OUR STORY

After spending time in Vietnam, Fiji, and Egypt, I quickly noticed the stark difference in life between the rich and the less fortunate. While in Egypt, I met many refugees from Syria, Libya, and Yemen who shared their stories of loss, violence, and the possibility of never being able to return home. 

I began wondering why people could exist in the same country and yet lead such different lives. How could someone suddenly be forced to flee their home, family, career, and country? How could a person be stripped overnight of their citizenship or their rights to basic human needs?

This curiosity sparked my interest in human rights, which led me to study law, international relations, and politics. To understand how the cogs and gears of politics work, I have worked with organisations like the United Nations, the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In my spare time, I volunteered with charities locally and overseas, hoping to turn the practical knowledge I gained into tangible and positive change.

I have always maintained a keen interest in human rights across the globe. The ongoing wars in Sudan and Palestine are some of the worst conflicts witnessed in recent history. The feelings of sadness, heartbreak, and helplessness brought on by these conflicts reached a point where my family and I could no longer stand by and just watch. Our compounding thoughts and ideas on how to help required a strong response.

Actually, reading a news article about the integration of Palestinian refugees in Australia, I was struck by a reference of a little girl who screamed and cried upon hearing a truck horn, fearing it was a bomb. This was the light bulb moment for me, realising that more needed to be done for children affected by war and its everlasting effects. 

When I proposed the idea to the very talented Walaa Yassin and Admire Maminimini to join the cause, they were enthusiastic to assist, something for which I will be forever grateful for!

…and thus Kandakē was born.

Kandakē was established in 2024. We are an Australian not-for-profit organisation with a voluntary board of directors. We rely on philanthropic grants, individual donations, corporate support, and a dedicated small team of volunteers to undertake our work in Egypt.

Mission: Our mission is to provide accessible, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed mental health support to child refugees affected by conflict and violence in Palestine and Sudan. We aim to empower these individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

Objective: It was founded with the main objective of working with local counsellors and psychologists in Egypt to provide free specialised mental health support services to child refugees. While services providing healthcare needs might be available, we noticed an obvious gap in the provision of mental health services to address the unique needs of refugees. 

We aim to provide individual and group therapy sessions that are respectful and empowering to all. Other projects within our organisation aim to provide food and financial aid to these disadvantaged children and mothers.

THE TEAM

  • Eman Khairi

    FOUNDER

    CHAIRPERSON

  • Walaa Yassien

    DIRECTOR

    COMMUNICATIONS - EGYPT REPRESENTATIVE

FAQ

  • We currently fundraise in Australia; however, the majority of our projects are operated in Egypt. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@kandakeprojects.org

  • Our operation in Egypt is driven by a combination of critical need and strategic choice. Egypt hosts a significant number of refugees and asylum-seekers, many of whom are children and women from neighbouring regions torn by conflict. These vulnerable groups often face immense challenges, including limited access to essential services like health support and financial assistance.

    The recent influx of refugees in Egypt, alongside its’ ongoing economic challenges and a shortage of non-profit organisations actively serving in the region, highlights an urgent need for our assistance. Now, more than ever, Egypt requires our support to address these critical issues effectively.

    This operation aligns with our mission to advocate for and facilitate crucial support services, ensuring that those most in need—displaced children and women—receive the care, respect, and opportunities they deserve to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

  • The focus on mental health services for refugee children fleeing war-torn countries such as Palestine and Sudan is a critical humanitarian response to the complex needs of these vulnerable populations. The trauma experienced by children in these contexts, including the loss of home, family, and normality, can have profound long-term effects on their psychological well-being and development.

    Organisations like UNHCR have recognized the importance of providing appropriate psychosocial support to refugee children through child protection programming. This includes individual, family, and group-based interventions aimed at addressing the mental health challenges faced by these children.

    Overall, the emphasis on mental health services for refugee children from war-torn regions acknowledges the integral role of psychological well-being in the recovery and resettlement process. By addressing the mental health needs of these children and communities can help foster resilience, healing, and a sense of belonging in their new environments. For more information, please see our ‘research’ and ‘articles’ pages or you can email us at admin@kandakeprojects.org

LOCATIONS

 

CAIRO, EGYPT

  • we are deeply committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of refugees, recognising the unique challenges they face. We believe in a comprehensive approach that not only provides direct mental health services but also advocates for broader systemic change. Here's how we facilitate mental health services:

    1. Direct Support: We fund individual and group mental health service sessions for refugee children, ensuring they have access to the care they need. Recognising the importance of cultural sensitivity and the impact of trauma, we ensure that all service providers are equipped with trauma-informed training and are culturally aware, making the therapy sessions as effective and comfortable as possible for the children.

    2. Advocacy: We actively advocate to both governments and the public on the critical importance of providing mental health services for refugees. Our advocacy efforts aim to bring about policy changes and increase funding for mental health programmes specifically designed for refugee populations. By highlighting the unique needs of refugees, we strive to ensure that mental health services are inclusive, accessible, and adequately funded.

    3. Raising Awareness: We are committed to raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by refugees. Through public campaigns, events, and partnerships, we aim to increase understanding among the broader community and foster a more supportive environment for refugees seeking mental health services.

    4. Collaboration: Recognising that this is a collective effort, we collaborate with other organisations, community groups, and professionals to share resources, knowledge, and best practices. This collaborative approach enhances our ability to provide comprehensive and effective mental health support.

    Our dedication to facilitating mental health services for refugees is unwavering. We believe that by providing direct support, advocating for change, and educating service providers and the public, we can make a significant impact on the lives of refugees, helping them to heal, integrate, and thrive in their new communities.

  • Your feedback is incredibly important to us as it fuels our commitment to improvement, change, and growth. We deeply value your insights and believe they are essential in helping us evolve and enhance our impact as a charity. Whether you have suggestions, concerns, or would like to share your experiences with us, we are eager to hear from you.

    Please send your feedback directly to us via email at admin@kandakeprojects.org. We read every message and sincerely appreciate the time you take to help us improve. Your input is a vital part of our journey towards becoming a more effective and impactful organisation.

    Remember, by sharing your thoughts, you're contributing to our shared mission and helping us make a greater difference. We look forward to hearing from you and growing together.

  • Transparency is fundamental to our operations, ensuring that we maintain the trust and accountability essential to our supporters and the communities we assist. We achieve this through several key initiatives: publishing annual reports on our website, which detail our activities, financial performance, and achievements over the year; providing detailed visual representations, such as mind maps, to illustrate how donations are allocated across various projects and operational costs; adhering to the standards and regulations set by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and aligning our fundraising practices with the principles established by the Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA), guaranteeing our compliance with the highest standards of governance, transparency, and ethics; and maintaining open lines of communication, encouraging our supporters to reach out with any enquiries, ensuring clarity and openness in all our projects. Through these measures, we are committed to meeting, but the transparency and accountability standards expected of us, establishing trust and enabling us to make a more significant impact on the communities we aim to support.

 

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA