What we’re made of
We’ve been working hard to build a resilient, professional business that will sustain our flourishing, putting into place all sorts of structural scaffolding that will guide our growth. Governance handbooks, board matrices, SOPs, organisational diagrams, plans and reporting, strategies and structure… the list goes on.
Against this backdrop of policies and paperwork, I’ve been thinking a lot about the human architecture of relationships: the intangible elements that aren’t bullet points in a strategic plan, but that bring in the warmth, synergy, love and magic.
I’ve realised just how much of Kafika is about who we are, how we show up in the world, and the community we build.
I had two moments recently that really brought this home, and I’d love to share them with you.
Ngaramtoni return
The day after we moved back into our gorgeous Ngaramtoni home, we invited friends and neighbours round for tea.
The Assistant Bishop of the North Central Diocese, Laetoni Lukumay - also now our landlord - was the guest of honour, and the ‘Welcome Home’ cake we shared couldn’t have tasted sweeter.
We’ve come a long way to return to where we started. I would say it was like we never left, but that would discredit how much we’ve grown in between. We’re back where we belong, but on new terms - and to be welcomed and blessed by the Diocese means everything. I am so proud of this relationship, and the ways in which love has won out and made the impossible possible.
Outreach by chopper
I got a photo of a little boy whose one foot seemed to face a different direction than his other. It was from Brandon, a friend whose work had taken him to a remote corner of southern Tanzania - he wanted to know if we could help. When I said yes, he offered the little boy and his mother a lift to Arusha… because he had spare seats in his helicopter.
We welcomed them to Ngaramtoni, and our medical team assessed him. He has tibial hemimelia, which unfortunately isn’t among the conditions we can treat. Luckily though, we know the people who can help, and we have referred him on to them for the treatment he needs.
Our vision is ‘no child in Tanzania lives with a treatable disability’ - and this example is one of the many ways I know it’s doable. The network of incredible people who know us and who carry our mission in their hearts can make a world of difference, and lifetimes of change.
Spreading the word
We’re also committed to getting our mission out there in other ways, and we had two wonderful opportunities recently.
The Citizen article
3rd of June was World Clubfoot Day, and we were featured in a national newspaper. The Citizen ran an article on the work we do, and I love this quote:
‘Whilst the Tanzanian health system is advancing their scope of medical and surgical interventions, there is an increased need for rehabilitation to optimise the outcomes of these interventions. And Kafika House is that partner to hold on to.’
My podcast debut
The lovely folk at Australian International Development Network were kind enough to invite me onto their podcast for an interview with Anubha Rawat, founder of Philanthropod.
We had a wonderful conversation about Kafika House’s journey and our mission to improve the lives of children living with treatable disabilities in Tanzania.
Kafika House Moshi
Since the beginning of the year, 46 of our Kafika House Moshi children with hydrocephalus and/or spina bifida have received surgery at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC).
Last month, we conducted a resoundingly positive review with the KCMC Neurology team.
I love that this partnership benefits us both: the holistic support we provide to the children and their mothershas relieved pressure on the KCMC neurology ward, and KCMC are fantastic ambassadors in the Kilimanjaro community for referrals to Kafika House.
Kafika House Karatu
We were thrilled to host our first-ever Karatu Immersion Trip for a group of parents and teens from the US - and it was such a wonderful success.
The participants brought so much joy and energy to the children and our team, and dived into exploring the treasures of Northern Tanzania too.
We couldn’t have asked for a more enthusiastic bunch - thank you all.
With love,
Sarah