MISSION | MALAIKA FOR LIFE
Why Malaika? Malaika means "angel" in Swahili, a powerful symbol for an initiative that has provided lifesaving malaria relief for over 20-thousand Tanzanians.
Founded in 2009 by a malaria survivor, MALAIKA FOR LIFE is a grassroots initiative under 501c3 Hope Through Opportunity that has joined the global fight to end malaria ... one bracelet at a time.
We believe that this fight starts at home, in the communities that are at risk of contracting this deadly disease. Therefore, we engage the local Tanzanian community to do their part by making beaded bracelets that we, in turn, sell here in America as our primary fundraising vehicle.
The proceeds of every bracelet sale benefit both the women who make them, as well as the malaria cause. With every bracelet purchase, we help fund the procurement and delivery of lifesaving malaria medicine throughout Tanzania, while providing the women who make each bracelet
with a sustainable source of income that in turn facilitates economic development in Tanzania.
FOUNDER | MALAIKAFORLIFE
Kristen Kenney | Founder & Malaria Survivor
Kristen Kenney contracted malaria in Africa in 2009 while filming a documentary. It cost her less than ten dollars to buy the lifesaving medicine. Seemingly inexpensive, the medication is often hard to find in Africa's poorest communities due to lack of funds or resources available and results in the needless deaths of over 800,000 children a year. This realization motivated her to sell a few bracelets to friends and family upon her return to the states and use the funds to purchase and distribute malaria medicine. The bracelets were more popular than she had expected, and the concept soon spawned into what is now known as
MALAIKA FOR LIFE.
Kristen currently is a reporter for FOX Sports, but continues to volunteer and dedicate her time to MALAIKA FOR LIFE and the malaria cause. To book Kristen for speaking engagements, please email:
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.
Anna Wascher | Director
Anna Wascher, Kristen's best friend, joined MALAIKA in 2009 as
co-founder and COO focusing on the growth strategy of the non-profit. On
a return
trip to Tanzania in 2010, Anna helped deliver 10-thousand dollars worth
of medicine and developed key operations on the ground for the bracelet
production.
Anna, who holds a Masters in Business Administration from Boston
College, launched the partnership with Tamiha Women's Program to invest
in entrepreneurship initiatives and micro-financing opportunities for
local women. She currently manages and oversees this operation and
future program partnerships that help stimulate economic development in
Tanzania.
WOMEN | MALAIKAFORLIFE
MALAIKA FOR LIFE has partnered with
TAMIHA Women's Program in Tanzania, Africa to create our signature "Save a LIFE" bracelets. This collaboration in turn empowers the women of rural Tanzania through the support of entrepreneurship and micro-financing opportunities such as bracelet and jewelry making.
Together, we invest in the growth of malaria affected communities and in the awareness of disease prevention & treatment to further empower Tanzanians in the battle to eradicate malaria.
Mostly widowed and HIV positive, the women rely heavily on their craft, beadwork and product labor as a primary or sole source of income.
We currently work with 150 women annually, all of which have bank accounts established by Tamiha organization. The income each woman receives from her bracelet sales has provided a better life for her family and children. We see the women investing in a better future, paying their child's school fees and affording hospital care, things that were once unattainable. The opportunities are endless and there is so much growth potential. We see no ceiling.
For more detail on our partnership with Tamiha please email
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.
Personal success stories coming soon!
ANGELS ON THE GROUND
MALAIKA FOR LIFE is all-VOLUNTEER, fueled by our team of Angels on the Ground. The word MALAIKA, which means Angel, is a big part of our mission. We believe everyone and anyone can be an Angel to someone else, it is pretty simple. And we rely heavily on our Angels on the Ground, our network of Angels aka Malaikas, to help us raise awareness and funds and spread our message into communities that we cannot reach.
For more detail on our ANGELS, please visit here.
If you would like to sign up to become an Angel on the Ground - one of our ambassadors for the cause - please visit our HOW TO HELP section.
Meet Our Angels
