Youth trip 2025

Below are several reflections from supervisors and young people who took part in this special journey in 2025. It is good to know in advance that the travel group (18 people) organised a crowdfunding campaign beforehand. The group also wanted to contribute personally to the success of the trip. Within just four months, an amount of over €18,000 was raised. That was truly amazing!

Elena Kampschöer – Schoenfeld (supervisor)

The photos give only a small impression of all the experiences we gained during the youth trip to Tanzania through FOTAS/MOV, under the inspiring guidance of André Hoogveld and the three local priests: Jovin, Jeremiah and Hermann.Despite several information evenings beforehand, you still set off with a group of 18 people, most of whom you hardly know. From that starting point, you travel thousands of kilometres to a country with a completely different culture, way of life, language, food – and so much more. Quite exciting!You see and smell poverty, but also joy and gratitude, pride and independence, love and self-reliance. We visited projects that have been started by FOTAS/MOV over the past years, and it was wonderful to see that these efforts truly make a difference. As Westerners, you often look at developments in Africa through very different eyes. But we have seen and experienced that sponsoring projects and individuals can genuinely bring about change. It starts with one person and spreads to family, friends, neighbours and far beyond. Alongside the intense and sometimes emotional moments, we also shared a lot of fun with each other and with the people we met in Tanzania. It was a special and intense journey that I look back on with great pleasure.

Joyce Elferink

My motivation for joining this trip was to see the real Africa – not the tourist image you often see online. I wanted to learn how people really live there. What surprised me the most was how happy and content many people are with what they have. Their hospitality was also very special and sincere. Whether we visited a school or stopped somewhere for lunch, we were always welcomed with open arms. That is something we can certainly learn from! What stayed with me most from this journey is how something small can mean so much. One day we gave a football to a small school, and within seconds the entire school gathered around it. For us, something like that is very normal, but for them it was a huge celebration. A lot also happened along the way. During the long drives, we often waved to people and children along the road. Sometimes we were met with smiling faces, and sometimes with surprised looks, as many people in those areas had never seen a white person before. Especially the children looked at us with wide eyes, but that often quickly turned into big smiles and enthusiastic waving. Every time, I was deeply impressed by that. It was those small moments that made this trip so special. It was incredibly meaningful to be able to make a difference, while at the same time receiving so many beautiful memories in return. It is an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life, always with a smile.

Floor van Lent

This trip to Tanzania was one of the most special experiences of my life. We were away for three and a half weeks and visited many different places, each with its own impressions and stories. What touched me most were the visits to schools – especially schools for children with disabilities. The stories of the albino families also deeply affected me. It was confronting to hear what they go through and how vulnerable their situation is. In both cases, it truly felt that our support was needed there, and I am grateful that we were able to contribute in some way. Tanzania is a beautiful country, with a culture that inspired me greatly. At first it was a real culture shock, but before long I felt at home. I learned to be grateful for the small things and rediscovered what truly matters in life. During the trip we were accompanied by three kind and caring priests who helped us everywhere and welcomed us with open arms. I will never forget their warmth and dedication. The same goes for the group I travelled with – a wonderful group of people whom I got to know and look back on with gratitude. What stayed with me most is how happy and joyful the children are, often with so very little. That touched me deeply and made me happy as well. The smiling children you see all day long completely melt your heart 🥰 We laughed a lot, played, danced and enjoyed ourselves together – on the streets, at schools and everywhere we went. Those moments were incredibly special and valuable. This journey has earned a permanent place in my heart

Laura van Olst

I too had the opportunity to join this special journey. I saw André’s article in the newspaper and after the first information meeting, I was quickly convinced by the powerful photos – this was something I wanted to see with my own eyes! After a pleasant (and long) journey, we finally arrived in Tanzania. During our first stay in Kayanga, we attended a church service. The celebration was much more lively than what we are used to at home. There was lots of singing, dancing, music, prayer and praise. It was deeply impressive to experience this. After the service, we walked out of the church and found many children and young adults waiting for us outside. This was our first interaction with the local community. At first, both the children and we ourselves were a little hesitant and it felt unfamiliar, but soon the shyness disappeared and we started communicating. High fives were exchanged and many photos were taken. This visit marked the beginning of many more special encounters. We visited several schools, hospitals and albino families supported by MOV/FOTAS. Each visit was unique and left a deep impression on us. Everywhere we went, we were warmly welcomed with open arms. The feeling that came with this is hard to describe. I will never forget the beautiful smiles of the Tanzanian people. It was truly inspiring to see with my own eyes the positive impact that the support of MOV/FOTAS has on the daily lives of people in Tanzania.

Remko Mathijssen (supervisor)

We travelled through part of Tanzania for a little over two weeks together with three priests. During this time, we visited primary schools, secondary schools and a hospital. What has stayed with me most, besides the beauty of the country, is the hospitality and friendliness of the Tanzanian people. Even though they have very little, they are eager to share what they do have. I truly enjoyed the enthusiasm of the children we met along the way. Tanzania is a beautiful and fertile country. It was wonderful that, thanks to our fundraising, we were able to support several projects and contribute to development. For me personally, it was also special to see the sanitation facilities that were made possible by MHB.

Wolf Schoonhoven

What stayed with me most were the visits to the schools. Before we arrived, I had already formed some assumptions and prejudices: overcrowded classrooms, poorly performing children who were not very motivated. Our first school visits seemed to confirm some of these ideas – crowded classes, limited materials and moderately engaged teachers. This did not surprise me at first. But then we visited other schools, and those experiences were different. By then we were used to warm welcomes, but these schools stood out. We were allowed to attend several lessons. Some of us joined history classes, others mathematics or geography, and we attended physics. The problems on the board looked very familiar – just like the experiments. These children were being taught at a pre-university level. They spoke English, had ambitions and dreams of a better future. At that moment, I realised that these children are not less capable or unwilling to learn – they have simply never been given the opportunity. The children who are able to attend school are intelligent, perhaps even more so than we are. They want to go to school, they want to learn. In the Netherlands, we often take that opportunity for granted – I am guilty of that too. You cheer when a lesson is cancelled, without really thinking about it. After speaking with the children themselves, it became very clear: they are smart, curious and eager to make the most of their lives. MOV FOTAS helps make these dreams a reality. We spoke with former students who completed the programme and were able to develop into the people they had always had the potential to be, but never had the chance. And the impact of MOV FOTAS does not stop with the students themselves. In African culture, giving back is deeply rooted. Many former students choose to share their knowledge and improved prosperity with the next generation. Some have started daycare centres to keep young children off the streets and provide education. Others support their siblings so they too can study. I could write pages about the potential and capabilities of the African people. I hope that every child in Africa – and really, in the whole world – is given the opportunity to develop into the person they want to become.

Jack Peperkamp (co-organiser together with André Hoogveld)

Preparations for the youth trip started in 2024, and the result was a fantastic journey in 2025. A very diverse and active group of young people, together with their supervisors, made it an unforgettable experience. I really enjoyed being involved from the sidelines and hopefully contributing in a small way to this memorable trip. I sincerely hope that this beautiful photo book will serve as a valuable reminder of the journey. My wish is that this experience continues to live on in the hearts of the participants, and that the people in the visited region of Tanzania may continue to benefit from it for a long time to come.