Southern Cross Academy. Marafiki's very first project, build by volunteers.
Southern Cross Academy
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
What is SIDP?
SIPD stands for Settled Internally Displaced People and refers to people who were displaced from their homes during the post-election violence of 2007/2008 which saw thousands of people flee their home because of tribal violence and settle in the middle of of fields without food or infrastructure. Habitat for Humanity and the Government of Kenya compensated the families and helped them build homes. The area no longer looks like a refugee camp, however the people living in the community still identify as refugees.
The community has a lot of issues of mental health and PTSD because of the level of violence they survived. This is not something the children suffer from, but definitely has made a difference in their upbringing.
When we started Marafiki Community International, there was no school in the area and children were just fetching water and hanging around at home or helping in the fields. The need was clear for a school to provide them and their family with education and a community point where we could all meet and engage.