Keep Our Daughters Safe

When the gunshots started, 12-year-old Chandre knew to run for cover. But this time she was crossing the street, having just left the shop for bread. People screamed, and the air smelled like metal. When she went down, her last thought was that granny would need this bread.

A crowd gathered around her, someone wrapping her leg in a cotton shirt. The pain in her leg took over and she began to cry for her granny. In most scenarios, the ambulance would be called for the young girl in the street, bleeding from a gunshot wound.

But here, in this community, there are no ambulances that serve the public. There are ambulances that serve the private sector, those who can afford to pay the monthly service fee. The police were called. The crowd waited. The girl grew faint. Her granny would not be able to navigate the flight of stairs down from her flat to get to her. 

A car arrived. No one she knew. Just someone with a car. She was lifted into the car by a stranger who said he knew her gran and would tell her. She was on her way to the government hospital. 

The police never arrived, despite frequent calls for help. The stranger dropped her at the hospital and disappeared. Her gran would need to take a public taxi to get to her. 

She was on her own. She knew this strength that surged through her. It was a familiar, lonely strength.

Stories like this are why we are raising money for our own car. It includes a dedicated driver, insurance and 12 months worth of petrol.

The estimated budget to provide safe transportation is $47,000. If you'd like to get involved with this project, please let us know!