During a visit to Kibera in June 2005, a member of our team discovered a community of 100 orphans and vulnerable children learning in a dark, small sewage-ridden, unsafe iron shed. After seeing the need first hand, a group of friends in Sydney decided to start 'Oasis Africa Australia - The Kibera School for orphans Project' to raise awareness and funds. The intial funding for the school had been underwritten personally by the Australian co-founders (Kim Winter and Lalita Ari), which allowed for the school to be re-located to more suitable facilities in September 2005. As the project grew, an Australian team and International Advisory board was established to assist in helping to meet urgent funding and on-going running costs.

On the 26 October 2006, the inaugural Oasis Africa Australia fundraiser was held in Sydney - a cocktail evening of Entertainment, African Dance, Art, Fashion, Music and Charity Auction. The night was a roaring success, raising over AUD$150,000.

As a result of this event, the Kibera school benefited enormously with the re-location of the school to a larger facility within Kibera. This allowed the development of a feeding program (in partnership with 'Feed the Children') with kitchen facilities and cooks, new shared school desks, text books and an increase in number of teachers.

The combination of this event and subsequent fundraising efforts, the school has increased the number of students to over 1,000 children, who are now thriving from the support of their Australian friends. With the increased support of Oasis Africa Australia, we will be able to continue to invest in changing the lives of these vulnerable children.