We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination Tanzania.  If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for the project we support in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our project Sibusiso. 

Henk and Atty Hammer-Roos from the Netherlands were the initiators of the Sibusiso Foundation. Henk Hammer is a former general practitioner and an experienced tropical doctor. Atty Hammer-Roos is a nurse, mid-wife, and teacher. They have both worked in many war-torn areas and in refugee camps, caring for the most vulnerable groups of society: women, children, the elderly, and disabled people.

It was their dream to start their own project for one of these groups in a stable developing country. They chose Tanzania, East-Africa. To identify the most suitable target group a needs assessment was carried out. After talking to many people including the representatives of different institutes, and thoroughly researching the local needs and situation, they decided to concentrate on helping the mentally disabled children of Tanzania. 

What does Sibusiso do?

The programme is based on two pillars:

• The Sibusiso Centre
• The Outreach programme

 The Sibusiso Centre

The Sibusiso Centre is located on a terrain of approximately 7 hectares near Arusha, situated between coffee plantations near the base of Mount Meru.

The centre consists of:

• Four houses
• A school
• Physio- and occupationaltherapy rooms
• A community hall
• An educational farm with vegetable gardens
• A carpentry workshop for special aids
• An educational kitchen
• Two snoozerooms

There is also a sports field, a playground and the Sibusiso-walk, a kitchen with laundry facilities and a workshop/technical department.

The work of the Sibusiso Centre is concentrated on children from birth -18 years who are mentally disabled. A number of these children are also physically disabled.

Admission to the Centre is for a maximum six-month period.