About us
Orange Angel comprised a passionate team committed to improving the living conditions of the poorest.
As a small, private organization Orange Angel Foundation operated entirely selflessly and with a strong focus on results. The priority was to ensure that that not a cent was wasted.
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Approach to our work
Connecting
We build and maintain the bridge between donor and implementers: Connection with otherwise unattainable goals
Partnering
Through regular contact, visits, we ensure effective and direct involvement.
Funding
Improvement doesn't have to cost much; the way, and control of the provision of money makes all the difference. We can do a lot with little
Reporting
Administration, control and accounting are performed very professionally at local and central locations. According to ANBI rules.
HOW IT STARTED
Jos Neijenhuis, founder of the Foundation: "As director and founder of FOX Holidays (now part of the national automobile and cycle association, ANWB) I was closely involved in the relief work of the devastating Tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2005-2006, then one of our holiday destinations. Not a house remained intact. "
"After crying out for help from our friends in Sri Lanka, we started an action with FOX to raise money for the poverty-stricken families on the coast, who had lost everything due to the devastating waves. Because most of the victims had fallen among the poor fishermen. We build fishing boats as quickly as possible so that at least fishing could be done again. It became a very personal action, because whoever donated 1000 euros could have a fishing boat built including the fishing nets for that amount. Each boat was provided with a Dutch flag with the name from the donor, 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 and all kinds of unnecessary agencies, so that every cent went well.
The campaign was a huge success. We were able to build more than 700 boats and make entire villages happy. During our 'boat project' I often came to Sri Lanka. For example, the village of Kosgoda, just south of the capital Colombo, came into contact with one of the worst affected areas. The people here had lost almost everything and sat apathetically in self-made huts and shacks. I gave them some courage by saying that major relief efforts had started in the world and that their hopeless situation would soon change. Back in the Netherlands, a few months later I received a call from the monk of the village, Kassapa, who told me that nothing at all had happened except for some fresh drinking water and some rice.
The situation was simply untenable. Three days after that phone call, I flew back to Sri Lanka to have a look for myself. Indeed, nothing had changed, despite all the millions that had been donated at the time. A few days later with a local contractor we started our work. We began by building 4 houses for broken families. In a few years, it eventually became 62 houses, giving approximately 250 people a good shelter. 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 great to see how much talent was there. 100% of the proceeds went to the Foundation and the community of the village.
Once you start, you won'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 small-scale project: building chicken coops for poor families, so that they can still earn a little with the proceeds from the eggs. There are now dozens of chicken coops.
In Nepal, Orange Angel worked together 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 have set up sewing projects in the remote and 'forgotten' area of ​​Chitwan, so that women can make their own clothes. Furthermore, another unique project has been set up for widows in the area. When a woman becomes a widow, the income often disappears and she is all alone. We give her a goat or piglet, which she can take care of and fatten up, so that after 10 months she can sell it on the market and live on the money and buy a little piglet or goat again. "
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The proof that a small and focused effort can yield significant improvement in the lives of many families, lead us to discussing an idea with a team of like-minded social entrepreeurs in Brazil. Our work began in the favelas and continues to today and beyond in providing skills training and inspiration to those who previouslhy had little hope and no opportunity to improve their lives.
Jos Neijenhuis
in 2005 I founded the Orange Angel Foundation in response to the devastating Tsunami. At the time, I was co-owner of FOX Holidays and set up a major relief campaign for Sri Lanka, where our customers donated enough money to have 700 fishing boats made. After that I continued building houses for the poorest and never stopped, simply because it makes me happy that I have been able to actually mean something to these people.
Frank Wade
From my own perspective of developing major infrastructure projects such as air and sea ports and cargo facilities, I know that there are often families who are unable to participate in larger economic activities. Orange Angel directly helps these people by supporting development for their own economic independence. I believe both perspectives are important and I get the opportunity to participate through Orange Angel. Delivering a house or a chicken coop gives a family hope and a foundation for the future.
Walter van Kleef
In 2012 I was asked by Jos Neijenhuis to be a member of the board. Because of my position as Commissioner of the Gelderland Police, I can supplement the board with my experience in public administration, among other things. I think it is honorable and beautiful to be able to mean something in this way for the people in the Third World who live in absolute poverty. Because Orange Angel's projects are small-scale and guided by our own people, the money from the foundation always ends up with the people who really need it!
Fred Snelderwaard
I can fulfill the honorable position of Treasurer in the board of the foundation. Born in 1964 and in daily life I am a tax specialist and entrepreneur (co-owner of an accountants / tax consultancy 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 does their work is unprecedented. They make a difference in the daily lives of many people who have so much less. So an honor to be involved in that.
Team in Brazil
Our partners in Brazil are the Instituto Impacto Criativo, the leading social enterprise focussed on improving the lives of marginalized through skills training, communication, micro-credit loans and motivation. Through four success programmes, Olha Elaa and Água Doce
conducted two successful programmes which lead to a third co-operation with the JUMP programme, supported by Genesis incubation centre and FAPERJ institute for technology. Our Pet Professional programme connected the Instituto with government and private enterprise as well as the the Banco Credito to provide micro credit loans.
Team in Kathmandu
All Angels Nepal (AAN) is a non-profit organization established to empower women and young people. AAN works in the areas of women's empowerment, education, health and hygiene, the environment, agriculture, renewable energy, and ICT. Its mission is to empower women by providing various skills training programs and raising public awareness about gender discrimination and the exploitation of women, and to mobilize various programs in these areas.