Rafiki Australia Tanzania: Nominee for the Change-Maker Award for a Not-For-Profit or Charity Organisation, 2024 Africa Award
By AAMEG | 2 September 2024
About the Nominee & their Nomination
In the heart of Tanzania, where medical expertise and educational resources are often in short supply, Rafiki Australia Tanzania stands as a beacon of hope and progress. Since 2004, this volunteer-driven charity has been weaving a tapestry of change across the country, touching lives through innovative health and education initiatives.
Rafiki, which means “friend” in Swahili, lives up to its name in every sense. With zero administrative costs and more than 200 dedicated volunteers, including a nine-person Australian Board in Perth and a five-person Tanzanian Board in Dar es Salaam, Rafiki has made an indelible mark on Tanzania’s health and education landscape.
The organisation’s impact is nothing short of remarkable:
In healthcare:
- Over 3,000 life-changing plastic and reconstructive surgeries performed free of charge across 37 surgical camps
- Establishment of Tanzania’s first Master’s Degree in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, with the first two surgeons graduating in 2021 and seven more currently enrolled
- Donation of medical equipment valued at AUD$10 million, including 14 ambulances and 56 40-foot containers of supplies
In education:
- Construction of 29 double classrooms and drilling of 19 water wells
- Support for PEC Pre & Primary School in Kilwa, including infrastructure development and scholarships for 38 underprivileged children
- Professional development programs for teachers, including three courses in Tanzania and one in Australia
