Welcome to the website of our burn victims' association.
We help children who have to live with complications as a result of burns and scalds.
We are currently supporting children and adults in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Together with dedicated partners, we are collecting donations to provide urgently needed compression garments, which are essential for treating burn scars.
Every donation helps us build a human bridge of support.
Learn more about our work and become part of this important initiative!
ASSOCIATION
With this work, the association aims not only to treat scars,
but also to create hope and a better future for the children affected.
RAFIKI e.V. - which means friend/partner in Swahili - aims to provide children and young people with thermal injuries with the best possible treatment, especially in regions with inadequate medical care.
The RAFIKI association, which supports burn victims, was founded by Dr. Raphael Staubach, who works as a pediatric surgeon at Klinikum Stuttgart. In 2016, he worked for German Doctors in the Mathare slum in Nairobi.
In one of the largest and poorest slums in Kenya, burns are a daily occurrence - as are children and young people who are disfigured and impaired by scars, as treatment is not possible in most cases.
Every donation and every membership helps to make this vision a reality.
PROJECTS
Compression garments for children and young people with burns in the Mathare slum, Nairobi (Kenya)
In Nairobi's second largest slum, Mathare Valley, around 500,000 people live in the most extreme conditions. As there are only a few unstable power lines, most residents cook over open fires. This leads to a large number of thermal injuries among children and young people, which are rarely treated due to inadequate medical care.
May 2025
Medical care with the Rafiki Scar Team in Nairobi, Kenya
Our trip with our team was deeply moving. We were able to initiate the right scar therapy directly on site - for children and adults alike. Everyone needs help here. We are grateful that we were able to make a small contribution here.
CURRENT PROJECTS
FURTHER PROJECTS
The aim of RAFIKI e.V. is to enable as many burn victims as possible to receive post-treatment of their scars with compression garments. They are particularly effective as part of conservative scar care therapy, as they prevent the scars from growing and thus limiting joint contractures. The expensive compression suits and the special fabrics from which the clothing is made are not available locally. Both are provided to us by a medical supply store.
The children and young people with burn injuries are then given the appropriate compression suits on site. In addition, compression garments are made from fabric by local tailors. The local medical staff is trained in the use and care of these medical aids. In this way, we are making a lasting contribution to improving the care and healing of those affected in the long term.
For this project, we are working together with German Doctors, who have been active in Mathare for many years.
OTHER PROJECTS
In the future, we plan to launch further projects at home and abroad to provide the best possible support to children and young people with thermal injuries.
We would like to offer children with large and deep burns the opportunity to come to Germany to benefit from special operations that are not available to them elsewhere.
DONATE
We are happy about any contribution! As RAFIKI e.V. is financed exclusively by donations, your financial commitment is of great importance.
Thanks to your donation, we can provide the best possible help for children and young people with burn injuries.
DONATE VIA PAYPAL
You can also donate securely and quickly via PayPal. If you use the donation function via your PayPal account, there are no transaction fees and we receive 100% of your donation.
Your financial support in form of a donation is tax deductible. If you would like a donation receipt, please provide us with your contact details (address, email address if applicable) in the subject line of the bank transfer.
You can also request your donation receipt by e-mail if required.
MEMBERSHIP
We are grateful for every member who supports RAFIKI e.V.! The annual membership fee of 10 euros (no admission fee) also goes directly to our projects and thus reaches the children and young people with burn injuries directly on site.
Please fill in the following fields to become a member.
CONTACT
Altenbergstraße 3
70180 Stuttgart
Telefon
+49 155 61531362
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Treasurer
Secretary
Dominika Staubach
Dr. Raphael Staubach
Dr. Helen Glosse
Tom Priebernig