Lennox pizza fundraiser for sexually abused Kenyan girls

Darren Coyne

Twenty-six Kenyan girls might never get a slice of the pizza you create – or even like it – but rest assured it could help rebuild their lives.

That’s why a group of Lennox Head residents has issued a challenge to come up with a pizza recipe that deserves to carry the ‘Rafiki’ name.

Rafiki Mwema means ‘Loyal Friend’ in Swahili, and is the name of a ‘safe house’ for young girls who have been sexually abused in Nakuru, Kenya Africa.

The girls’ ages range from two years old upwards, and they all have experienced terrible horrors in their short lives.

But Sarah Rosborg of Lennox Head and her friends are hoping the generosity of locals – along with good pizza – will help alleviate their plight.

To raise funds, Quattro restaurant in Lennox will be adding a ‘Rafiki’ pizza to their menu, with $10 from every pizza going straight to the fundraising effort.

The pizza will be available throughout February and into March, which is when Ms Rosborg will travel to the safehouse in Kenya.

This is where you come in.

The fundraisers want people to design the pizza, with entries closing on 4 February.

The winner will receive Rafiki Mwema merchandise plus two pizzas and a bottle of wine at Quattro, Lennox Head.

All funds will go toward essential items for the safe house and the girls.

Ms Rosborg said it costs $200 a month to sponsor one girl at the house.

‘We allocate four sponsors per child meaning sponsorship will only cost you $50 per month,’ she said.

‘This will cover the individual needs of the child and contribute to the day-to-day running of Rafiki Mwema.

Claire Harding, a board member of Rafikii Mwema, said money raised also helped with medical and legal costs for the girls.

‘When the girls go to court they have to face the guy who attacked them. Over there the attackers are allowed to question the little girls face to face in the court so we have been raising money to get a video link installed so that they can be in another room of the courthouse while giving their evidence,’ she said.

‘We also cover the legal fees and medical bill that come with being raped as child.’

Jo and Ali Matricardi, two of the four owners of Quattro, said they were happy to take part in the fundraising effort.

‘The reason I’m so keen on the orphanage is that I’ve always wanted to sponsor a child but was concerned about where the money goes,’ Ms Matricardi said.

‘With this I know it’s legitimate so we’re happy to help out.’

Anyone wanting to enter the pizza competition should go to http://rafikimwema.com/rafiki-pizza-competition/