London, 24th May 2010

Educational charity Raha International today launched a campaign to raise £4500 for a scholarship fund to finance wheel-chair bound Kizito Ajuong' Ouma through a three year law degree course at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. Called the 'Kizito' fund, Raha hopes to the raise the money from entrepreneurial East African Asians based in the UK, in time for the start of term in June 2010. Having delivered a refurbished wheel chair and new spectacles to Kizito in March 2010, Raha Co-Founder Daksha explains the rationale behind the campaign. "Despite his mobility issues, Kizito came to visit us all the way from his rural home in Homa Bay in a matatu (rickety bus). I was impressed by his promptness and earnest behaviour. He has attained a very good grade at secondary school and is very willing to overcome many of the hurdles he's likely to encounter at University. He just needs us to help him get there. For him 'opportunity is everything'".

Raha International has already supported an individual through higher education: Jeremiah is currently studying Aeronautical Engineering at the Nairobi Aviation School and has just completed his internship with Kenya Airways. The main aim of the charity is the sponsorship of primary and secondary education for under-privileged children and young adults in Kenya. The charity already directly sponsors several children through these stages of education, but the highly prized University education has been elusive up to now. "The costs of funding an individual through one year of University is £1500, so a 3-year degree costs £4500," explained Daksha Hirani "but, the return is immeasurable. Graduates go on to get better jobs, they are inspired to set up businesses, our sponsored students and graduates willingly help us help others; they encourage their siblings, their families, their communities and ultimately become self-sufficient".

'Responsibility, not charity' is the fundamental ethos of Raha International, one that the co-founders hope will echo with donors. "Many East African Asians have become phenomenally successful in the UK because they were 'empowered through education', added Daksha Hirani "we just hope that they can share their success with us by donating to the Raha International Kizito Fund'.

Donating to the Raha International Kizito Fund:

Click here to donate via 'Paypal' now.
Please write the code 'Kizito' in the purpose/promo code field.

About Raha International

Raha International is an educational charity founded in February 2008 by Dr Daksha Hirani and her sister, Nimi Hirani. The principal aim of the charity is to create a sponsorship programme for the education of under-privileged children and young adults in Kenya. It does so by paying school fees, boarding, uniforms, books and other educational items for directly sponsored children. For University students, the sponsorship programme is designed to cover the entire 3 to 6 year study period. In addition to its principal aim, Raha International also ensures the health and well-being of communities from which children are being sponsored by organising medical and relief camps and conducting training programs. Many of its activities are focused on helping HIV-positive individuals and those with disability or mobility issues.

Raha is not affiliated to any faith and does not work from a religious perspective. It is a non-partisan, non-political and non-profit making organisation. Raha International is a company limited by guarantee (no. 6502083) registered in England and Wales. Registered charity application in progress.

Further information can be found at  www.rahainternational.com