Blog

Attendees of Kids for Kids Fly-Fishing Event enjoying their lunch

Fishing Day – a Triumph!

What a wonderful time everyone had at Park Lake, Albury, for the annual Kids for Kids’ Fishing Day last month! Thanks to the Duke of Northumberland and Earl Percy, Kids for Kids had exclusive use of the beautiful lake for a memorable day – fishing, terrific lunch and delicious homemade cakes and treats, made by a host of volunteers.   And best of all, our Fishing Day raised £2,000. It is especially poignant this year to raise this amount as the health service across Sudan has virtually collapsed.   Can you imagine how young mothers feel with no access to medical help?  Families are moving to our villages because we fund two midwives in every one of them.  There are 110 so far.  Midwives have never been needed more and now, with this £2,000, we can train another. And the fishing?   It was terrific.  Held later than in past years the water was cooler – and the fish started following the flies.   15 beautiful rainbow trout were landed – the heaviest 2.5 lbs.    The day always starts with sizzling sausages and hot Read more

By Davina Patel, ago

Claire Atkins Swims the Channel for Children of Darfur!

We are so proud of Claire Atkins! Not only has Claire worked tirelessly for us behind the scenes to help with our new website but Claire has recently taken on – and completed! – the challenge of (tirelessly) swimming the English channel, raising vital funds for the children of Darfur along the way! It was actually Claire’s Australian cousin Ben who encouraged her to be part of an English Channel relay team. “Hell no!” was her first response, but then Claire quickly remembered she was soon to be 50, and if she didn’t do it now, when would the chance appear again? A channel relay involves a team (6 in this case) taking it in turns to each swim for an hour, until they cover the 22 miles from Dover to France. At all times the swimmers are accompanied by a boat with an experienced pilot and crew who navigate them through the busy shipping lane! All the rest of Claire’s team were from Australia so her swim training was carried out remotely with their coach, Mike Gregory, sending weekly programmes Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Patricia and Team STEP UP for the Children of Darfur

We’ve done it! 2,023 STEP UPS for STEPtember 2023 completed!! And we are SO proud of our Founder, Patricia Parker OBE, who, at a mere 75(!) has whole-heartedly taken on the challenge to STEP UP for the forgotten children of Darfur, despite having two new hips! Patricia and the team have raised almost £3,000 for the children of Darfur – enough to train one Midwife to save lives – and almost enough to train two! There have been step ups inside, outside, on hills and gazing at amazing views..! Patricia says “I am so proud of Kids for Kids – people are flocking to our villages where our wonderful midwives are helping mothers and babies survive whilst healthcare across the country has virtually collapsed. I am so delighted my efforts will allow us to provide another midwife. Could you please help us provide two? We need as many midwives as possible – they are saving lives in desperate conditions.” There is still time to donate – please do show your support to Patricia and the team by making a donation Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Our Goats and Donkeys are safe and much in need

You will be relieved to hear that, despite the fighting, our little Goats and Donkeys are safe – and very much in need. We are being asked if we are able to help, amidst the fighting, or should people wait to support us. Please do not wait.   We need to be ready to help the minute it is possible.   Waiting will endanger children’s lives. We can understand the concerns – that whatever is provided might not reach where it should, or perhaps even be destroyed, or stolen. Well, luckily, our villages are not targeted because of what we provide – because all of our projects are low key. Goats, donkeys and chickens are life-saving to our families in Darfur but they are not high-status animals like camels, horses, cows and sheep. Similarly, farm tools, mosquito nets, blankets, transform children’s lives, but are not wanted by soldiers. What has been happening instead is that people have been moving to our villages because they know they will have a better chance of survival. So we are determined to adopt more villages as soon as we possibly Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Award for Kids for Kids!

The UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs said that Darfur is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today – yet no one is told about it. This Make a Difference Award shows that those poor children are not forgotten. What a wonderful evening we had at the BBC Surrey and Sussex Make a Difference Awards Ceremony on 25th September 2023. We are so delighted that our Founder, Patricia Parker OBE, has been recognised for her incredible commitment to the children of Darfur over the past 23 years with the Make a Difference Fundraiser Award 2023 which was awarded to her by the High Sherriff. Patricia says, “We won! I can’t believe it. It’s so fantastic that Kids for Kids should be recognised.” Patricia will be interviewed on BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex this week so please do tune in to listen and hear Patricia bringing the plight of Darfur to the fore. It really is so heart-warming to hear all the good that is being done in the world and all the wonderful stories of Make a Difference nominees Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Help us Change Children’s Lives Little by Little!

Donate via Global Giving THIS WEEK (18th to 22nd September 2023) and Kids for Kids will receive FREE money! Here’s your chance to make your donations go further! The lovely people at Global Giving have launched their Little by Little campaign this week so when you donate up to £40/$50 by midnight THIS FRIDAY (22nd September 2023) they will add 50% for free! This means when you donate anything up to £40 ($50) through Global Giving they will add £20 ($25) FREE! With your donations we will buy Goats so children have milk, saving them from serious malnutrition. Goat’s milk is the nearest thing to mother’s milk and at this time is their only source of protein, minerals and vitamins. One Goat will save a child from going hungry and, through our sustainable Goat Loan, will change more and more lives in future too! Donate here before midnight on Friday 22nd September 2023 and get an extra 50% FREE for Kids for Kids! Thank you so much for all your support! You really can help us change the world Little Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Help us look after our Magic Moringa Plantation – & plant more trees!

With the appalling fighting ongoing in West and South Darfur, we are relieved  to report that our villages have not been touched in North Darfur, but every single family is suffering from the effects of the atrocities. Starvation and deprivation were already serious worries even before these terrible attacks.   Now normal life is almost impossible. We are told, however, that is now possible to deliver aid – seeds, medicines, sugar, oil and other basics. It has been very difficult as the banks across the whole of Sudan have been closed for months but thankfully they are beginning to open. We can start planning again.   Kids for Kids cannot walk away as so many other organisations have done.  You may remember that we had just planted a Moringa plantation earlier this year? Planting trees  increases  soil moisture in the area, which reduces temperatures by creating a microclimate leading to a more fertile environment for crops to grow. Planting trees in Darfur not only provides shade but they stabilise the soil and hold back the ever-encroaching desert.   Kids for Kids has been Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

We’re Recruiting! – Join us as a Volunteer Fundraiser in USA

Volunteer Fundraiser USA, Kids for Kids Home-based in USA Voluntary position Expenses will be paid Part-time: 1+ hours a week, however much you can give! Role Description If you believe in sustainable development and wish to make a lasting difference to children’s lives, please join our small team at Kids for Kids. Kids for Kids is the only charity founded specifically to help children in one of the most challenging regions of the world, Darfur, Sudan. For the past 22 years we have been transforming the lives of children through a unique package of integrated projects, working closely with the communities themselves. Life in the remote villages is measurably amongst the most deprived in the world.  You will be helping transform the lives of children long term when you join our small and dedicated team.  We are based in Dorking, Surrey, in the UK but we are seeking a Volunteer Fundraiser to be based from home in the US who is passionate about communicating with our American supporters and spreading the word of Kids for Kids’ life-saving projects to the US. Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago

Getting married?

Support Kids for Kids on your wedding day Your wedding day is such a special day for you both – and now you can make it even more special.    By asking for Gifts for Darfur you will create a lasting legacy of your special day for children the rest of the world has forgotten.   You can choose from Goats, Donkeys, chickens, the gift of fresh clean water, and much more.   All are designed to last – giving life changing gifts that will change children’s lives long term.  Take a look at our wedding fundraiser ideas below to see how your special day can save a child’s life. Tell your guests you’re supporting Kids for Kids Tell your guests why you’re choosing to support Kids for Kids for your wedding or civil partnership by including a message in your invitations. You could include a link to our donate page and a special Certificate will remind you of your special day.   So do please include Kids for Kids in a charity gift list. We would love to hear your plans so do Read more

By Davina Patel, ago

Step up for Darfur! – STEPtember Challenge!

The situation in Darfur, Sudan, is totally heart-breaking. Amidst the ongoing fighting, Children are starving, unable to reach food and water. It’s time we Step up and Support the Forgotten Children of Darfur! Join Kids for Kids for an exciting new challenge! Push yourself and join us in STEPPING UP and supporting the forgotten children of Darfur. Get fit, have fun and FUNDRAISE!! The Challenge: Join us to do 2,023 Sponsored STEP UPS in September 2023 Kids for the Kids is the only organisation helping children and their families in rural Darfur. With ongoing fighting in Sudan, our sustainable projects really are proving to be a lifeline for communities. Our Goats are providing protein-rich milk to starving children, unable to leave their huts for food in fear of being hurt. The handpumps we have installed provide clean water close at hand so children don’t have to risk their lives on the daily walk for water. Our trained midwives are saving lives when hospitals are barely functioning. Will you join us in STEPPING UP for the children and their families in Read more

By Charlotte Allum, ago