Unlimited potential is our birthright.
While the time, place, and continent of our birth may present challenges, our potential remains boundless. Botswana is a country of great beauty and remarkable people, yet it faces both opportunities and obstacles. Statistics place Botswana at the bottom of the happiness index, with work ethic and education also ranking low.
As part of our mission we want to help women, youth and children to be able to create their best life for themselves. We do this by the words of Lao Tsu who said that ‘if you give a hungry man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.’
Financial independence and a sustainable future for children and women in Botswana
“In 2006, I spent six months volunteering in San Genaro, a slum in Lima, Peru. There, I witnessed firsthand the challenges of education in developing countries; children attended school for only half a day and had three months of summer holidays. Yet, despite these limitations, I saw that the children in the slums had the same dreams as those in the Netherlands, where I lived at the time. This made me wonder: how could these children be given the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality?
A few years later, I committed myself to creating positive change for these children. In late 2009, I founded the StartUp4Kids Foundation, driven by my belief in the strength and creativity of every individual. By learning to save, and develop their talents in a playful way, children can build a future where they achieve their dreams through their own efforts.
One of my personal dreams was to empower children and families in Botswana, because this is now my home. I am dedicated to sharing my knowledge and love with the people here, working alongside local NGOs, playgroups, and schools in and around Maun. I collaborate with the regional Ministry of Education and rely on the support of StartUp4Kids, voluntary teaching programs, and a yearly donation from Phazama Farm’s income.
In 2024, I established my own foundation in Botswana, Re Jala Peo, meaning plant a seed. And that is exactly what I am doing; planting seeds of opportunity, education, and empowerment for a brighter future.”
Katja Visser
