Safari Kimanzi (or Kimanthi), best known as just "Safari" (born 20 August 1993) is a Kenyan who as a six-year-old boy received extensive plastic surgery over the course of 12 months to correct disfigurement of his face, neck, shoulder and hand caused by severe burns when he was an infant in Kenya. He was operated on by a team of volunteers at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in Sydney, Australia, headed by senior plastic surgeon, Dr David Pennington. Safari spent almost twelve months in Australia, in and out of hospital, for his 14 operations. Before his surgery he was malnourished and only able to eat mashed bananas and milk because of severe contractures of his mouth and neck. His plight was discovered by Lesley Coverdale who was visiting with a friend in the area where Safari lived. She returned to Australia and began raising funds for his treatment. In a chance meeting with Ms Coverdale, Pennington, the Head of RPA's Department of Plastic Surgery, offered to operate on Safari gratis. Further funds to accomplish this were raised through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and after nearly a year he was flown to Australia for treatment. At the end of his twelve-month treatment program in 2000, he was able to eat normally and was enabled to use his arm and hand for day-to-day activities.
His case was brought to the attention of the Australian public primarily through the television series RPA which was filmed at the hospital, and covered Safari's rehabilitation over the course of a year. Safari became a household name[citation needed] as the large RPA audience followed his progress from week to week. Safari's travel and accommodation expenses were paid for by ADRA, which also raised funds to assist Safari's village in Kenya. Channel Nine assisted in his return to Kenya.
The book Let the Journey Begin: Safari's Story, was published in 2001.[2]
After Safari returned to Africa, his mother died in 2003 from a snakebite.[3]
As of 2007, Safari lives with foster parents Janet Seath and Frank Scaysbrook in the town of Buttaba,[4] in the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia. The couple has published the book Safari: I Won't Cry, Mother.[5]
In 2001, Seath and Scaysbrook criticised the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), a major sponsor, for allegedly not providing promised funds to Safari's village and for his education (ADRA had raised $180,000). On 7 January 2001, Seath & Scaysbrook's criticisms were aired on Channel 7's television program, "Today Tonight" (rival to Nine's "A Current Affair") and on Sydney radio station 2GB. In response, ADRA rejected the charges, and quoted a formal NSW state government investigation that had found the complaint to be unjustified.[6] Dr. David Pennington, the head of plastic surgery at the RPA hospital, and who led the surgical team, also rejected the charges.[7] The reason why funds were slow to be disbursed was that they had to pass through Kenyan government channels in order to fund an upgrade of the Kasaala Medical Clinic and extensions to the Kasaala school. However, these funds eventually did flow to the benefit of the Kasaala community.
References
^Hardie, Alan (8 June 2013). "Safari's bravery: horrific burns and 18 operations". maitlandmercury.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
^Let the Journey Begin: Safari's Story, edited by Paul Crawford, and with contributions from the Sanitarium Health Food Company, the National Nine Network, Dr David Pennington and ADRA. Warburton, Victoria: ADRA Australia, 2001. ISBN0-9579738-0-2
^Leesha McKenny, "Safari returns to Sydney for new facial operation". The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 October 2009
David Syme, "Safari Goes Home". Signs of the Times August 2002
Barry Oliver, "". Signs of the Times August 2003
January 14, 2023
safari, kimanzi, kimanthi, best, known, just, safari, born, august, 1993, kenyan, year, received, extensive, plastic, surgery, over, course, months, correct, disfigurement, face, neck, shoulder, hand, caused, severe, burns, when, infant, kenya, operated, team,. Safari Kimanzi or Kimanthi best known as just Safari born 20 August 1993 is a Kenyan who as a six year old boy received extensive plastic surgery over the course of 12 months to correct disfigurement of his face neck shoulder and hand caused by severe burns when he was an infant in Kenya He was operated on by a team of volunteers at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital RPA in Sydney Australia headed by senior plastic surgeon Dr David Pennington Safari spent almost twelve months in Australia in and out of hospital for his 14 operations Before his surgery he was malnourished and only able to eat mashed bananas and milk because of severe contractures of his mouth and neck His plight was discovered by Lesley Coverdale who was visiting with a friend in the area where Safari lived She returned to Australia and began raising funds for his treatment In a chance meeting with Ms Coverdale Pennington the Head of RPA s Department of Plastic Surgery offered to operate on Safari gratis Further funds to accomplish this were raised through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency ADRA and after nearly a year he was flown to Australia for treatment At the end of his twelve month treatment program in 2000 he was able to eat normally and was enabled to use his arm and hand for day to day activities His case was brought to the attention of the Australian public primarily through the television series RPA which was filmed at the hospital and covered Safari s rehabilitation over the course of a year Safari became a household name citation needed as the large RPA audience followed his progress from week to week Safari s travel and accommodation expenses were paid for by ADRA which also raised funds to assist Safari s village in Kenya Channel Nine assisted in his return to Kenya Safari lives with foster parents in Australia He is studying at St Philip s Christian College 1 Biography EditSafari is from Kasaala a small village in the Ikutha Division of Kitui District in the Eastern Province of Kenya a country in East Africa The village is located by the Tsavo National Park He was born around the year 1994 The book Let the Journey Begin Safari s Story was published in 2001 2 After Safari returned to Africa his mother died in 2003 from a snakebite 3 As of 2007 Safari lives with foster parents Janet Seath and Frank Scaysbrook in the town of Buttaba 4 in the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales Australia The couple has published the book Safari I Won t Cry Mother 5 In 2001 Seath and Scaysbrook criticised the Adventist Development and Relief Agency ADRA a major sponsor for allegedly not providing promised funds to Safari s village and for his education ADRA had raised 180 000 On 7 January 2001 Seath amp Scaysbrook s criticisms were aired on Channel 7 s television program Today Tonight rival to Nine s A Current Affair and on Sydney radio station 2GB In response ADRA rejected the charges and quoted a formal NSW state government investigation that had found the complaint to be unjustified 6 Dr David Pennington the head of plastic surgery at the RPA hospital and who led the surgical team also rejected the charges 7 The reason why funds were slow to be disbursed was that they had to pass through Kenyan government channels in order to fund an upgrade of the Kasaala Medical Clinic and extensions to the Kasaala school However these funds eventually did flow to the benefit of the Kasaala community References Edit Hardie Alan 8 June 2013 Safari s bravery horrific burns and 18 operations maitlandmercury com au Retrieved 11 June 2014 Let the Journey Begin Safari s Story edited by Paul Crawford and with contributions from the Sanitarium Health Food Company the National Nine Network Dr David Pennington and ADRA Warburton Victoria ADRA Australia 2001 ISBN 0 9579738 0 2 Leesha McKenny Safari returns to Sydney for new facial operation The Sydney Morning Herald 18 October 2009 Julie Hartigan Safari Continues Inspiring Journey Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Maitland Mercury 27 April 2007 Janet Seath with Frank Scaysbrook Safari I Won t Cry Mother Random House Australia ADRA Allocated All Funds to Safari and Community Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine ADRA website 8 January 2010 Safari statement A Current Affair website 12 January 2010External links EditDavid Syme African Safari Signs of the Times September 2001 David Syme Safari Goes Home Signs of the Times August 2002 Barry Oliver A New Life Begins for Safari Signs of the Times August 2003 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Safari Kimanzi amp oldid 1066935686, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
