HERMA Company Profile Responsibility

Helping where the need is particularly great

A group of eight girls stands together, smiling and happily posing in a green, sunny setting.

The project: an orphanage in Tanzania

Tanzania's population is around 60 million – and about one million children grow up as orphans. Some of them live with relatives, but a great number simply live on the street. Hunger, hard work, and mistreatment are the order of the day. They lack human attention, access to education and often even a solid roof over their heads. In cooperation with STELP, an aid organisation based in Stuttgart, Germany, HERMA has decided to finance the construction of an orphanage in Tanzania. We wanted to provide specific help where need and poverty are particularly great. STELP puts a lot of passion and heart into each project and ensures that the funds are used extremely effectively, and this is what convinced us. On this page, you can relive the progress of the project.

A group of children and an adult are sitting together and smiling. The children are wearing various colorful outfits.
Four smiling children stand close together, wearing colorful clothes and radiating joy.
Children are shaping cookies from dough using cookie cutters on a table. Some kids are actively participating while others are watching.

June 2022 - It can start

The building permit of the administration of the Mkuranga district is now available. We are very happy about this together with our partners Waisenkinder Tansania e. V. and STELP. The first visible, concrete measures on site can now begin. These include, for example, the preparation of the land and the drilling work for our own well. Of course, the architect has already been active as well. The present computer animations give a first impression of what the building will look like later on.

Modern architecture of a house with a sloped roof, surrounded by plants and a paved path. People are moving nearby.

September 2022 - Water march!

Water is life! Before the actual construction of the orphanage begins, it is therefore important to ensure the supply of the precious water. After the end of the rainy season, workmen have successfully drilled a well on the site in recent weeks. Currently, the construction team is busy building a water tower. As soon as both sub-projects have been completed, work will start on the main building.

A worker is laying cement blocks at a construction site to build a wall. The ground is covered with red sand.
Two workers are drilling a hole in the ground, while a drill stands in the background, surrounded by dirt and water.
Workers are building with bricks and concrete in a construction area, surrounded by soil and trees.

November 2022 – The water tower is now up

The work is proceeding fast. The prominent frame of the water tower is now standing. Workers have begun installing the toilet facilities, digging the necessary waste water pit and reinforcing it. We expect work on the main building to start in February or March.

An unfinished building with a wooden frame and stairs, surrounded by trees and grass. A person is working on the roof.

June 2023 - A good foundation

The actual house is gradually taking shape. The outline is already clearly visible. Stone by stone, the foundation was first laid. Then the workmen poured a stable base plate. Now the main building is growing rapidly upwards.

Two construction workers are laying bricks on a building site to create the foundations of a building, surrounded by dirt and trees.
A building plot with a partially constructed wall made of concrete blocks, surrounded by trees and unpaved ground.
Workers are pouring concrete at a construction site to create the foundation of a building, surrounded by trees and natural scenery.

August 2023 – Firmly walled, well thought out

It's done: The shell is in place. And even better: a protective roof is already on it. Before the interior work begins, everything can now dry out well. This is because the short rainy season, which usually lasts about four weeks in Tanzania, does not begin until mid-November.

An unfinished house with a wooden frame construction for the roof, surrounded by trees and construction materials.
Wooden frame construction under a blue sky, with visible beams and supports that uphold the structure of a building.
A half-finished stone house with a gabled roof, surrounded by trees and unpaved ground.

October 2023 - Things are moving forward, outside and inside!

In the meantime, masons have applied the plaster. Thus, the masonry is already well protected against rain and UV rays. The walls in the interior have also been plastered and prepared for further work.

A half-finished house with a blue roof, large windows, and a concrete foundation, surrounded by unpaved ground and trees.
An unfinished space with exposed rafters and large windows overlooking a green outdoor area. Wooden materials are scattered on the floor.
A partially finished hallway with several open doors and a concrete floor, surrounded by bare walls and a visible roof structure.

November 2023 - It is being furnished

The house is now painted white. The interior is currently being fitted out. Furnishings such as cots and shelves are also being purchased.

A bright hallway with white walls, open doors leading to other rooms, and a view of a green outdoor area.
Bright, empty room with white walls and large windows overlooking a garden. The floor is unfinished.
New, unfinished house with a white facade and gray roof, surrounded by unpaved ground and a tree. Construction materials are lying in front.

April 2024 - The orphanage is ready for occupancy

It is an indescribably wonderful feeling: the orphanage has just been completed. The relevant authorities still have to approve it. But everything has already been lovingly prepared for the babies to move in. The new orphanage is specially designed to meet their needs. The twins Gabriel and Gregory will definitely be among the first residents. They were born a few weeks ago. Until the new orphanage officially opens its doors, the two will remain in the safe care of an existing facility for children. Like the new orphanage, this will be run by the organisation Waisenkinder Tansania e. V.

Unfinished house with a concrete frame and wooden structure, surrounded by unpaved ground and vegetation.
Two tiny baby feet rest on a soft surface, partially covered by a blanket. The skin is delicate and rosy.
A bright room with four wooden children's beds, a round rug, and colorful curtains. A window offers a view outside.
A hallway with a wall decorated with framed children's drawings. Two doors are visible in the background. A hanging lamp is also present.
A bright children's room with two wooden bunk beds, a round rug, and a dresser. Windows with curtains let in natural light.
Colorful wooden toys and a toy knife are placed on a wooden table, while books stand in the background.
Two wooden tables set with dishes and cups, surrounded by chairs, in a bright room with windows and natural light.
A group of five people is sitting on the floor, playing with colorful building blocks and toys.

July 2025 – A Home Filled with Warmth

At long last, the orphanage in Mkenge has opened its doors. The first babies have already moved in and are now welcomed into a loving environment that offers both safety and care. Up to 20 infants will be able to grow up here, protected and nurtured in a place where their basic needs are met. This new home provides something truly special: attentive caregivers, child-friendly facilities, and comprehensive hygiene standards. Everything is in place to give them the best possible start in life.

Two children are playing on the floor in front of a white building, while another child is pulling on a toy.
Three children are standing in wooden cribs in a bright room with colorful curtains and a round rug.
Children are playing in the sand while another child is busy with a toy. The surroundings are filled with greenery and a clear sky.

The partner: characterised by transparency and commitment

The name of the STELP aid organisation, founded in 2016, is short for STuttgart hELPs. The STELP team consists almost entirely of volunteers. Urgently needed services that a charity relies on and that others have to purchase at great cost are obtained by STELP through its network of supporters, such as marketing agencies, printing companies, lawyers and tax consultants. This means that almost 100% of the donations actually flows into the projects, which are usually realised together with committed local partners. STELP also meets the key transparency criteria set by the Transparent Civil Society Initiative.

STELP, local supporters, in modern lettering on a turquoise background.

Implementation: the project is well targeted thanks to local expertise and experience.

When selecting the project, it was particularly important for HERMA and STELP to be able to draw on experienced local support and expertise. The facility itself is still at the planning stage. It will be built and operated by the Association for Orphan Children, Tanzania e.V. (Waisenkinder Tansania e.V.), which already runs two orphanages for boys and girls. The goals are to give traumatised orphans and street children a loving and safe home, to open the way to good education and to support them in their development. The new orphanage will also help them to experience a healthy and happy childhood in a stable environment.   

The twin objectives: security and appreciation

Like the two existing orphanages, the new facility will be able to accommodate up to 14 children. In order to create a family atmosphere that allows each individual to feel secure and valued, each house has a responsible house mother together with a housemaid who looks after the young residents. Qualified training programmes ensure that the quality of care is continuously improved. The children also receive regular medical care.

The orphanage: a place with many possibilities

The new house will also be built in the traditional simple style, with a concept that includes a sustainable energy and water supply, solar panels and a private well. It will include a kitchen, living room, four bedrooms and a game room. A playground and a large garden are already in place. Waisenkinder Tansania e.V. acquired a three-hectare agricultural area some time ago and the plants grown there and in the garden, such as papaya fruits, bananas, coconut palms, guavas, oranges, pineapple, lemongrass and cassava will not only be used for self-sufficiency – part of the harvest will be sold on local markets in the future. The proceeds from this can then be used to finance the young people’s education as well as other projects.

The perspective: a successful path into life

In Tanzania, a good education is the most important foundation for a self-determined life. This is why the orphanages focus strongly on providing ongoing support to children throughout their schooling and education. Wherever possible, the aim is to have the children attend a private, fee-paying school, since the state school system is often overburdened.