Last week was a big week for all of us at Rafiki Thabo HQ! On Thursday we headed to London to meet with our lovely patron Amar Latif at BBC Broadcasting House… and on Sunday our work received national coverage in the Sunday Mirror!
Our little team has literally not stopped buzzing since – and it is with enormous pride and excitement that we are sharing that Rafiki Thabo Foundation will once again be featured with our very own BBC Radio 4 Appeal in June!
This special appeal will help shine a light to wider audiences on the transformative power of education and the life-changing impact that it can have – not just on the children and young people we support but also on those around them. Every child deserves the opportunity to access education, reach their full potential and build a brighter future — regardless of the circumstances they were born into.
You can learn more about our BBC Radio 4 appeal on our website – but here are the important dates for your diary:
Listen Live – Broadcast Dates & Times
We will share more nearer the time – and while you will have to wait to listen to Amar present our appeal, you can watch him now talking about why he is such a passionate supporter of our work and why he is so inspired by Ayiesa – the Rafiki Thabo graduate at the centre of our appeal.
The BBC donation page for our Radio 4 appeal goes live at 07.55 on Sunday 21st June and will remain live until midnight on Saturday 27th June. We will share a link to our appeal when the time comes and would be so immensely grateful for any donation you are able to make during the week of the appeal.
The Ripple Effect of Education
At the heart of our appeal is the ripple effect of education and perhaps no story demonstrates this more powerfully than that of Rafiki Thabo graduate, Ayiesa from Kenya. A story that moved and inspired Amar as the two of them shared their life stories on the long climb up Kilimanjaro together in 2023, which they did in support of Rafiki Thabo Foundation. This was a symbolic time that beautifully reflects everything this appeal represents: a shared appreciation that education helped them overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers and perceptions and not only succeed in fulfilling their dreams but in impacting and transforming the lives of so many others. When Amar presents our appeal on the 21st June it is Ayiesa’s story that he shares with such passion:
From learning secretly at the back of classrooms…
to climbing one of the world’s highest mountains.
From surviving day-to-day…
to helping transform the lives of others.
It is proof that potential exists everywhere.
Opportunity does not.
And that is why your support matters so much.
Ayiesa’s story is a powerful reminder that education does not simply transform one life. It creates ripple effects that can change generations. Learn more here.
Having Amar present our appeal means so much, as his own journey also reflects what this appeal stands for. Having lost his eyesight at the age of 18, Amar refused to let other people’s perceptions define what was possible for his future. Despite facing barriers and doubt, he went on to build a successful career, travel the world and become a powerful advocate for challenging limitations and redefining opportunity. In his exclusive interview with the Sunday Mirror Amar takes the opportunity to talk about our work and the importance of education. Amar says:
How you can show your support and help us amplify our BBC Radio 4 Appeal
As a small charity, moments like this are hugely important. Not only do they help raise vital awareness and support for our work, but they also allow stories that deserve to be heard to reach new audiences. It is our hope that our current supporters and our new audiences will come together and help us reach our appeal target of £45,000. This would mean that we can pay for the entire secondary education for 42 children in Kenya who are currently out of school.
So, we would love your support, and there are many ways you can help:
Whether you choose to make a one-off donation or support Rafiki Thabo regularly, every contribution helps create brighter futures through education.
Every action helps us move closer to a world where more children can access the opportunities they deserve.
Because sometimes, one opportunity really can change generations.
