The beginning

It was in 2008 that we, Rob en Annette Klijnsma (living in the Dutch town of Doetinchem) visited Tanzania for the first time. We met a small group of children in an orphanage in the outskirts of Dar- es -Salaam. We saw how few opportunities these children had. We saw the lack of care and attention, and we could not put that out of our minds.

During the next years we gave these orphans help and attention in different ways. All the time, we received enthusiastic support from our friends and family, specially from our church in Doetinchem.

We went back annually to visit the kids. By then, we had met some Tanzanian people who shared the vision we had; to offer help to the orphaned children in Dar es Salaam. This led to the establishment of the Tan-Kids Foundation in 2014. We started by the sponsoring and supporting a home for 10 children.

During the first year we noticed how little vision and attention was being put in replacing the child in his or her natural birth home. When we visited the mothers of the children, who were widows, we saw how little hope and perspective they had, after their husbands had passed away. They lose home and income, and the fight for basic survival is very difficult.

Therefore, in the years that followed, we increasingly engaged in family strengthening. Together with our local partners, we established an integrated support program for children and families: Family Based Child Care (FBCC).
This program primarily provides for the basic needs of children while working to strengthen the family. (You can read more under the tab “how we work” )
During our annual project visits in Tanzania, we meet with other organizations involved in youth care, education and social work. Sometimes this results in a new partnership.

( More on this subject can be found under the tab ‘Partner organisations’. )