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Dimathalia Rizk is a social entrepreneur who has a passion for the youth.
She helps the needy and is a menstrual hygiene advocate who found a base in Kenya and has been changing lives.
She co-founded Team DIMA Global organisation with her twin sister Mary who together have helped school-going children to be comfortable while they pursue their dreams.
“DIMA comes from my name Dimathalia and Mary, who is my twin sister, we took the first two words from our names and formed our organisation,” she said.
DIMA is currently benefiting more than 500 school-going children, who get meals, and school stationaries.
The 28-year-old London based philanthropist tells the Star that she has been raising funds by selling bracelets through her initiative ‘Bracelets for Change’
“We started of with a small amount. As time went by, Miss USA 2010 came on board and helped us raise the funds through mobilising other people to buy bracelets,” Rizk said.
With the Bracelets for Change projects, the organisation has mainly used the funds received to give school going girls access to sanitary pads.
“The topic menstruations should be nomalised by the public, in schools and make sanitary pads accessible. That is what our organisation is doing, especially in Kenya, where we have made sanitary pads available to the school going children,” Rizk said.
As a menstrual hygiene advocate, Rizk said she is focused on ensuring every girl has access to sanitary pads 365 days a year.
“This is my concern, and if I was a politician, I would make this my priority, and make an end to period poverty,” she said.
The organisation has not only focused on menstrual hygiene but also helped schools in Kisumu county have access to clean toilets.
They have made this possible by building toilets in schools that the organsiation has identified.
“Kisumu has a special place in my heart. I connected well with the city, and they are good people. When I met a friend in Germany and she told me about the projects she is working on, I instantly got involved and our organisation has been helping where we can,” Rizk said.
Currently, the organisation is is working on a toilet construction project, and hope to work on more in the coming year.
“When we approached the school we are currently working with in terms of feeding them and providing basic needs, they told us they need toilets in their school and we have done our best to provide just that,” Rizk said.
“We asked them what they want, and now the construction is ongoing.”
During Covid-19, the co-founder says most of their projects stalled, as there was lockdown worldwide.
“We couldn’t feed more children during the period as they were home. No project was worked on, and we weren’t able to do much,” Rizk said.
The organisation hopes to expand to more cities in Kenya and Africa.
“We would love to make an impact on people’s lives. We want to involve everyone and hope to reach more people in future,” Rizk said. BY THE STAR