A month and a little bit..

It's been 1 month since the launch of Our Daily Heroes :) And so far it has been really exciting for me to both receive and share the amazing stories of the heroes around the world who have impacted my friends! 


We'll be on a break for a few weeks to look for more unexpected Heroes and will be back in early January! Til then kick back, relax and enjoy the days of vacation bliss :)

Hero #5 - Peris, the Do-It-All Volunteer (Kenya)

Peris is a 28 year old Kenyan, a house mum who looked after us during my first volunteer trip in Kenya back in 2007. Any chance she could get off work, she would be up at the Children's Home, helping us look after the kids. She absolutely loves them!

Peris was the one who started Friends Vision and came up with the name. In 2009, we decided to do all this properly, so we contacted some other volunteers to raise funds to build a real home for our kids and get the ball rolling. 

We started a child sponsorship program with our kids, sending them to boarding schools around Kenya. We only started off with 4 kids, and it took both of us days to do all their shopping. Now we have 26 kids and Peris looks after all of them so well! 

She visits them on designated 'Parents Days' and cooks food for the kids all day. She does so much for so many people around the world and she has worked so hard this year to look after all of our kids and dealt with all the problems she came across (which has been a lot) and all for no money! but for the love she has for the kids :) 

Peris is our person on the ground, not only for our sponsorship program, but also our Children's Home. She is constantly making new contacts with charities in Kenya that we can work with. I'm looking forward to launching a new sponsorship program which will allow us to pay her and employ a few people to help out when the kids return to school and on 'Parents Days'.

She is such an amazing person, we would not be able to have our Children's Home if it wasn't for her. She's my Sister and an inspiration to not only myself but so many people around the world. She is truly my hero!

Contributor: Jannah Currie (Darwin)

Hero #4 - Candy, the Head Barista, Kinfolk Cafe (Melbourne)

Every morning, you can usually find me waiting in the queue for my caffeine fix at Kinfolk Café (673 Bourke Street, Melbourne). Operating as a social enterprise, Kinfolk is not only a place to grab a coffee or lunch selection from the handwritten menu. It is a place where you will find community, sense a unique warm and fuzzy feeling every time you walk in because of the staff and volunteers that keep the place ticking, and convert yourself from coffee aficionado to philanthropist with every sip of your latte.

I’m keen on this place. I love its values. I appreciate its warmth. I value their philosophies. I admire the way they operate. Their food is scrummy. And they make darn good coffee.

Head barista, Candy, is normally tucked away behind the coffee maker, so in between her lattes and skinny flat whites, I managed three quick questions to my Everyday Hero.

Every cup of coffee is made with love. Why?

It’s definitely because of the customers. I want to make sure they enjoy their coffee and the experience. Kinfolk is not just a café. It’s a community. And it’s awesome to be able to give back to our community and the organisations we support.

Did you want to be a ballerina when you grew up?

I’ve been in hospitality since I was 16. It was my first job and it’s now my career. I can’t think about doing anything else. I’m planning on opening my own fully sustainable café in Brisbane in 2011.

Is coffee an important part of your day and why should it be for everybody else?

I need to have a coffee to kickstart the day, otherwise I can get a little grumpy. For most people, getting a coffee is the first social interaction they will have each day. So for me, it’s really important to make it a positive experience. That’s why I’m committed to making great coffee and ensure a great vibe. 

Contributor: Tina Jensen (Melbourne)