March 7, 2020
6-10:30 pm
The Vault | 35 E. Gay Street
Tickets go on sale February 2nd!
Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit Rafiki Children’s Center School of Music.
For upcoming information visit the Short North Rotary website.
The Rafiki Orchestra is in its birthing process. Thank God for faithful friends, Sara Burley from St. Benedict’s Church, Plantation, Florida and Jesse Henry from Columbus, Ohio for the wonderful gifts of the musical instruments to the Rafiki kids in the John & Joyce Edmondson School of Music. Special appreciation goes out to the Short North Rotary Club of Columbus, Ohio for the dedication and commitment towards the funding of this glorious music project that continues to blossom and grow. The sky is the limit. Shalom.
You are cordially invited to celebrate the
25th Wedding Anniversary of Rev. John
and Faith Nganga. Please join them in
commemorating their special day.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
1-3 pm
Service of Celebration & Worship
4 pm
Reception
Motel 6 Pompano Beach
1201 NW 31st Ave
Florida Turnpike at 31st Ave, Exit #67
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
954-977-8011
Group Name: Rev John and Faith 25th Wedding Anniv.
Group Number: M037100045
Room Block June 10-14, 2015
Group rates $53.99-$67.99 per night
Motel 6 Ft Lauderdale
1801 SR 84 West
I-95 at SR 84, Exit #25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315
954-760-7999
Group Name: Rev John and Faith 25th Wedding Anniv.
Group Number: M005500187
Room Block June 10-14, 2015
Group rates $63.99-$77.99 per night
Daden teaches Elius (L) and Lewis (R).
The John and Joyce Edmondson School of Music is up and running. Rafiki has employed two music teachers to give our students a personal and quality music education. Edward has been working with the choir and teaching private keyboard lessons. Daden is our guitar instructor. He gives private lessons to the Rafiki children on Saturdays. They use a book written by Dean Jesse Henry called the “Colored String Method for Beginning Guitar.” So far they are very close to finishing the first book.
All of the children are given the opportunity to make music and take lessons. So far every child
Edward directs Class 3/4 Choir.
participates in the group choir. We have four students who have really taken a liking to guitar – Lewis, David, Naomi and Eluid. Other children have also taken up keyboarding.
Jesse Henry will be returning to Rafiki in January/February of 2014. During his time there he will be assisting the music teachers and helping them further develop the music curriculum. Rafiki also looks forward to growing the music deparment little by little with student concerts and recitals.
On August 3, 2013, the Rafiki children took to the streets for the Rafiki AIDS Ministry 8th Annual Walkathon. They were joined by visitors from the United States (including Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania), the Rotary Club of Kikuyu, and many other surrounding community organizations and supporters. Despite the cold and rain, so many people turned out to raise funds for this most worthy cause. Bishop Nathan and other pastors did a great job of leading the dedications and all the prayers of thanksgiving. Three hundred ninety (390) trees were planted on that day.
Rafiki orphanage and friends lead the Walkathon
Rafiki kids and guests gather before the Walkathon
Saturday, July 13, 2013 = Shotgun Start – 7:30 am
Fox Fire Golf Club
10799 State Route 104
Lockbourne, OH 43137
(614) 224-3694 | (740) 983-2801
4 person, 18-hole scramble format
Proceeds benefit the Marafiki Education Fund.
Check back in spring 2013 for more details. For questions contact Patti Chapman at (614) 764-3677.
One measure of a really successful and sustainable project is the level of local community support. There was no doubt about that support as we witnessed when the Walkathon took place on Saturday morning. A march from the Wida motel, through the town of Nderi, to the Rafiki campus was a magnificent event. Led by the Salvation Army band, and preceded by warm ups for the crowd by a local fitness guru, the march ended with a Harambe which raised over $10,000 for Rafiki. The Nairobi North Rotary Club, our steadfast supporters in this effort, and President Evans was present and leading on Saturday as he was on Friday.
In March 2012, a group of Rotarians from the Capitol Square Rotary Club in Columbus and musicians from Columbus, OH, organized by Kirk Horn, and headlining Jesse Henry and Eric Nassau, made the trek to Rafiki to share the gift of music. Bringing with them the proceeds from the wildly successful “Music in the Round” fundraiser for Rafiki in Columbus, the group arrived at Rafiki ready to get to work.
They spent time with the kids on the Rafiki campus, writing songs with them, and rehearsing with the Upendo Choir from Tanzania. It all came together with a collaborative performance at Rafiki on Saturday, March 10, 2012 and at the Wida Motel auditorium the next day. Both performances were to “packed houses” and could not have been more fun for the performers and the audiences, as well. Dancing and clapping were the norm.
All proceeds from the performances benefited the future John & Joyce Edmondson School of Music at Rafiki. A Department of Music at Rafiki Academy has been started, providing for a teacher as well as various musical instruments.
Here are some scenes from the Saturday show at Rafiki.
At the Wida Motel the next day many local musicians from the area, organized by Peris Ndungu, joined the Upendo choir, the Rafiki kids, Eric Nassau and Jessie Henry from Columbus. Together they rocked the house!
But it wasn’t all rehearsal and performance. There was plenty of time to hang out and get to know the wonderful Rafiki kids. A bonfire on Friday night was used to show the kids how to roast marshmallows.
