Blog

At the House of Happiness, we place great importance on education. We want to give children the opportunity to develop their potential and build a self-determined future. That's why we are so pleased when their efforts pay off. In the recent final exams, four of our children achieved outstanding results and were honored by their schools: 🏅 1st place in a class of 69 students 🏅 3rd place in a class of 55 students 🏅 3rd place in a class of 82 students 🏅 3rd place in a class

I really don't like that word. Even though I have the great privilege of being able to work from Tanzania and be there three to four times a year – always at my own expense, of course – I find it difficult to say goodbye every time. As the time for saying goodbye draws near, the emotions become especially intense. When my brother, who is also on the board of our association, and my mom traveled home, they were surprised with lovely gifts 🥰 It always touches me when our moms

Our cook lovingly prepares meals for everyone every day. He receives enthusiastic support from the children and their mothers. Together they prepare, cook, serve, and clean up – the kitchen is a place where everyone pitches in and takes responsibility. We've already shared some insights into this in a previous blog post. Sunday belongs to the church. On Sundays, we go to church – provided the roads aren't too muddy. According to the social services office, we are obligated to

This year we planted corn for the first time. Now we're eagerly awaiting the harvest in June or July. It's important to sow it well before the rainy season so that everything can grow properly. As is so often the case, the challenge lies in finding the right balance: if it rains too much, the soil can no longer absorb the water and the corn will be waterlogged. We therefore expect that we – like many others – could lose about half of the harvest. Working together The children

The children love to sing, dance, and play. It's wonderful to see how much energy, creativity, and joy they bring to their daily lives. Our playground is very popular and a favorite meeting place for young and old. Children often don't need much at all – they invent the best games from the smallest things. And if there's no ball available, a shoe will have to do 😉 Improvisation is a natural part of the process here. Movement with great enthusiasm Our mom Lucy is responsible

School started again for the children after Easter, and we were able to accompany them. As always after the holidays, the first day of school doesn't begin directly with lessons: first, the garden is weeded and the classrooms are thoroughly cleaned. Therefore, the children have to be there early enough so that lessons can start promptly at 8 a.m. Learning under special conditions There are an incredible 94 children in the so-called "baby class." It's clear that not all of the

We also use our stay to have important discussions. For example, we were pleased to welcome a representative from the social services office to our House of Happiness. Together, we discussed the developments of recent years and took a tour of our home. It's valuable to be able to reflect on such progress together. Challenges posed by weather and construction The weather conditions and building design here are completely different from ours. After just four years, some of our

Looking back now, it seems as if my time there went by far too quickly. The last few days with the children were intense, touching, and full of little moments that will stay with me. On one of the last days, I was allowed to accompany the children to school. Before we left, they stood neatly in a single line and had their hair carefully combed 🙃. After a short prayer, we set off together. The shoes were sparkling clean – and at first, every speck of dust was immediately remo

As many of you already know, I'm back with the children! And as always, there are creative hairstyles, beaming faces, and lots of energy. We also welcomed our 44th child – a great joy for everyone! Developmental steps and patience A child who had to wear leg braces for a long time has finally been rid of them. When walking, the child still sways noticeably from side to side – either out of habit or because something might not be quite right with their hips yet. We'll keep you

On the last Sunday of the month, it was that time again: we celebrated our children's birthdays. This time, Moody and I were allowed to join in too – much to the children's delight. They could hardly wait to "baptize" us with water according to Tanzanian tradition. The excitement was immense, and we were soaking wet within seconds! 😄 Before the water fight, there was of course cake – a particularly delicious one, baked for us by my friends Jeannette and Cornelia. The childre

Here in Arusha, too, it's time to do homework! 📚 The children sit together in concentration, and our moms and night watchman Edward patiently help. Even the little ones are eagerly participating – they practice on their little slates and are incredibly proud of themselves. Learn and laugh through play 🎲 Of course, there's plenty of playtime too! At one point, the children had to guess another child's voice while blindfolded – and the amazing thing was: out of 43 children, t

I'm back in Switzerland - but in two months I'll be traveling back to Arusha! I grow more and more fond of the children every time I see...

Eating here is much more than just filling your stomach – it is community, tradition and a piece of home. I am often asked: What do the...

Community, music and cake Sometimes it's the little moments that make everyday life here so special – a song on the go, a spontaneous...

I'm getting to spend four weeks back in Arusha with my beloved children. It feels wonderful to be able to work from here 🥰. We now care...

Today it's time to say goodbye again – my time here in Arusha was short but intense. Professional commitments call me back to Namibia. A...

I've been back here for almost a week now – and it feels like coming home. The familiar faces, the children's laughter, the hustle and...

Welcome to the House of Happiness We warmly welcome Gabriel and Suzan to the House of Happiness and are delighted that they have settled...

I was able to spend a wonderful day with the children in the House of Happiness. It was a day full of laughter, fooling around and...

2024 was a special and fulfilling year for the House of Happiness. Thanks to your support, we were able to participate in a total of...