VZW Kitanda is an association based in the Bruges region. The organization was founded with the vision of improving the quality of life of the local population and communities through self-reliance and sustainable development in areas where there is insufficient structural support. The local partner works on improving basic services such as water management, healthcare, education, and food security. This enables the community to develop in the long term without being dependent on external aid.
The vision of VZW Kitanda is to create a sustainable development model in which communities have ownership and are able to provide for their own basic needs, supported by partners such as Kitanda vzw.
The first projects focused on widows and orphans. Meanwhile, the focus has shifted to entire communities rather thans institutions, but the needs of the poorest remain central.
VZW Kitanda is active in disadvantaged areas where governments or other structures provide insufficient support. The organization is demand-driven and responds to the needs of local communities. Projects focus on basic services such as education, healthcare, nutrition, water supply, and electricity – always with sustainability, a sense of ownership, self-reliance, and community empowerment as guiding principles.
"Kitanda" is Swahili and initially means "bed", but it goes further. A "bed" is also a "resting place" and we want to offer people that resting place to regain their strength, physically and mentally, until, after a good rest, they become stronger and, once completely recovered, become self-sustainable again.
VZW Kitanda is led by:
The board of directors:
- President: Rudy Devinck
- Secretary: Mario Vansuyt
- Treasurer: Noël Hancart
- Members: Dr. Astrid Devinck
What are your basic needs?
WATER, FOOD, CLOTHING, a ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD so you can sleep peacefully in your "kitanda", EDUCATION and SELF-SUSTAINABILITY by building an INCOME?
This is what Kitanda offers to people who lack WATER, which prevents them from growing FOOD and means that they need to send their children out in search of water, which prevents them from getting an EDUCATION. And without the skills they learn in EDUCATION, they will not be able to build an INCOME later, as adults, which will prevent them from becoming SELF-SUSTAINABLE … because let's face it, isn't this what every person longs for… being able to take care of themselves in terms of daily needs.
You can read exactly WHAT this means under the heading Where, with what and SDGs.
VZW Kitanda was founded in 2010 by a few Christian friends who were confronted with the needs of their fellow human beings in Africa. The Christian Biblical values inspire us to live a life of service, mercy, and justice.
In Matthew 25:31-46, helping the hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and prisoners is even equated with serving Christ himself. Helping others is an expression of gratitude and connection with God for us, as it stems from God's love, is aimed at the well-being of others, and is realized through God’s provision.
What does this mean in practice?
A bed: Every child needs a healthy and safe bed to sleep in, relax and grow. We saw children sleeping on a metal grid due to the lack of a mattress. Give it a try!
Kitanda has already sent hundreds of mattresses to Kenya and Northern Nigeria!
Protection: We witnessed widows, neglected by society, unemployed, who were "allowed" to pay their "house rent" in a different way. Outrageous! No longer acceptable these days! … and yet still common. We want to fight against that because everyone deserves dignity!
Kitanda, often supported by one or more local partners, offers the opportunity to build up an income by teaching them a profession.
Thirst: If you are at home, you who are reading this will have access to drinkable water within 30 seconds. This is still not the case for millions of people today… but people do fly to Mars, in search of water!
We saw women and children walking up to 17 km, one way, with one or more jerry cans of 20 liters capacity, to fetch drinking water. One empty jerry can does not weigh much; one full one weighs at least 20 kg. And then you are a frail 8-year-old boy who has to return it home for 17 km. Shouldn't he go to school? No, once more that wasn't possible for him today.
Kitanda helps to bring drinkable water to the community!
Hunger: During the drought of 2020 we arrived at a homestead in Kenya, a group of houses, or rather shacks, where people live together in a small community. We asked if we could do something for them. The answer was quickly given: "We haven't eaten for a week, we are hungry." Have you ever looked hunger in the eye? You won't forget that!
Kitanda provided several bags of food. But more importantly, we looked for and found ways to teach them to provide their own food… and for that, water is necessary!
Healthy sanitary facilities: Can you imagine needing the toilet urgently and having nowhere to go? What would you be willing to do then? And what comfort would you like? There are still too many places where comfort and hygiene are not considered for a normal, daily activity like that and where the consequences are disastrous for people’s health, especially for the young, vulnerable children.
Kitanda, with the help of the local population, has already built over 70 toilets and the consequences for the health of the children in particular, supported by scientific research, made our hearts sing!
Self-sustainability: It gives you joy when you can help someone else, but it gives even more joy for that other person when they can take care of themselves.
Kitanda helps in the search for self-reliance, either by teaching people a profession that can generate an income, or by providing them with resources to grow food themselves.
Emergency care: Yes, everyone has urgent needs sometimes. Most of us have a "safety net", either with family, friends, the government or we can tap into our "piggy bank". This is not the case everywhere!
Kitanda was able to help provide water and food during droughts or for refugees from Boko Haram. Victims who lost everything due to severe weather in Kenya received food, a mattress and a blanket. Not much, but important at that moment. We built a new, sturdy little house for some. Hospital costs were paid for some people who needed urgent medical attention.
Kitanda works on a project basis, systematically pursuing a predetermined end goal and deadline. To gain insight into this, we start with a mission visit to identify the needs and possible solutions. A feasibility study and risk analysis are then carried out, followed by a detailed cost estimate. Within a project, we work in a process-oriented manner, which means a sequential and unambiguous execution of activities in which regular checks are carried out, adjustments are made if necessary and risks are excluded as much as possible. Interim reporting for ourselves and also for the donors is obvious. Self-reliance and good partnership are always of paramount importance.