Jambo,
As the year 2024 draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to reflect. Ten years ago, we built the first house in Maua Villa, marking the start of an incredible journey. In many ways, this year feels like a celebration of our 10th anniversary. While creating a timeline of Pamoja Africa e. V., I revisited some of the key milestones that shaped our work—and it reminded me of just how much we’ve accomplished together over the past decade.

At the same time, we are also looking ahead: Just in time for the holiday season, we’re excited to introduce our Christmas donation gifts — a meaningful way to support the children at Maua Villa while bringing joy to your loved ones.

10 years Pamoja Africa

Our journey began in 2013 with the purchase of land to realize the dream of Maua Villa. By 2014, the first house stood proudly. In 2017, we installed a solar-powered well, and a permaculture design course opened my eyes to a holistic approach to sustainability—blending self-sufficiency, ecological care, and social justice.

By 2018, the first fruit trees and vegetables flourished on our land. With solar energy and a growing team, including a focus on trauma therapy, we became more self-sufficient and better equipped to support our children. In 2022, we laid the foundation for our common house, which, alongside our eco-farm, has become the heart of Maua Villa.

What started as a mission shared by Meshack and me has grown into an inspiring community project. Today, 11 staff members work at Maua Villa, supported by 9 volunteers in Germany, 70 members, and 56 sponsors worldwide. In 2014, we cared for three children; today, there are 20, some now teenagers attending secondary school.

Their laughter and bright smiles are the greatest reward for our work, and helping them achieve a self-determined, successful future remains our biggest goal. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited about what lies ahead.

We would like to take you on a journey through the last ten years with a few selected pictures. We hope you enjoy looking at them. Thank you for your support!

Veronicah is our new social worker

Meet our new social worker, Veronicah, who joined the team in October. In this short video 📹, she introduces herself. With her degree in social work, she will help us further nurture the children’s development. We are very much looking forward to working with her!

Previously, we relied on interns, but their constant turnover often caused knowledge gaps and disrupted relationships. Having a full-time team member like Veronicah promises stability and shared growth for the children and staff. Welcome aboard, Veronicah!

Kisima Festival

In November, the transformative Kisima-Festival took place on the Kenyan coast, offering workshops and talks on holistic well-being. Felistus and Alice from our Maua Villa team also attended. I wanted to give them this experience as a reward for their outstanding commitment and to provide them with new inspiration for their work. Such festivals often offer inspiring encounters and boost self-confidence. After the four days, they returned with new ideas and fresh motivation. I am excited to see how they will implement these experiences in Maua Villa.

Biogas plant

To end our dependency on firewood and protect the environment, we will soon be building a biogas plant at Maua Villa. This system will not only reduce our use of firewood but also decrease the harmful emissions caused by burning it. In this way, we safeguard the health of our children and staff.

At the same time, we are making an important contribution to climate protection. The cost of this project is approximately 2,000 €. I am thrilled to share that we have just received positive funding approval from the Evers Foundation—an amazing early Christmas gift! Thanks to this generous support, we can achieve another important milestone in the development of Maua Villa.

A heartfelt thank you to the Evers Foundation, which plays a key role in the development of Maua Villa. Their support has previously covered much of the costs for our solar-powered well as well as the common house. 🙌

A special Christmas present

Are you still or already looking for a Christmas present? Finding something meaningful for people who seem to have everything can be tricky. We have a special idea for you: give the gift of joy and hope with a donation gift. Your contribution will make Christmas unforgettable for the children of Maua Villa and their families.

As a thank-you, we’ll send you a personalized e-card showing what your donation has supported in honor of your loved ones—a gift that not only adds a special touch under the Christmas tree but also creates real, positive change.

We’ve created a wishlist on our website. When you click “Christmas 2024” you’ll find a variety of wishes, big and small — something for everyone. For example, you can help fund secondary school fees for our older children, which is one of our top priorities right now. Every contribution makes a difference!

Spread the word by sharing this newsletter on your social media or forwarding to friends and colleagues. Together, we can make a big impact!

Members Meeting 2024

At this year’s annual members meeting on November 27, 2024, we reflected together on a successful year. Highlights included the nearly completed common house and the acquisition of new land, as well as challenges such as the failure of the leased farm or the breakdown of the water pump and battery of our solar system. These challenges provided us valuable lessons for the future.

As a Pamoja Africa member, you’re not only invited to the annual meeting but also play a vital role in supporting our work. With a membership fee of at least 20€ per year, you help cover Pamoja Africa’s ongoing costs, ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to where they’re most needed. We’re always excited to welcome new members to our community! If you’d like to join, you can become a member here.

To wrap up, I’d love to share this 🎬 video featuring Damaris, Mutoko, and Mueni. They share their personal highs and lows from the past year.

Asanti sana!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your interest and valuable support. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas season filled with warmth, happiness, and special moments. 🎄☺️

Thank you so much for your amazing support! 🌟

Yours Anja with great support from Heike & Jochen

PS: Spread the word 📣 Add Pamoja Africa as a favorite in your PayPal account, and we’ll appear as your preferred charity for future payments. It takes just one click on the heart icon on our PayPal page. Thank you! 💛