Who are we?
We are Carmen Wagir & Dirk Beaard and we are from The Netherlands. We were privileged to work as volunteers in a city called Iringa. It was a lift time memory, one that changed our lives forever. Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa and includes the islands of Zanzibar, Pembla and Mafia. This African country is bordered by the Indian Ocean and eight other African countries. Tanzania is ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world.
In Iringa we have mainly been involved in projects related to children. During our stay we came into contact with the street children of Iringa. After working intensively with these boys, Carmen decided to make a difference for 4 of them. She wrote a 5-year plan and the constitutional. After discussing her plans with Dirk, he asked her if he could become part of it. We set up our foundation in The Netherlands, rented a house in Iringa and under the watchful eye of the Tanzanian Government we were allowed to start a shelter.
Our shelter in Iringa operates under the name of Sisi Sote Organization, a registered non-Governmental organization (also called a NGO). All expenses are paid through our Sisi Sote Foundation in The Netherlands.
Our Sisi Sote team members in The Netherlands are Carmen Wagir (Administrative employee at the Department of Correction), Dirk Beaard (Student entrepreneurship & retail) and Marian Siersema (Medical secretary).
Sisi Sote is represented in Tanzania by Hyasinta Mgonja & Melchizedeck (Mekie) Ignatius, both certified social workers with specialization Community Development. Our 3rd Sisi Sote family member is Joyce and she is responsible for all household task such as cleaning, cooking and laundy.
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"We would like to emphasize that we always first check whether family reunification is possible. Together with the official government agencies, we hold discussions with parents and/or relatives and a process is started. When it is 100% certain that a return is not possible, the government will grant permission for a child to continue living with us".