ABOUT US
OBJECTIVES
As a small, passionate team dedicated to improving the living conditions of the poorest of the poor,
the Orange Angel Foundation was a small, private organization that worked entirely selflessly and operated in a highly results-oriented manner. We are to be absolutely certain that not a cent was wasted.
HOW IT BEGAN
Jos Neijenhuis, founder of the Foundation: "As director and founder of FOX Vakanties (now part of ANWB), I was closely involved in the relief efforts following the devastating tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2005-2006, which was one of our holiday destinations at the time. The distress was immense."
Not a single house remained intact. Following cries for help from our friends in Sri Lanka, we launched a campaign with FOX to raise money for the destitute families on the coast who had lost everything due to the devastating waves. Because most of the victims were poor fishermen, we wanted to build fishing boats as quickly as possible so that fishing could at least resume.
It became a very personal campaign, because anyone who donated 1,000 euros at the time could have a fishing boat built for that amount, including the fishing nets. Each boat was fitted with a small Dutch flag bearing the donor's name, who received a certificate with a photo of the family and the boat.
Our approach was to have the boats built and delivered without intermediaries or unnecessary agencies, ensuring that every cent went to the right place.
The campaign was a huge success. We were able to build over 700 boats and make entire villages happy.
During our ‘boat project’, I visited Sri Lanka frequently. That is how I came into contact with the village of Kosgoda, just south of the capital Colombo, one of the worst-hit areas. The people here had lost virtually everything and sat apathetically in makeshift huts and shacks. I gave them some hope by saying that major relief efforts had been launched around the world and that their hopeless situation would soon change. Back in the Netherlands, a few months later, I received a call from the village monk, Kassapa, who told me that absolutely nothing had happened except for some fresh drinking water and some rice.
The situation was simply untenable. Three days after that phone call, I took a plane and returned to Sri Lanka to see for myself. Indeed, nothing had changed, despite all those millions that had been donated at the time. A few days later, I just started working on it myself, simply with a local contractor. I began by building 4 houses for broken families.
Over the course of a few years, it eventually became 66 houses, providing a decent home for approximately 250 people in total. In 2009, a workshop/art school was also built in the village to give very disadvantaged young people from the area the opportunity to develop their talents. We focused on ceramics and painting. It was wonderful to see how much talent was present. 100% of the proceeds went to the Foundation and the village community.
Once you start, you don't stop.
There is so much to do. It is impossible to give everyone a decent home. That is why I continued with an effective, smaller-scale project: building chicken coops for poor families, so that they can earn something from the proceeds of the eggs. By now, there are dozens of productive chicken coops.
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In Nepal, Orange Angel collaborated with the Angel Nepal Foundation, which performs small miracles there with very limited resources thanks to the efforts of Angelique van Hoof. Together with her, we set up sewing projects in the remote and ‘forgotten’ area of Chitwan, enabling women to make their own clothes.
Another unique project was established for widows in the area. When a woman becomes a widow, her income often disappears, leaving her completely alone. We donated a goat or piglet to her, which she can care for and fatten up, so that after 10 months she can sell it at the market, live off the proceeds, and buy another little piglet or goat.
The People Behind Orange Angel
In 2005, I founded the Orange Angel Foundation following the devastating Tsunami. At the time, I was co-owner of FOX Vakanties and organized a major relief campaign for Sri Lanka, where our customers donated enough money to have 700 fishing boats built. After that, I continued building houses for the poorest of the poor myself and haven't stopped since, simply because it makes me happy to be enabled to actually make a difference for these people.
Jos Neijenhuis, Founder
In 2005, I founded the Orange Angel Foundation following the devastating Tsunami. At the time, I was co-owner of FOX Vakanties and organized a major relief campaign for Sri Lanka, where our customers donated enough money to have 700 fishing boats built. After that, I continued building houses for the poorest of the poor myself and haven't stopped since, simply because it makes me happy to be enabled to actually make a difference for these people.
Frank Wade, Board Member
From my own perspective on the development of major infrastructure projects such as airports, seaports, and cargo facilities, I know that there are often communities and families who cannot participate in larger economic activities. Orange Angel helps these people directly by supporting development for their own economic independence. I believe that both perspectives are important, and through Orange Angel, I get the opportunity to contribute. Delivering a house or a chicken coop gives a family hope and a foundation for the future. Building a business concept into a small enterprise with a view to future growth is possible with Orange Angel support. (The last item in our Timeline shows visible proof of the results of economic development in a devasted community.)
Walter Van Kleef, Board Member
I was asked by Jos Neijenhuis in 2012 to join the board. Due to my position as Commissioner of the Police in Gelderland, I can complement the board with, among other things, my experience in public administration. I consider it an honor and a wonderful thing to be able to make a difference in this way for people in the Third World who live in absolute poverty. Because Orange Angel's projects are small-scale and managed by their own staff, the foundation's money always reaches the people who truly need it! Building a business with an eye on the future is possible with Orange Angel support.
Fred Snelderwaard, Board Member, Treasurer
I have the honor of serving as Treasurer on the foundation's board. Born in 1964, I am a tax specialist and entrepreneur in daily life (co-owner of an accounting/tax advisory firm). Proud father of 2 sons. I find it a great inspiration to be involved with the Orange Angel Foundation. The passion with which the founders/the executive board perform their work is unprecedented. They make a difference in the daily lives of many people who are so much less fortunate. It is therefore an honor to be involved in this.
Our International Partners
At Orange Angel, we work with strong local partners around the world. Through these collaborations, we can create sustainable impact and empower communities with knowledge, resources, and opportunities. Discover our teams and projects in Brazil and Nepal below.
Team in Brazil
Our partners in Brazil were the Instituto Impacto Criativo, the leading social enterprise focused on improving the living conditions of marginalized people through skills training, communication, microcredit, and motivation. The original group developed Olha Elaa with Água Doce, we implemented two successful programs that led to a third collaboration with the JUMP program. This was supported by the Genesis business incubation center and the FAPERJ Institute of Technology. Our cooperation applied all of the knowledge gained in the previous projects in the skills and businesss training programme "Pet Professionals" This continues to expand and has connected the institute with the government, the business community, and Banco Acredita to provide microcredits.
Team in Kathmandu
All Angels Nepal (AAN) is a non-profit organization founded to empower women and youth. AAN works in the fields of women's empowerment, education, health and hygiene, environment, agriculture, renewable energy, and ICT. Its mission is to empower women by providing various skills training, to raise public awareness of gender discrimination and the exploitation of women, and to mobilize various programs in these same areas.