that they live, each of us will be living off 33cents a day. (However for health reasons we will be take our own water for drinking purposes). The only items that we will be taking along with us for the challenge include; blankets (no pillows), one change of clothes, sunscreen, toilet paper, cooking supplies and a lantern. Any other items we find necessary will be purchased with our $2 a day limit. We will have access to cameras, and also one computer purely for documenting our experience and updating our followers. The Marafiki team will be working with those who live at the camps to collect food and water for cleaning and washing. You think you know what its like to be hungry and tired? You know nothing yet.
Join the change and make a difference. Instead of spending $10 each day on lunch, make it yourself and donate the $50 that you saved during the week. Be thankful that you have 3 meals a day. If your desperate for that new outfit for the weekend, think of those with only one outfit, wear what you have and donate the money you save. Support our challenge by donating to the cause, where all money raised will be contributed to proposed Marafiki projects.
No one should have to live hungry and struggling.
For more information email: marafikidisplaced@gmail.com
Follow our blog: marafikidisplaced.tumblr.com
To find out about volunteering opportunities head to: www.marafikicommunity.org
