a heart for Kenya

Daniela Ryf, ten-time Ironman champion, channels her passion for making a difference by supporting projects that aim to improve lives in the Korogocho slum of Nairobi, Kenya, and provide essential resources, education, and dignity to those in need.

About the Daniela Ryf Foundation

The Daniela Ryf Foundation is a charitable initiative spearheaded by the renowned Ironman world champion, Daniela Ryf. The foundation was brought to life after Daniela Ryf’s father passed away. When he fell ill Daniela started feeling closer to his chosen home, Kenya. Together with his Kenyan wife she found meaningful projects to financially support. Over the years the children and people from these projects have grown closer to Daniela’s heart. It’s become a heartfelt project she wants to share with you.

Daniela’s wish is for every child to have their basic needs met. Providing shelter, food and love will enable a child to visit school, which allows these kids to strive. The objective of the Daniela Ryf Foundation is dedicated to supporting education and healthcare initiatives in Kenya, with a specific focus on the Korogocho slum of Nairobi. The foundation collaborates with organizations such as AFRIpads and Farm To Feed.

«Every child deserves to go to school – Education creates opportunities»

Daniely Ryf
10x IM & 70.3 World Champion

the projects

Paula Mercy Foundation

Facts, Figures & Goals achieved so far

50 kids

6 rooms

1 fulltime staff

4 voluntary staff

Extended the home

22000 meals provided

Purchased a further oven

Covering the electricity bill

Built a drainage system

Delivered 60 reusable sanitary pads

The Paula Mercy Foundation was run by an incredible woman named Paula Mwangi, a teacher by training, who looked after 30 neglected children, providing them with food, education and a safe home. The family is 60% self-sufficient but still relies on donations to survive. After a long battle with illness, Paula sadly passed away in October 2023. Paula's selfless work continues in her name. Daniela personally made donations to buy food and materials to build more rooms for the young children to sleep in. With the help of the Daniela Ryf Foundation, the orphanage can provide consistent care and shelter for the 30 orphans and 20 children from the outreach program.

Blessed to Transform

Facts, Figures & Goals achieved so far

750 meals daily

2 fulltime staff

4 voluntary staff

4 further projects to keep children and adolescents safe

234000 meals delivered

Provided 200 tables and chairs

Delivered 2965 reusable sanitary pads

Gladys Njeri runs a school project called Blessed to Transform in the slums of Nairobi. Her organization supports 700-1000 underprivileged children and youth every day by providing them with food, clothing, hygiene items and a purpose. Through her programs, she aims to nourish students so they can focus in school and empower young people to become self-sufficient and successful members of their communities.

Completed Fundraisers

USD 15,000 for a better future - Successful Cycling Safari 2025

We are delighted that we were able to raise over USD 15,000 with the Cycling Safari - through participant contributions, donations and a ticket raffle.

This amount brings us a big step closer to our goal for 2025:

  • Daily hot meals for over 1050 children
  • Hygiene products for girls and women

The Cycling Safari was an impressive experience. The participants visited the projects supported by the Daniela Ryf Foundation and experienced how close joy and suffering are to each other in the slums of Nairobi.

The children's beaming faces and deep gratitude touched our hearts - and impressively demonstrated that every donation and every helping hand reaches exactly the right place.

300 daily vegetable portions for 1 year from Farm to Feed

1000 daily portions of other basic ingredients for 1 year (rice, ugali, beans, etc.)

The costs for school fees paid

Electricity costs covered

Daniela Ryf's 2023 triathlon bike raises over USD 19,000 for children in Nairobi

We are delighted with the great result of the raffle for Daniela Ryf's 2023 triathlon bike, which was organized via VIPrize. Thanks to the incredible support of all participants, over USD 19,000 was raised - money that directly contributes to improving the lives of children in Nairobi.

750 daily vegetable portions for 1 year from Farm to Feed

Delivery of 1500 reusable sanitary towels

2021 IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon bike and much more auctioned off

Daniela raised over USD 24,800 by auctioning off the triathlon bike she used to win the 2021 IRONMAN Tulsa and more with VIPrize. Of the money raised:

  • USD 5,400 to Blessed to Transform to pay its employees and buy oil and rice flour
  • USD 8,000 to AFRIpads
  • USD 11,700 to Farm to Feed

Supply of 1500 reusable sanitary pads

750 hot meals a day for one year

Bought oil and rice flour

All employees of Blessed to Transform are paid

Daniela Ryf competition suit world record

Auction for the Orphanage

Daniela raised over USD 3,200 providing an opportunity to bid for her World Record race suit on Swiss fundraising platform There-for-you. The money raised went directly to the orphanage to support 40 kids through a tough time, assisting them with food, school fees, and housing maintenance.

Weekly food deliveries through Farm To Feed for an entire year!!

AFRIpads menstrual pads for every girl/woman of the orphanage

Repair the leaking rooftop

Pay for one year land lease

Fund six high school scholarships

Cover a year’s worth of electricity

Cover a year‘s worth of water resources

thank you for your support

our partners

For one child to get a nutritious meal every day of the year only costs $14.50 if provided by Farm To Feed. AFRIpads can issue girls and woman reusable sanitary pads for only $5.00 a year. With these two partners children and young adults in the Korogocho slum can be provided with menstrual products and food for only $20.00 for a whole year.

AFRIpads

AFRIpads is the world’s leading manufacturer of reusable sanitary pads. There innovative menstrual health and hygiene solution drives change through product, education, and evidence. The reusable Menstrual Kits are cost effective, waste reducing, quality certified and offer complete protection for a minimum of 12 months. AFRIpads Underwear lasts longer, stretches more and fits better - ensuring women and girls can feel comfortable and confident every day of the year. Since 2010, the headquarters and manufacturing factory is in Uganda and has been serving women and girls across Africa and beyond.

More than half the women and girls in Kenya cannot afford monthly menstrual products, with almost 20% turning to homemade options. – From Kenyan Senator Gloria Orwoba

Since 2016 AFRIpads has delivered 5 million Menstrual Kits.

Farm to Feed

With Farm To Feed the Daniela Ryf Foundation has found a partner who is able to tackle two issues at once. Farm To Feed reduces food waste by collecting imperfect produce, they then distribute these goods for a much lower price to communities in need. Most children in the Korogocho slum don’t get fed at home. It is vital for children to be nourished so they can grow, concentrate at school and flourish. Thanks to this organization we can ensure meals for this poor demographic.

Food loss and malnutrition leads to unacceptable high costs - direct and indirect - on individuals, families, nations, healthcare systems and economies. Farm to Feed, believes that access to affordable healthy food is a basic human right, not a privilege. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 50% of fruit and vegetables never make it to market for consumption. 32% of Kenyans face food insecurity or poor nutrition. 26% of children are stunted which has an irreversible impact on cognitive and physical development. Farm To Feed aims to solve this problem by bringing nutritious produce directly from farmers to those who need it most.

There-for-you

The collaboration between There-for-you and the Daniela Ryf Foundation is a transparent and focused commitment to making a meaningful difference. Unlike conventional models, funds flow directly from There-for-you to the mentioned charitable projects, ensuring that every contribution is impactful and dedicated solely to the initiatives described.

Transparency is paramount in our collaboration. It's essential to acknowledge that There-for-you retains a small portion of the donated funds for its administrative services provided. This retention is integral to sustaining their charitable "Service," enabling them to continue their crucial work. Such details are openly disclosed, ensuring donors are fully informed about where their generosity is directed.

a heart for Kenya

our sponsors

For sponsorship inquiries and the opportunity to make a direct impact, please reach out to us directly.

Daniela Ryf is a world-class triathlete and five-time Ironman and Ironman 70.3 world champion. She is from Solothurn, Switzerland.

etrex is a digital agency from Baden, Switzerland that connects creativity and technology to create unique brands and digital experiences around them. Having worked with Daniela Ryf on numerous projects over the years, etrex is proud to have created a unique visual identity and marketing presence for Daniela's passion project.