Fighting Root Causes of Poverty
Riva Refuge is a small, secular non-profit empowering disadvantaged communities through healthcare, education, and direct aid.
All-volunteer. No paid staff. Every dollar goes further.
Get Involved Riva Refuge is a small, secular non-profit empowering disadvantaged communities through healthcare, education, and direct aid.
All-volunteer. No paid staff. Every dollar goes further.
Get InvolvedWomen Served
Years of Impact
Families Fed Weekly
Volunteer-Run
We partner with local organizations in Kenya to deliver programs that address immediate needs and create lasting change.
22,000+ women served
Free Jadelle® contraceptive implants give women in Kitale's slums the power to plan their families. A five-year reversible solution that changes lives.
Pre-K through high school
We sponsor at-risk and orphaned students through school, covering tuition, uniforms, books, and supplies, giving them a genuine path forward.
100+ families every week
Weekly food baskets and medical transport for Matisi slum residents, mostly grandmothers raising HIV-orphaned grandchildren.
We envision communities where everyone lives with dignity, good health, and happiness. Riva Refuge partners with local NGOs and government groups to deliver focused, sustainable programs.
Small business support
Scholarships for disadvantaged students
Disease prevention and treatment
Supporting orphanages and youth programs
Since 2002, we have been on the ground making a difference, one family, one student, one community at a time.
Generous US volunteers sewed over 300 pillowcase dresses for girls in Kitale. Each dress a reminder that someone across the world cared. Small acts of kindness, multiplied by dedicated volunteers, create moments that last a lifetime.
In November 2022, our team returned to Kenya after the pandemic pause. We delivered clothing and shoes to children who had gone without and reconnected with scholarship students. Fortunately the weekly nutrition program was able to keep going through CoViD, serving over 100 families each week.
Every contribution goes directly to the people who need it. We have no paid staff and minimal overhead.
Our all-volunteer board receives no compensation. They are elected by members at the annual meeting.
President & CEO
Vice-President
Secretary / Treasurer
Lorna VanderZanden, Sue Goodwin, Marla Taylor
[email protected] • 970-480-RIVA