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Award recognises the children of Darfur – Muslim News’ Award of Excellence

This week Kids for Kids has been incredibly honoured to receive The Award for Excellence for Championing a Muslim Cause.   Patricia Parker OBE was invited to the Awards Ceremony on Monday 29th June 2022, organised by the Muslim News in London. The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP Speaker of the House of Commons, was Guest of Honour. Patricia was overcome to receive this prestigious award, saying “at last the children of Darfur get real recognition.” “We often refer to the ‘forgotten children’ of Darfur,” says Patricia.  “Sadly they are not forgotten.  The world knows of their existence, even of the conditions in which they live, but any aid to Darfur is concentrated on the camps  – none to the 900+ remote villages: even Covid did not bring help.    There is no diagnosis, no treatment for Covid.  There is no oxygen in rural hospitals and no ventilators.   We provided the only thing possible – something to prevent the spread – soap – over 500,000 bars of soap.   I am told that not only would this prevent the spread of Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

In Desperate Times Goats Change Mothers’ Lives

It is an exciting time for the small villages of North Darfur which have been adopted by Kids for Kids in 2022. In each of the five villages – Hillat Sabil, Hillat Um Gadeer, Korla, Kudeil and Katonta – the poorest families have now been selected democratically to receive 5 Nanny Goats each to provide life-saving milk to their starving children. Can you imagine being one of those families who are lucky enough to be selected? It is always a hard decision to select the beneficiaries of our Goat Loan but this year it is harder than most. So many families are living in desperate conditions. Following increased violence, crop failures, and the global price shocks in grain and other food commodities, food is scarcer than ever. The terrible war in Ukraine has meant that 30% of the ermergency grain rations that are normally provided by Ukraine to Sudan are unable to reach those in desperate need. The UN has warned that one-quarter of the entire population of Sudan will struggle to access food in coming months, including 3.1 million people facing emergency levels Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Goat Loans are saving children from starvation and malnutrition in Darfur, Sudan

Goat Loans are saving children from starvation and malnutrition in Darfur, Sudan

You probably know that Kids for Kids all began when Patricia Parker our CEO came across a 9 year old little boy in the desert, walking 7 hours to reach a handpump. His walk for water was keeping the family’s 3 goats alive, and their milk was the only nutrition he and his brothers and sisters had to survive on. This was the inspiration for Kids for Kids. (more…)

By Claire, ago

Kids for Kids goes to The Palace!

“What an amazing treat Alastair and I had on 25th May!  This year Kids for Kids has been honoured with an OBE for  the support we provide for children in Darfur, and the work we do with children here, showing them how they too can make a difference in the world.  It’s the first formal recognition that the children in our villages are not forgotten.  I cannot tell you how much that means.    To have received this Honour too in such an important year as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is particularly special. To celebrate, I was delighted to be invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, joined by my sons, Alastair and Douglas, and daughter-in-law.   Running Kids for Kids for 21 years has taken its toll on family time so you can imagine what a joy it was to be able to invite them to be with me.  I have put some of the photographs from the day below.  The garden is huge and a haven for wildlife in the centre of London.   It was of course very special Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Villages can choose their Trees

Well, it’s coming up to tree-planting time in Darfur and, more exciting than that, it’s coming up to trans-planting time! This is when the Village Leaders from the newest villages come up to the Kids for Kids’ Tree Nursery in El Fasher which YOU have helped us renovate and get to choose the varieties of trees YOU have helped us plant for their own villages. Of the 14 different varieties of drought-resistant trees we plant, the Leaders will seek out trees with by-products which will help nourish children and their families and give most financial benefit when sold.   Many of the trees have leaves that are  full of vitamin C for example. There are always citrus trees chosen to provide shade and fruit by individual houses. Normally a Neem or Moringa tree will also be included in the selection as they provide vital shade under their expansive branches for everyone – children, animals and the larger gatherings for regular Village Meetings. It really is surprising how quickly these trees can grow! And now that we have recently drilled and installed 6 Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

ISB children raise vital funds with Walk for Water

Wow!  We are truly thankful to the students at the International School of Brooklyn (ISB) who have managed to raise a whopping $2,800 with their third wonderful Walk for Water! Preschool and Lower School students carried heavy bottles and jugs of water – just like the children in Darfur have to do every day – as they completed sponsored laps around ISB’s block. The students were so excited to support Kids for Kids that they walked, walked and walked..! Thank you to all those students and to their wonderful friends and family who sponsored them – you are all superheroes! The International School of Brooklyn has been an unbelieveable supporter of Kids for Kids for many years now.  Can you help children in Darfur, just like these children have? It all started when Patricia Parker OBE, Founder of Kids for Kids, went to visit the Southbank International School in North London 21 years ago! A little girl there, Sage, was so enamoured with the work of Kids for Kids that she told her whole family about it and, year after year, Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

We are needed more than ever!

The news from Sudan has never been more worrying.   The hope for democracy has faded in the wake of the military coup last year, but people are resilient.   When I first went to Sudan what struck me was their humanity and their care for each other.   During that first visit my son Alastair and I made to Um Ga’al, the village that became the first Kids for Kids’ village, I asked if there would be jealousy if we supported the poorest families, providing them with five goats, a donkey, and other basic essentials –  things that people could only dream of in the extreme poverty in which they lived?   The village leaders said “if you support the poorest, you will help us too, by taking the burden of helping them off us – please do what you can”. And for twenty years, thanks to you, we have been doing just that. Doing all we can to help the poorest families – and therefore helping everyone living in all the villages we have adopted. Goat’s milk has been improving the health Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Ride London-Essex100 2022

Be a Cycling Hero! Cycle for Children and the Climate and secure one of our 10 places in Ride London – Essex 100!   On Sunday 29 May 2022 Ride London will be returning and Kids for Kids have secured 10 spots!  This year the event runs on an exciting new route – 100 miles on traffic-free roads through the heart of London and neighbouring Essex! Start your cycle on Victoria Embankment and cross the finishing line at the iconic Tower Bridge, with 65 miles through some of Essex’s most beautiful countryside and villages in between. This is the perfect opportunity to set a new fitness challenge for 2022, and get your friends involved too! The full route will be available from February 2022 on the RideLondon website. Previously we have had four cyclists take part in the RideLondon-Surrey 100 mile cycle, whilst raising valuable funds to help children in Darfur.  They helped us to make a lasting difference to children’s lives, whilst enjoying a challenging yet rewarding time cycling the gorgeous scenery in London and Surrey.  Julian Taylor, a Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

8 million children in Sudan in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in 2022

A recent report by the World Health Organisation warns that 8 million children in Sudan will need urgent help this year.   “Children are already hungry every day” says Patricia Parker OBE, Founder of Kids for Kids.   “Families need help, and fast.” World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it is targeting an estimated 900,000 beneficiaries (349,000 children) through integrated food and cash assistance across South Darfur, East Darfur and South Kordofan states. But these figures fall far short of those in need. There is no mention of remote communities, where Kids for Kids concentrates its help, where numbers are increasing every day. There is unfortunately a staggering shortfall in aid available. Once again, this is a stark reminder of just how much Kids for Kids is needed and just how much difference your help makes, not only now but also for future generations. Could you Donate to the Greatest Need and help us provide help that is so desperately needed please?   And please tell as many people as you can.   We cannot do this alone.   World Vision – Full article Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Challenge yourself for 2022!

With a New Year comes a new challenge! This New Year, why not take on a challenge and support Kids for Kids to make a real difference and change children’s lives? Taking part in a challenge event gives you a great opportunity to achieve your own personal goals, or explore a beautiful place and raise funds for families in one of the most disadvantaged parts of the world.   Keen Cyclist? We have 10 spaces up for Grabs in Ride London-Essex100 2022 Put your Lockdown cycling-skills to good use and join us on Sunday 29 May 2022 for Ride London which, this year, takes on an exciting new route – 100 miles on traffic-free roads through the heart of London and neighbouring Essex! Start your cycle on Victoria Embankment and cross the finishing line at the iconic Tower Bridge, with 65 miles through some of Essex’s most beautiful countryside and villages in between.  This is the perfect opportunity to set a new fitness challenge for 2022, and get your friends involved too! Find out how to secure one of these 10 spots Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago