Somaliland

Rajo Foundation expands orphanage care program in Somaliland

May 29, 2011   ·   2253910 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Frajo-foundation-expands-orphanage-care-program-in-hargeisa-22539Rajo+Foundation+expands+orphanage+care+program+in+Somaliland2011-05-30+02%3A23%3A10Mohamed+H.+Gulaidhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D22539

(Oakland) Rajo Foundation is a non-profit grass root organization formed by a group of individuals in California, the UK and Hargeisa, Somaliland. Rajo emerged to fill the gap in the organized charity works of the Somaliland Diaspora. The Somaliland Diaspora like any other migrant community sends large amount of remittance back home to families, relatives and charity organizations. Our goal is to organize these noble efforts and coordinate them in a way that will create noticeable impact on the ground. Rajo Foundation aims to bring effective humanitarian aid to support the needy and vulnerable throughout Somaliland. Rajo’s founding goal is to develop programs that build capacity within the Somaliland communities, improves human skills through the sharing knowledge and resources, along with promoting Diaspora’s role in contributing to social development projects in Somaliland. Rajo Foundation aspires to create a transparent and monitor-able platform where different Somaliland Diaspora communities can create development projects in Somaliland.

Rajo Foundation’s first project started was building a new facility for Hargaisa Orphanage to improve care for neglected children. Donors and the staff of Rajo have done incredible work to raise funds and equipment for Hargeisa’s orphanage. The funds helped to fully new furnished facility with beds and play areas as well as supplementing food supplies. Our efforts have also led to establishment of a continuous monthly donation to help Hargeisa Orphanage and raise awareness of the plight of orphans. Here is a list of some of the amazing changes Rajo’s efforts brought to Hargeisa Orphanage:

• Rajo has built a new building that has two bedrooms, storage room, and new bathroom facilities suitable for young children. Previously the under five’s had no access to bathroom facilities.
• The building has a separate kitchen to cater for the specific food requirements of the young. We have also developed a nutrition plan for the children and training all caregivers  in healthy eating, health and safety, hygiene and sanitation.
• Rajo has provided play equipment and toys for the Orphanage to aid development and learning such as strollers and educational material. We have also developed an exercise plan, to stimulate and engage the children.
• The Charity brought qualified health professionals to see the children once a week to carryout checkups and ensure all children are healthy.
• Rajo has trained and recruited new staff with specific roles such as caregivers, cleaners, cooks and supervisors to tend to the specific needs of the children. We provide their wages and help to support supplementary other staff’s salaries.
• Rajo provides the children with gifts, clothing and toys at Eid and also outings or events for Eid celebrations.
• Rajo Provided furniture and carry out on-going refurbishment work within the orphanage.

It is been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words” here are some pictures and videos of the orphanage before and after:

	Before	After
	View all Get your own	View all Get your own

Join us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RAJO-FOUNDATION/120167514666999

Rajo’s new Development Project

Rajo has started a new project in Hargaisa to expand on our previous efforts. The project sponsors orphan children at their homes in Hargaisa, (only in Hargeisa for now but hoping to expand to the other regions with your help.) Rajo currently sponsors 67 orphans in different districts in Hargaisa and our aim is to sponsor 100 children, 25 children in each of Hargeisa’s four main districts. Hargeisa Orphanage is running at full capacity and cannot accept more children because of limited space and resources. There are thousands of orphan children cared for by single mothers or relatives all around Somaliland. These children live in difficult circumstances. These single mothers struggle on daily basis to provide for these children and don’t have the financial capability to raise their kids.  Rajo staff realized the severity of how poor children in Hargeisa live. Beside hundred of orphan children cared for in the main orphanage, there are more children with similar needs. It became clear that we needed to expand the programme.

Rajo’s amazing team in Hargaisa in collaboration with women community activists in different neighborhoods is carrying out this project. This project is meant to assist the deprived orphans at their homes. Rajo team investigates and scrutinizes the information received about these orphans and makes sure the accuracy of their situation and needs. Once a child is listed in the program, the mother receives monthly donation to buy food and other basic necessities for their children. In addition, Hargeisa’s schools are participating in the program by providing access to free schooling. The Rajo Hargeisa team is doing outstanding work (Masha Allah), and has already noticed the changes in the lives of children and their families.

All of this can be achieved by sponsoring a child for $20 per month.

Given what Rajo has accomplished in Hargeisa Orphanage and what it hopes to achieve it is crucial to have your support. We are aware that majority of Somaliland Diaspora is already supporting family members and relatives back homes, but the question is who will look after those who don’t have any help nor receive any remittance from anyone? It was once said “A society is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members.”

I am sure many of us in the Diaspora have resources to aid young orphans and put a smile on their faces. We can all be something for somebody else that we never met and have no personal connection with or blood tie. Donation to strangers is not something foreign to our culture and the character of our people; supporting the needy is mandated by our religion and has been distinctive characteristic of our people. Through our collective efforts we aim to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable in the society.  It is also an investment in the future of our young nation. Success of this project would be an emblem to highlight the immense progress Somaliland has made so far as a nation and as a society, where respect of law and collectiveness come first before tribalism and divisionism.

I am appealing to the college students and young professionals specifically, to the Somaliland Diaspora and prosperous ones in the Homeland in general to support Rajo Foundation and pledge in any capacity. Any amount is welcomed $1, $5, $10, $20, or other monthly or one-time donations. Whatever anyone can afford, it will make a huge difference in the lives of these orphans.

Rajo Foundation takes the governance and management of its resources very seriously. The Foundation operates in Somaliland, the UK and in the United State. We aim to expand our operations globally in order to bring change through a global partnership of the Somaliland Diaspora community. Using Internet and social media, our donors can monitor Rajo activities and interact with recipients and staff. By posting monthly progression report, donors and participants can check on the effectiveness of their donations. The managing team of Rajo Foundation consists of young women, who decided to take action and make difference in their home country. All of the managing members do not get pay; everyone who has worked with us has been volunteers. All the money raised by Shukri Farah raised money goes to the projects.

It is up to us individually to join our forces and simple contributions to make a difference as a community or we can simply sealed our conscious, close our eyes and leave these vulnerable individuals among us to hunger and suffering.  If sponsoring a child by one person is a bit much, two people can sponsor a child together, or even three or four people can sponsor one child together.  Your help is greatly appreciated and your donations are multiplied in ten folds.  Together we can make a real difference. Thank You.

There are multiple ways to make donations:

Dahabshill:

Account Name: Rajo Foundation
Account Number: HRG D17580

UK ACCOUNT:-
Miss S Jama and Miss A Egeh
Account Number: 21072191
Sort Code: 522110 NatWest

USA – Bank Name: Wells Fargo
Account Name: Rajo Foundatioon
Account #: 6605881
Swift code: wsbius6s
San Francisco, CA

Or via our website: www.rajofoundation.org

You can donate via Paypal or by credit card.

Join us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RAJO-FOUNDATION/120167514666999

By Rajo Foundation Team, Email: Rajofoundation10@gmail.com

 

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By Mohamed H. Gulaid

Tags: Rajo Foundation Hargeisa Orphanage Africa children Somaliland