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In the daily rhythm of managing community programs, tracking milestones, and aligning project logistics, it is easy to look at community development through the lens of spreadsheets and strategy. But every so often, a single moment arrives that collapses the distance between administrative efforts and human lives, reminding us deeply of why we do this work. Lilian's letter to Jonathan Recently, our Project Lead in Kilifi, Jonathan Mativo, received a handwritten letter from on

At the Rare Vrienden Foundation, we are often credited with changing lives through our education programs. But if you pull back the curtain on any of our success stories, you will find a much simpler truth: we don’t create the miracles. We just back the fiercely dedicated local heroes who do. At Sokoke Primary School, that hero is Madam Rehema, the Deputy Headteacher. Deputy Headteacher Rehema For years, Madam Rehema watched two young girls, Amina and Emmaculate, dominate the

Mixology & Hospitality Training At Rare Vrienden Foundation, empowerment does not end when a beneficiary completes a course. Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to host a Mixology & Hospitality Training event at the Rare Vrienden compound in Kilifi. The training itself was independently organized and facilitated by the hosting company and is not affiliated with Rare Vrienden Foundation. However, we saw it as a valuable opportunity for our beneficiaries — especially the

These important activities were not routine. It was personal. We opened our doors to the girls during their school holidays—not just to check report cards, but to truly sit with them, listen, and understand where they are in life. Compulsory review of results We looked at their results together, spoke about their challenges, and celebrated their wins. And the truth is, many of them are rising—performing exceptionally well despite the odds stacked against them. There were powe

Over the past two weeks, the Rare Vrienden Poultry Program continued its field engagement across beneficiary sites, focusing on strengthening implementation, monitoring progress, and reinforcing practical livestock management skills among participating women groups. Day 1: Field Inspection Across Poultry Compounds The team, led by the Chairman Eric alongside program staff, conducted a full round of five poultry compounds that had not been visited during the previous Kilifi vi