Safe Haven – A Ray of Hope

Our Mission: “A committed and proactive children’s organization whose advocacy is focused on supporting the underprivileged child and children with disability.”

We will continue to :

  • Be a strong advocacy organization for underprivileged children and children living with disabilities.
  • Give the underprivileged child and children with disability financial, educational, and psychological support.
  • Create activities within the community.
  • Advocate to alleviate poverty among children.

The organization has made its impact with Blessing and the team playing a key role during the peak of the Covid 19 pandemic: offering psychological help to children and helping with the distribution of supplies. Accommodation support was also rendered to children and their parents in desperate need.

From Queens hospital London: thanks Safehaven a ray of hope for the birthday presents/educational materials for the children

As a team:

  • We are working to bridge existing educational gaps for long term ill children while in the hospital or at home by helping with required curriculum standard presented in ways that learning can be fun and engaging and still achieving successful academic progress for their age.

Support Safe Haven-A ray of hope’s Pioneer Star Child,Daniel Adico.

7 years old Daniel Adico was born in Dokolo Uganda to mother Keren Alwedo and father Sam Obonyo.
At 1 year old, he fell ill and was rushed to hospital where his condition worsened.

Daniel soon developed complications with his spine and was unable to talk, walk or even sit without support and as such became progressively handicapped and totally dependent on assistance for everything.

Click here to read more on Daniel Adico

Support Daniel by making a donation today

CAMPAIGN FOR MORE BAME TO GET ON THE DONOR REGISTRY

Safe Haven a ray of hope began a campaign to get more Black and Asian Minority ethnic background on the donor registry to bridge the gap of 23% of this group in the donor registry as compared to 75% of the European group. No child from the Black and Asian Minority ethnic background critically ill and in need of a lifesaving transplant deserves a long-suffering wait and risk of death due to the lack of people from its own ethnic minority for a lifesaving transplant. DKMS, Chi Onwurah (MP of Newcastle), the Media, Press, and Various organizations and bodies have joined forces in our campaign around the world.

Click here for more

SHE’S  ONE IN A MILLION, THE LONG AWAITED MUSIC VIDEO IS HERE! LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

LET’S MAKE IT GO VIRAL!

She’s One in a Million

The Charity Single Featuring Afrobeat Star Flavour N’abania and UK songstress Anna Reay ‘She’s One In A Million,’ honours the memory of 8-year-old Valerie Olalemi, whose dream was to be “the greatest fashion designer in the world”. Sadly she lost her fight last year following her diagnosis with Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) at the age of 4.

Today we invite you to support and help make go viral ‘she’s one in a million’ Music Video via our YouTube link.

The Single pays homage to the following groups:

  • The 4% of people diagnosed with a rare disease World wide
  • An estimated 93 -150 million children globally living with disability
  • 1 billion under privileged children who are multi dimensionally poor.
  • The Black, Asian minority who stand an abysmally slim 23percent chance of finding a matched donor.

Proceeds from the single goes into the ongoing creation of a design/ creative Centre for underprivileged children and children living with disabilities.

A Legacy, in loving memory of Valerie Olalemi.

click here to watch the Music video
Click to make a voluntary donation

Safe Haven – A Ray of Hope receives the point of light award

World Rare Disease Day 

Director, Mrs Blessing Olalemi and Husband, John Olalemi along with singer, song writer Anna Reay at Valerie’s gravesite, as they release eco friendly balloons to mark world rare disease day.

Valerie was born with a rare disease Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), which causes the immune system to malfunction and prevents it from fighting certain infections. the condition affects about eight people in a million.

Sadly, despite a brave battle, our middle daughter lost her battle with CGD after suffering multiple organ failure last April.

Here is wishing every child who suffers from a rare disease the courage and strength to keep fighting till they overcome. We love you and are rooting for you!

Article of the Month

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE

Children are classed as the most vulnerable group in society. Many children are suffering in this world as they are not being given the care or help they need in order to live fulfilled lives.

There are so many underprivileged children in the world today as they lack what all children should be entitled to; societal and parental care as well as protection and the chance to grow and develop. Many do not have this so-called privilege.

When we talk about being underprivileged we consider poverty as a key aspect of this; as people living without financial means for food and/or a home or lack of access to healthcare or education they should all be entitled to.

At Safe Haven – A Ray of Hope, we wanted to support some of the people in our community who badly need help. We are parents and, as such, we wanted our charity to support children – some of the most vulnerable people in our society. But what could we do, when there is already an array of charities attending to all manner of society’s ills.

Charity is in our heart

Charity is programmed into us. It’s our heart. My husband John and I would shrivel if we did not give as we take, so after pondering on what our charity should focus on, we decided that our two main areas would be supporting underprivileged children and children with a disability.

According to government statistics in UK; Before Covid-19 there was 4.2 million underprivileged children living in poverty in 2018-19. Since Covid-19 that number has almost risen to over half the population of families struggling to afford food, rent and bills. Schools closing meant lack of childcare for many, loss of jobs; particularly in female(mothers) and families at breaking point.

In Africa prior to Covid-19 more than half the population were living in poverty (Lain & Vishwanath 2021). In Nigeria alone more than 80 million Nigerians were struggling to survive with extremely limited means of getting necessities required for living, greater than the population of Germany. As we look back at the past year it is estimated that over 100 million people globally will be living in impoverished conditions by 2022 (Yonzan et al, 2020)

The effects that poverty can have on people including children can be devastating as disadvantaged children are 4.5 times more likely to develop severe mental health problems by the time they turn 11 (WHO, 2015).

Social exclusion

Our next focal point would be children with disabilities. This is a logical step, bearing in mind that research confirms that those with a disability are more likely to face poverty or social exclusion. And with an estimated 93 to 150 million children under the age of 14 classified as having disabilities and 8% of the 14.1 million disabled people in the UK, being children, we knew we wanted to make a difference in this space.

More work to be done

Last year, we delivered toys, food items, and cash donations to children in hospitals and orphanages across the UK and Africa. And we have no plans to stop.

Children are our future, so our fundraising efforts will see us deliver even more items to underprivileged children, here at home and abroad. Moreover, we plan to build a permanent creative centre, which will serve the children of Newcastle.

Get involved

We’re a small charity with big ambitions. We will continue to strive to support underprivileged children and children with disabilities but we can’t do this alone. We need your financial support, so we ask that you donate to Safe Haven – A Ray of Hope, and also follow us on social media.

Continue Reading here

Weeks Top Content

Rare Disease Day 2024 

Today, we stand together to raise awareness for those battling rare diseases. Let’s shine a light on their courage and resilience, and support them in their journey towards healing and hope.✨

TOPIC OF THE MONTH

A Safehaven a Ray of hope presentation- Destitution in Children

Every child deserve a future

Listen to the voice of

Shan                                                                                                    Chinese actress

Debi
specialist nurse

Christine
Director maximize education

You can Make a Difference…

Support our great work at Safe Haven – A Ray of Hope by clicking below, every penny counts towards giving every underpriviledged child and children with disability hope to life.

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