My Rafiki, is a non-profit organization that, as a friend across borders, designs and implements non-formal education activities to empower and support vulnerable social groups in the developing world, such as children in Africa.

Young people and children are vulnerable social groups, as they face significant barriers to education, health care, protection, opportunities, leisure activities and social and emotional support in general.

Research shows that marginalized young people are more likely to engage in illegal activities, such as organized crime and gangs, as they are severely affected by poverty, hunger, discrimination and violence.

My Rafiki aims to offer these children knowledge and skills that will enable them to grow up with autonomy, dignity, security and more opportunities for a better future for both themselves and their community.

We are committed to cultivating human values ​​such as love and solidarity and to promoting the idea of ​​volunteering and selfless service to man.

My Rafiki was founded in Athens in 2017 in the form of a non-profit company, a symbolic name that means “friend” in Swahili.

My Rafiki was founded by people who were born in and lived in African countries. Growing up and playing with the children of Africa, they experienced firsthand the difficult conditions, the challenges, and the struggle for survival. From these experiences, emerged the strong need to contribute and address the difficulties and daily challenges of both the children themselves and their communities.

My Rafiki team (founding members and volunteers) offers its services voluntarily, without any material remuneration. The best reward for us is the smile of the children and the moral satisfaction.

All children deserve to dream and smile.

All photos used are from the personal files of the My Rafiki team respecting the consent of the participants.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

EVDOKIA TAMPAKI

I was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire). I studied in Greece, in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science. I had my Master’s Degree in “Exercise for Specific Groups”. I made presentations in conferences about the role of incentives, the hierarchical model of motivation in the subject of physical education. For many years I worked in the private sector in the field of physical training. In the last years I volunteer with my MY RAFIKI and I promote its vision.

GEORGIOS MILINGOS

I was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly called Zaire). I studied in Greece and I am a graduate of Athens University of Economics and Business. Since 1992 I have had my own accounting office in Kipseli, Athens, and in the last years my office has been providing MY RAFIKI with financial advice. We have also been keeping the books and submitting the tax statements of the organization free of charge.

ROUTH NAMUYIMBWA

I was born in the pearl of Africa, the land of beauty, Uganda. I grew up and studied in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science in the most beautiful country in the world, Greece. In the last years I have been working in the private sector in the field of physical training. At the same time, I volunteer with MY RAFIKI.