Page 8 - ChildsLife Annual Report 2022

25 years ChildsLife
An amazing milestone!
Since it’s ChildsLife’s birthday, it’s a good time to reflect on how the organization was started and what we have achieved.
25 years ago, Patricia Korver-Kicak founded ChildsLife. Patricia did not see her work as a mission. “For me it is the most natural thing in the world to offer help to people who need it. I am not the archetypal mother who dries tears but rather the initiator and implementer who works behind the scenes to create opportunities for people so that they may be able to take care of themselves, their children, and their communities. The ultimate goal is for people to see a future WITHOUT charity.” Patricia says.
After many years with international non-profits, Patricia used her non-profit expertise to create a new organization. An organization different from others, one that truly listens to what people need. An organization with a thorough approach that works with local communities to achieve sustainable results for real impact.
One that works to provide a future for people who thought they didn’t have one. The organization started in 1997 in The Netherlands as ‘Voedselhulp voor Kinderen’ with emergency food shipments for families in Eastern Europe. Soon after, help was extended
to Africa where the Live, Learn & Earn programs took off.
In 2004, the name changed to ChildsLife for better national and international recognition.
After 10 years, ChildsLife expanded its programs in Africa and Eastern Europe. The emphasis shifted towards supporting children and their communities with the focus on sustainable development and creation of self-reliance; giving people the means to break the vicious circle of poverty. ChildsLife stood by its tailor-made aid principle, in line with local needs. Because what still applies today, is that a relatively simple solution can have the biggest impact.
Now, ChildsLife has grown up! What started at Patricia’s kitchen table is now a seasoned and experienced organization. As you know, in 2020 Patricia retired from her daily duties at ChildsLife and handed over the reins of the Dutch organization to Carlian van Klarenbosch and her colleagues. Fortunately, Patricia as Founder, will always be involved with ChildsLife and the International Programming.
With pride we look at an organization that has been in existence for over 25 years! Over the years ChildsLife has faced many challenges but our focus on our mission and vision has resulted in thousands of children who now have a better life ahead of them. We could never have achieved this without a loyal group of donors and supporters, like you. And Patricia would be the first one to say it all came down to creating a great team of experienced staff and volunteers helping her with the ChildsLife vision.
We would prefer to live in a world where our help is not needed, but we look forward to the next 25 years. Until then ChildsLife will, with your help, continue to work hard to give as many children as possible a chance for a better future!
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