Idol star to help raise money for charity in Kenya

AUSTRALIAN Idol finalist Bony Onynango will perform in Lennox Head this month as part of a Las Vegas-themed fundraiser supporting abused and disadvantaged children in Kenya.

Onynango, 25, was born and spent his early years in a refugee camp in Kenya before earning national attention this year by reaching the top 10 on Australian Idol.

He will perform a set at Rafiki Royale, a charity event at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre on Saturday, May 17.

The event will raise funds for Rafiki Mwema, a charity founded by Lennox Head resident Sarah Rosborg that supports young girls who have been sexually abused and boys living on the street in Kenya.

Ms Rosborg first travelled to Kenya 20 years ago to volunteer at an orphanage.

With the help of friends Claire Harding and Nicci Meredith, also from Lennox Head, she later registered Rafiki Mwema as a charity. Since then, the group has helped hundreds of children rebuild their lives.

“We’ve achieved more than we could have imagined,” Ms Rosborg said.

“It started with one small rental house to look after young girls from one up to about 12 who had been abused.

“Back then there was nowhere for them to go before the case went to court, they were putting them in remand centres where they were an 80 per cent chance of being abused again.

“We got a little bit of funding and two weeks later we had 24 girls in the rental house.”

Rafiki Mwema now operates a 14-acre self-sufficient farm with several homes and a school.

The organisation employs 45 Kenyan staff and is supported by about 35 Australian volunteers.

Another of its programs provides meals to 100 children in town each day.

Ms Harding said it had been rewarding to establish a safe and supportive environment for the children.

“It is a self-sufficient farm where the staff grow all their own fruit and vegetables, the kids help them prepare all of the meals, too,” she said.

“Unfortunately we can’t keep them forever, so it’s valuable life skills the kids are learning before they eventually leave us.”

The Rafiki Royale will be a chance for people to dress up with tables and professional dealers creating a casino-like atmosphere with prizes and donations to be made on the night.

Tickets and more information on the charity can be found at rafikimwema.com