By Sage Lancaster | Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator
From February 2nd to February 18th, Patricia Parker MBE, the Founder and CEO of Kids for Kids, visited Darfur for the first time in nine years. Violence and insecurity in the region have meant that it has always been difficult for Patricia to visit Darfur, but over the last nine years especially, the Government started refusing to grant her a visa. Last year however demonstrations resulted in President Bashir being arrested, and today there is a civilian government who want to help their people. This means that Patricia was able to finally return to Darfur to see first hand our projects that have been run so well by our small team in Darfur.
On Tuesday 11th February, Patricia had the pleasure of meeting Ibrahim once more, who 19 years ago, was the little nine-year-old boy she met walking alone for 7 hours in the desert to reach water. The last time Patricia saw Ibrahim was in 2003, before violence in the North made it impossible to visit his village of Um Ga'al. Ibrahim was the reason that Patricia started Kids for Kids as she visited his village and realised the great need of basic essentials. Kids for Kids was created to help children, and the first projects, and key projects still today, are clean water handpumps built close to villages, and a goat loan to provide families with milk and an income.
Patricia Parker MBE on meeting Ibrahim:
“There is so much to tell you – but I have to tell you some most exciting news first …. I met Ibrahim yesterday! He was the little 9-year-old whose 7 hour walk across the desert inspired Kids for Kids and has improved the lives of over half a million people. He is tnow 28, tall, good looking – and shy. I met his wife and two of his three little children, his brother and sister – and his lovely mother Asma. It was her extraordinary generosity in offering me their only food – a bowl of goat’s milk – that made me realise we had to try to help. Ibrahim’s eldest son is now at our first Kindergarten!
I also met Ibrahim's friend Abdallah Salih who has taught himself English and sends me news astonishingly on FaceBook from their village Um Ga’al."
Please enjoy the photos below, and video to hear directly from Patricia. We are incredibly thrilled to share this meeting with you.
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