The story behind the foundation
About us
Stichting Hart voor Afrika is a small charity from Velsen. All the work is done by unpaid volunteers, together with a permanent partner in Kampala that knows the villages. That way you can see exactly what your gift does.
Our mission
To carry out practical projects together with local partners that lastingly improve daily life for communities in Africa, in the areas of clean drinking water, food security, education, health, hygiene, social support and self-reliance.
Our vision
Good aid fits what a community itself needs and can sustain. That is why local partners share in the decisions, why we buy locally and why we work towards self-reliance. And because trust is the basis of every donation, we show exactly where contributions go.
Since 2022
How it began
In 2022 founder Kerim travelled to Kampala for the first time. Through The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, an organisation that builds schools and water wells, he saw up close how practical local aid can be. In four days they put together 100 food parcels at the markets of Kampala and handed them out in the surrounding villages.
That experience became the foundation of Stichting Hart voor Afrika. The reason was also personal: with large organisations you often cannot see where your donation ends up. As a small charity we can show you: every project has a target amount, its own page and a report in the annual documents.
The collaboration with the UMSC in Kampala has been our regular base in Uganda ever since.
From first trip to restart
Our story in years
- 2022
First trip and food parcels (before the foundation was set up)
In the run-up period, before the foundation was formally set up: the first trip to Kampala, during which 100 food parcels were put together at local markets with the later regular partner and handed out to families in Lweza and Bombo.
- 2023
Founding and the Muchanga water well
The foundation is set up (28 July 2023). Muchanga gets a water well that gives more than 3,000 people clean drinking water; in the autumn wheelchairs and nutritious porridge for children follow, through the regular partner.
- 2024
Project Jinja and on-site check
A one-off collaboration with a local organisation in Jinja: a production line for nutritious porridge, a plot of land with storage space and a two-day children’s festival for about one hundred children. The 2023 water well proves to be in use every day.
- 2025
Rest year
No projects carried out.
- 2026
Rest year and restart
2026 is also a deliberate rest year without a project trip. Meanwhile the board is working on the restart of the foundation: a renewed website and full publication of the annual documents for 2023 to 2025.
Who we work with
Local partnerships
We do not carry out projects without a local partner. They know the community, establish the need and stay involved after completion.
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council
Based in Kampala. Our regular partner for preparing, carrying out and checking projects. Through their social work we know which villages and families need help the most.
Read more about this partnerLocal organisation in Jinja
In 2024 we worked once with a local organisation in Jinja on a project around self-reliance: a production line for nutritious porridge, a plot of land with storage space and a children’s festival.
View that projectWith thanks to
Companies that support us
Some companies give part of their turnover to our projects in Uganda. We are grateful to them. We account for their contributions in our annual documents.
Would your company like to contribute too? Email us at info@stichtinghartvoorafrika.nl.
- 5% of every order
Webshop for bed linen, duvets and blankets. Slaapluxe gives 5% of the turnover of every order to our projects. Thank you!
slaapluxe.nlOur values
What we stand for
Equality
We work with communities, not for them. Respect and dignity come first, also in how we talk about our work.
Transparency
Annual reports, annual accounts and project accountability are public. All figures on this site come from those reports.
Being practical
Every project has a clear reason, a goal, an execution and a result you can check.
Self-reliance
The best aid makes itself unnecessary. Where we can, we choose lasting solutions and local purchasing.
Who decides
Board & accountability
The board assesses and approves every project proposal before any money is spent, and oversees the execution and the reporting. The board consists of Kerim Oraz (chair), Berkay Candemir (secretary) and Boy van der Zwet (treasurer). Board members receive no pay or attendance fees; all work is done by unpaid volunteers. The full details are on the accountability page.
For project trips a cost estimate is made in advance; travel and accommodation costs go through a separate expenses fund. That way project donations remain available for the projects themselves.
- Kerim Oraz, chair
- Berkay Candemir, secretary
- Boy van der Zwet, treasurer
Unpaid: board members receive no remuneration or attendance fees.