Evan Williams, an 11-year-old boy from Nairobi has written a short adventure story for children and plans to use his talent to raise Sh500,000 for Usikimye, a local charity organisation.

The book “Mason’s Mission” is available for purchase online in electronic format and Evan hopes to sell 1,000 copies to meet his goal of ending sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Usikimye is an organization that works towards ending SGBV and ensure girls, women and boys from Kenya and the region are safe and free from violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse.

The organisation offers safe access to high-quality comprehensive responses that are appropriate to their individual needs, vulnerabilities, capacities while sensitive to gender.

Usikimye runs 3 SGBV Rescue Shelters, a SGBV response hotline (first 24/7 NGO-funded GBV hotline in Kenya - 0800-000-999), Inua Binti (a pandemic mitigation program tackling sex-for -pads), a children feeding program in Soweto Slum (14,000 plates a month), a mental health platform, Kenya’s first centralized GBV service providers database (Tunawiri) and artistic and librarian literacy program for disadvantaged and underpriviledged girls in informal settlements.

“I am fortunate to live in a safe, loving and healthy home. I would like to help those that don’t have this privilege. I think that Usikimye are doing a really good job of keeping people safe and I thought that if I sold my book, I could find a way to support the work that they are doing,” said Evan.

Njeri Migwi of Usikimye has lauded Evan for raising money for their organization to tackle SGBV which is alarmingly prevalent across the country.

“Our organisation operates entirely on donations. Without the support of the public, we cannot continue to offer the resources and services we do to those who are victims of Gender Based Violence or abuse,” said Njeri.

She added, “If Evan is able to reach his target and sell 1,000 copies of his eBook, those funds will enable us to provide 240 survivors a month with safe housing, access to food and medical care; provide 108,000 plates of food to school-going children in Soweto Slum; give 6,000 girls a sanitary towel a month and provide thousands of GBV survivors with rescue support through the contact center.”

Greenspoon, Kenya’s top purveyor of quality, sustainable food, have agreed to sell the eBook through their online shop as part of their core philosophy of doing business for good.

The eBook, which is available now on www.greenspoon.co.ke for Sh550, is about 12-year-old Mason and his epic adventure searching for treasure in the Grand Canyon.

While on his mission, he takes on a host of challenges and meets a number of interesting characters.

The fast-paced and action-packed Mason’s Mission is a fun read that will not only keep the reader fascinated, but also leave them thinking about the real treasures in their life.

Evan Williams, through the assistance of Usikimye and Greenspoon, is making a difference and playing his role in changing lives in Kenya for better one letter at a time.