Mabawa in Swahili means “Wings for Africa”.  The idea of Mabawa was born in Lugano Switzerland in 1998 to help children in Africa’s Great Lakes Region (Eastern Congo, Burundi and Rwanda) recover from the protracted regional wars of the last 10 years and the infamous 1994 Rwandan genocide.  Started as a grassroots project, founder, Katrine Morizot-Keller’s vision quickly grew in scope with the help of friends who volunteered their time and expertise. 

In 2004, Mabawa became a Swiss government-sanctioned non-profit organization in its ongoing efforts to help the fractured communities “help themselves”. Today, Mabawa builds and establishes schools, funds and develops agricultural, waterworks and business projects in the region to further local capacity-building. Unique microcredit endeavors in certain projects are also part of the effort to create opportunities for the local population to generate income, alternative employment prospects and further promote self-reliance.

Mawaba started with an $8,000 fund in 1998.  In 2004 its fund grew to $65,000 increasing to $150,000 in 2005 and a projected $250,000 for 2006. Its fundraising efforts and corporate donation drives are currently focused in Switzerland and Italy.  In the near future Mabawa intends to promote its vision beyond these countries, both in terms of financial contributions and volunteers providing professional expertise. The entire organization in Europe functions on an all-volunteer basis. Total monies raised are wholly used in Africa towards the realization of the Mabawa projects.

Katrine travels more than 6 times a year to the region bringing volunteers that can provide the professional expertise needed for the various projects. They all travel and live at their own expense during their stay. 
Though small in terms of financial means, Mabawa provides substantial tools to a local population that can earnestly look past simple hope to eagerly grasp a better future- their own.