50 Fastest Growing Companies Of The Year 2019
The Silicon Review
Our goal is to help be the change in this world.
Established in 2019, AfrikRising is a non-profit organization that serves the underserved in Africa. The organization provides assistance of basic necessities, services, and education to improve the quality of life to people in Africa. AfrikRising’s focus is on the hunger in Africa and the starving African children. Its volunteers are committed and work hard to ensure that their work reaches the needy.
Founded by a passionate Humanitarian Christine Reidhead, AfrikRising consists of seven board members that are passionate people wanting to make a difference and help change the world. It has two board members that are based in Africa and one African that now lives in the United States. It also has two Native Americans serving on its board.
A humanitarian’s vision gave birth to AfrikRising
Christine Reidhead believed that most people want to do good and serve others, they just need a platform and an opportunity. So she took the plunge thinking, “If you build it they will come.”
“The non-profit organization was set up because I saw a great need on the African continent and their immense poverty. They are in great need of help and support and I couldn’t just sit back and watch these children continue to suffer. I know I am just one person, but I felt I could make a difference and hopefully inspire others to join my cause along the way,” reveals Christine.
AfrikRising’s first project was assisting Oyiza Home of Love Orphanage in Nigeria, Africa, installing windows and mosquito nets. More than three thousand African children die each day of malaria and the organization wanted to help these children feel a little safer while they sleep or inside studying. By providing these items for the orphanage, it brought some peace into their hearts and beautiful smiles on their faces!
“The management of Oyiza Orphanage and Foster Foundation humbly appreciates AfrikRising non-profit for the support we have received from your kind office. Your support brings comfort to the children and we are so happy about this and we are saying a million thanks.”
- Joy Taiwo, Director of Oyiza Home of Love Orphanage in Nigeria, Africa
AfrikRising: Addressing the hunger in Africa
The firm is a fairly new company, but it hopes to expand by offering services to more orphanages, schools, and families in different parts of Africa. AfrikRising has the orphanages and schools lined up, but the current lack of funding has slowed down the services.
Christine explains “The main challenge we have is lack of funding. I think every non-profit organization goes through that, but we are very passionate about our mission and vision. We feel what we are doing is great work and is helping so many people. As we improve our funding position, I see us growing tremendously. The opportunities and need are definitely there. We just need the means to provide the services for these children.”
However, the organization is confident and patient as it knows that it’s just a young nonprofit organization. Further, AfrikRising has received excellent feedback. Not only from the places it has served but also from its donors. Donors love that they know exactly where their funds are going. The company is honest and is only here to help. It is a win-win situation for everyone. “AfrikRising wins because we love to help, the orphanages win as it provides a better life for the children, and the donors win because they have the opportunity to give back and know where their donations are going. It is a great opportunity for all involved,” Christine adds.
Future roadmap: Lighting hundreds of lives in Africa
The organization wants to go back to the Oyiza Home of Love in Nigeria, Africa to address more of their needs. There are forty children between the ages of 2 and 20 that are in great need. They do not have the basic needs for survival. These children are born into poverty and will most likely die in poverty. Christine Reidhead says, “I am very passionate about making a difference in these children’s lives. I might not be able to help all of them, but helping one child at a time, over a long period of time, I am confident I can make a positive difference.”
AfrikRising aims of going into many orphanages, schools, and homes to help them receive the essentials, basic needs and provide a way for them to have access to education. It also has projects planned in the Ivory Coast and in Kenya. The organization wants to serve people all over the African continent and help children, not only to meet their basic needs but also by providing a sustainable educational platform to help them be successful and confident in their future.
Applaud the altruist
Christine Reidhead, CEO and Founder: Christine Reidhead is a mother, educator, and humanitarian. She is very active in serving, not only those in her community, but also those around the world that face poverty and dire circumstances. Christine enjoys being a lifelong learner as it helps her to continually grow in every aspect of her life. Being a lifelong learner pushes her outside of her comfort zone and forces her to stretch, improve and challenge herself.
Christine graduated with her associate’s degree from Eastern Arizona College and Bachelor’s degree from Prescott College. Christine obtained her Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix and is currently in the last year of her Doctoral program in Leadership and Organizational Development from Grand Canyon University. Currently, she is a Business Professor at Navajo Technical University, in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Christine serves on the Board of Habitat for Humanity and Family Promise of Albuquerque.
Christine is a mother of two amazing boys. They are the light of her life and the reason she does what she does. She feels it is important to show her children that you can do anything you put your mind to. And, most importantly, to show them the importance of education, giving back and the joy that comes from serving others.
“We want to be a part of making this world a better place, improving children’s lives and providing them with an opportunity of a better future.”