Our foundation is founded on 22 May 2009. On this page you learn more about our history until September 2024.
2009 - 2019
In 2008 our chairperson, Monique Derrez, went on her first mission to Tanzania, to the village of Peramiho in the region of Ruvuma. She was stationed in its missionary hospital as a physiotherapist – her original profession.
There and then she lost her heart to this village and its people. She wanted to do more than work for only 4 weeks per year. So she and two others founded Stichting Peramiho, on May 22, 2009 to support the local community and their projects. 'Stichting' is the Dutch word for 'foundation'.
Since then we supported te following projects:
11 water wells
In 2011 and 2012 we supported several communities with the construction of 11 water wells.
The video below shows the construction of the first well.
A kindergarden
In collaboration with the Mission Benedictine Sisters and the German organisation 'Ein Herz für Kinder' we constructed a kindergarden.
In the video below you can watch the construction from beginning to end.
Equipment health centre
We supported St. Anna's Health Centre in Uwemba with equipment such as a ultrasound, sterilisation equipment and a blood testing machine.
The video below shows the use of the ultrasound device.
Hospital beds
In collaboration with Wilde Ganzen we have provided St. Anna's Health Centre with 50 new hospital beds and accessories. Everything was bought in Tanzania.
The short video belows shows the old beds and the proces of bying and installing the new ones.
A jeep/ambulance
The old jeep of the St. Anna’s Health Centre Uwemba broke down in July 2015 after 26 years of faithful service. The old jeep played a major role as an ambulance in life-saving situations. In collaboration with Wilde Ganzen we provided St. Anna's Health Centre with a new jeep.
The short video belows shows the usage of the jeep as an ambulance.
An operating room
In order to reduce maternal mortality, St. Anna’s Health Centre had to be upgraded to a clinic where caesarean sections could be performed. There was a small operating theatre, but it no longer met the requirements. The first brainstorming sessions took place in 2013 and in May 2017 the operating theatre was officially opened.
The short video below shows the full proces.
2019 - 2024
In the meantime, we started to support also a project outside of Peramiho and Ruvuma region. The health centre we supported with equipment and a operating room, is situated in Uwemba, Njombe region. So it was confusing when the name of the foundation refers to one region, (Peramiho lies in Songea Region), while working in another one.
In addition, the word ‘Stichting’ in our name, which means 'foundation' is difficult to pronounce in English and nobody knows what it means. The often called it 'stitching'. So it was time for a name change. We kept the logo the same, only changed the name.
But since 2017 we also made a change in the area of orphanages. We started to have deep conversations with our local partner in Tanzania, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. We started to share with them our new insights on orphanages, that children belong in families. In one of the orphanages we did a research. At that time the orphanage housed 19 children from 0 to 4 years old. 18 of those children had either had one or both parents still alive or had other relatives. Several parents and relatives even came to visit the children.
They agreed that children belong in families and said they were willing to make a change. But unfortunately, while our chairperson Monique was present, they transferred several children to their other orphanage, 250 kilometer, 4 our further without an attempt to see if these children could be placed into families. Monique wasn't able to stop it, not even via the Regional Social Welfare Officer. It was a major setback, and also further discussions did not lead to a positive outcome.
We looked for other ways and opportunities in Tanzania to raise awareness that children belong in families, under the motto 'Watoto Kwanza.
Watoto Kwanza
As Stichting Peramiho and as the Dutch Tanzania Foundation we supported two orphanages for many years, thinking we were doing the right thing. But more and more we learned that children thrive better in families, not in institutions. And we started to change our focus, from supporting institutions to advocate for family based care.
We called our project ‘Watoto kwanza’, which is Swahili for ‘Children first’. Or as we put it: the child’s interest first, as mentioned in the Tanzanian Children's Act, the 'THE LAW OF THE CHILD ACT', article 4(2):
"The best interests of a child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts or administrative bodies."
But also reintegration is mentioned in that saw Children's Act, in article 137(3):
"It shall be the responsibility of the staff of an approved residential home or institution, the social welfare officer and any other person responsible for maintenance of a child, to assist him to approve to become reunited with his parents, guardians or relatives."
We talked to hundreds of people and gave tens of presentations, like Members of Parliament, orphanage owners, church leaders, mosques representatives, professors, teachers.
Stakeholders (100) meeting Morogoro Tanzania
Meeting 12 NGOs in Iringa Tanzania
Sokoine University (SUA) Morogoro, Tanzania - students Tourism and Recreation
Dhi Nureyn Islamic Foundation Tanzania
Institute of Social Work Tanzania
KAPs Community Development Institute, Mafinga, Tanzania
Member of Parliament Hon. Deo Philip Mwanyika
Member of Parliament - Hon. Christopher Ole Sendeka
2024
We planted a lot of seeds in Tanzania and we trained one organisation in making a change of reintegrating children back into a family.
During our work in Tanzania, our chairperson Monique was also asked to give presentations and trainings in other countries like Kenia and Nepal.
Because we have shifted our focus more and more outside of Tanzania, it was time to implement another name change. We chose the name 'It takes a Village Foundation' because it is not just the responsibility of parents or immediate family members to nurture and care for children. The entire community should play a role in their development and well-being, from parents to teachers to neighbors and grandparents.
it takes a village to raise a child
and only as we work as a village, we can ensure that children grow up, safely in a family setting, where they belong. Join us!
