Latest News - 2012

The Pope, a Prince, The Prime Minister and Film Stars adopt a village in Darfur!

Not everyone has forgotten Darfur!   There are some very famous people who have shown they care!  Out of sight a miracle is happening!  In a village adopted by a small British charity, some of the most deprived children in the world are no longer facing malnutrition and a bleak future, thanks to 89 of the most famous people in the world, including The Prince of Wales, The Pope, The Prime Minister, actors, artists and politicians.  All have donated pictures which they had drawn themselves and which were sold for over £53,000!  Mugabil, a small village of 1,654 people in the middle of North Darfur has been adopted as the 60th Kids for Kids' village, thanks to pictures of goats and donkeys! 

Mugabil has just 256 families who live in huts built from the stalks of millet.   The wind howls through the walls and water is only available from a small hafir in the winter months.  There are no handpumps.  In the summer people walk miles to reach water.  There is no school, medical help, veterinary care, latrines and most people do not own even a blanket.  There is no electricity, no mobile phone coverage.  The nearest school is 5 miles away.   It is 45 miles to El Fasher and there is no road.  It would be difficult to imagine poorer people.  But all this is about to change!

For 10 years Kids for Kids has been showing that there is a way to bring lasting changes by helping people to help themselves. Patricia Parker MBE, who started the charity in 2001, because of a little 9 year olds 7 hour walk for water,says "People in Darfur are not asking for charity. They are asking for sustainable help to give their children a start in life. We are showing that you can make a difference even in one of the most inaccessible regions of the world. Celebrities are saying the world must not be allowed to turn a blind eye to these deprived children.  We will now be able to train the villagers to run our projects, to make sure the goat loans work and benefit the whole community.   We will train paravets and provide veterinary drugs, two volunteers start their training as village midwives next week.  We will train first aid workers and teach improved farming techniques and animal husbandry. We will fund a community forest next to a new kindergarten and, most important of all, we will do all we can to dig handpumps to provide clean water.   Not only will this basic grass roots help give people the chance of a real livelihood, they will transform the prospects of the entire community.  Conditions in the villages of Darfur continue to deteriorate. Violence is unreported and aid workers are at risk of kidnap. Yet the children of Darfur are the most deprived in the world. They need our help. The region is struggling with unimaginable - and inexcusable - poverty. During my recent visit I saw children whose hair had turned preternaturally blonde because of prolonged malnutrition and adults had missing teeth because their gums have loosened."

"For ten years we have been teaching people how to help themselves" says Patricia. "But during my recent visit I was shocked to find that families cannot afford protein in any form.   Inflation is rocketing. A kilo of lamb costs over £7.00.   According to the radio station Radio Dabanga (5th January 2012) a 2 kilo box of onions is now £96!   With incomes for the poorest dropping to under £50 a year for a family, it would be difficult to find poorer people. The Kids for Kids' Programme is unique because we listen to the people and provide what they say will make the biggest difference, and people run the projects themselves.  Most importantly, we are able to be flexible. Because our funds come mainly from individuals, we are able to act fast and effectively when there is a problem. It is not just families’ lives that are changed, it is whole communities."  

News 2011:

POPE JOINS OTHER CELEBRITIES TO HELP CHILDREN OF DARFUR.

The Pope made an exception of Kids for Kids and joined in the special Drawn...to Darfur celebrity auction to be held in London this September. The Post has donated a photograph which he has signed personally and and has send a message to say "he cares" about the children of Darfur. Pope Benedict joins Prince Charles, The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Archbishop of York, Rabbi Jacquie Tabbick and many famous politicians including the Prime Minister David Cameron and actors, actress and celebrated artists who have painted pictures specially for this unique event.

See what Look To the Stars has written

Special Appeal to help families who lost everything in a fire in Darfur helped by well wishers across the world - thanks to emergency appeal by Kids for Kids - 2011

For full story click here

TV Celebrity brings hope to Darfur
29 December 2009

TV Star EAMONN HOLMES is calling for help for the children of Darfur on Twitter!   Eamonn joined Kids for Kids at our Annual Candlelit Concert this year and since hearing about the impact our projects have in Darfur has made Kids for Kids his own! 

He is asking people to help him give goats and donkeys and midwives and first aid workers and solar lanterns ..... and much much more!   He says this is the way to start the New Year - give a goat to a child and you are giving the chance of a better future.

 Great way to start the New Year Eamonn!  Thank you.

Kids for Kids video - Hope in a Time of Conflict - is on The Guardian website in its 3 minute version.   They have also posted 14 photographs taken by Chairman Patricia Parker to show the affect our projects are having on people's lives - people who the rest of the world is forgetting.

Thank you The Guardian for showing that something can be done to help.

If you would like a longer 20 minute DVD to show to friends please contact us at contact@kidsforkids.org.uk or telephone +44 (0)7957206440