This is an exciting development for the charity, recognising that many of our students struggle to raise enough money to pay for school meals and often spend days at school trying to learn with no food. One of our trustees was so moved by her visit to students in rural Uganda in September 2011, that together with Rev Benon Byruhanga suggested this as Rafiki’s new 2012 campaign. She witnessed lunch times in which students had to sit with those that could afford food and go without, NO student should have to go through that. For many students, this is the only time that they may eat in the day. Headmaster, Rev Benon Byruhanga had no way of raising the funds to met this need and was very distressed.  Rafiki has really been able to make a difference by covering the cost of lunches for those that were going hungry.

“You cannot believe that even those who are HIV/AIDS victims can now laugh and play with others. You may not know the impact you have made in my school. You have wiped away my tears for these students also. When I heard the news about lunch fees, I walked house to house calling those who had left school because of hunger to come back and I am happy that they can now smile.”

Rev Benon Byruhanga, Headmaster of Kamuganguzi Janan Lewan Memorial Secondary School

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Susannah Evans and Jane Baker were commissioned by Rafiki Thabo to visit all students that Rafiki have been supporting for the last two years. Its aim was to gather professional photos of all students for future publicity and fundraising purposes for Rafiki Thabo to enable them to create a wider support base in the UK for the charity and raise its income. Interviews were also conducted with various students on the Rafiki programme and a Ugandan Committee was also set up. The Reverend Benon Byruhanga kindly volunteers his time for Rafiki Thabo and is the main link between the UK and Uganda.  Reverend Benon Byruhanga has been a personal friend to Susannah for the past 11 years.

It was fantastic to be back in Uganda after 5 years away and introduce Jane to the beautiful country! We spent a few days in Kampala (Capital) where we were able to meet Sara Akampuria who has recently graduated in MA thanks to the support of Rafiki. We then travelled 8 hours on a very long bus ride to Kabale, SW Uganda where Rafiki is based. We were met by Rev Benon Byruhanga who has been a long standing friend of mine for the last 10 years and has been coordinating the work of Rafiki.  It was fantastic to meet again and it was though no time had passed.

Benon was fantastic in working with Jane and I to form a timetable to enable us to visit every Rafiki student. In 10 days we went to 7 Secondary Schools, 1 University and 1 Nursery Training  Institute.  We met all the Rafiki students and talked to them individually and took photographs. Listening to their stories and the way Rafiki has given them hope was inspiring and humbling.