This is us
Asante Watoto e.V.
Asante Watoto e.V. aims to open up new opportunities for children and families in Arusha and make positive change possible. We achieve this not through our own projects, but through a reliable, long-term partnership with our local partner Ndoto Zetu Ndoto Zetu.
Our aims
Our Vision
Our vision is for Ndoto Zetu to grow, make an impact, and become self-reliant in its work—and for us, as a German nonprofit, to provide exactly the support needed to make that happen. Our goal is to create a future worth living and loving for disadvantaged children, to involve their parents, to educate them, and to provide educational opportunities and playful learning for everyone.
How we support Ndoto Zetu
Our cooperation is based on a jointly signed Memorandum of Agreementthat clearly defines transparency, roles, responsibilities, and financial flows.
We see ourselves as a reliable partner organization to the Tanzanian organization Ndoto Zetu. Specifically, this means that we provide Ndoto Zetu with monthly basic funding. Our partner organization, Ndoto Zetu, also actively solicits donations on the ground—including monetary donations as well as in-kind donations and food donations. This core funding covers employee salaries, food costs, and expenses related to renting the premises (e.g., postage, trash, electricity). As of 2025, this amounts to approximately €1,000 per month.t.
Gemeinsam sind wir als Organisationen stark:
Wir sind stolz darauf, in den Jahren 2024/25 gemeinsam einen erfolgreichen Förderantrag über den Kleinprojektefond der Schmitzstiftungen in Höhe von 10.000€ umgesetzt haben.
Our Cooperation
Asante Watoto e.V. is the German partner organization of Ndoto zetu. We fund and facilitate parts of the project work carried out in Arusha.
Our Members
Nearly 80 people from all over Germany have been supporting our work reliably and with great trust for many years. They help ensure that we can fund Ndoto Zetu over the long term—regardless of one-time donations or individual fundraising campaigns.
Many of our members have found us through personal encounters, travel, or recommendations. Others support us because they are convinced by our transparent and sustainable approach.
Whether students, families, or retirees—our members form a diverse network that keeps our work in Arusha going. They make Asante Watoto e.V. what we are: a dedicated, supportive organization that provides stability and helps dreams take root.
This is what our logo used to look like (top) – and this is what it looks like today (bottom). A little more modern, but still very much us!
Our Story
The German nonprofit Asante Watoto e.V. as founded in 2016 to provide financial support to the Asante Watoto children’s home of the same name in Arusha, Tanzania.
The association was founded by Sarah, Sebastian and RobinRobin discovered the children’s home during a trip to Africa after graduating from high school, while Sebastian and Sarah found it on their honeymoon. Despite their different starting points, they were united from the very beginning by the desire to provide long-term support to children and families in Arusha. They were supported on the ground by Simone, who was already living and working at the project—she served as the vital link between Germany and Tanzania.
After its founding, the association grew rapidly: Caroline and Anne later took over the responsibilities of Sebastian and Sarah, and the team was expanded to include Pia for financial management as well as Maya and Irina for public relations. This allowed Asante Watoto e.V. to grow steadily and professionalize its work.
By the end of 2020, the association had evolved further: the children’s home gave rise to the educational project Ndoto Zetu – Saheli for "Our Dream". This new, holistic educational concept has since shaped the work of Asante Watoto e.V. and forms the basis for the long-term support of children and families in Arusha.
Our Team
We are a small team of dedicated volunteers who support the Asante Watoto organization. We are all connected to Asante Watoto through personal experiences. Some of us have visited the area ourselves and formed deep bonds with the people and the region. We support the project because we believe it makes a real difference—both for the local families and for us personally. Get to know us here!
Dr. Robin-René Hartung
Chairman
I saw “Asante Watoto” and “Ndoto zetu” as an opportunity to make a real difference. After my time as a volunteer, I didn’t want to just leave the country without leaving my mark. After spending a week at the children’s home and being welcomed so warmly there, I knew exactly where I could do that.
Dr. Anne Vohrmann
Treasurer & member management
Simone Nieter and I met many years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. When I visited her in 2017 and 2018, I got to know and grow to love Tanzania, and especially the “Asante Watoto” children’s home. I am very happy to be able to actively support the children and all their local helpers from Germany, and I am now passionately dedicating my energy to supporting “Ndoto zetu.”
Irina Hermann
Social media: facebook & instagram
I discovered and fell in love with this little project through my friend Robin, and of course, it immediately won a place in my heart. That’s why it was clear from the very beginning that I wanted to contribute my skills and strengths here, and that’s exactly what I’m doing now.
Caroline Müller
2. Vorstand & Hompageverwaltung
Nachdem ich in Namibia unterrichtet und dabei Simone Nieter kennengelernt hatte, habe ich sie etwas später an ihrer neuen Wirkungsstätte besucht. Das Kinderheim „Asante Watoto“ steckte 2015 noch in den Kinderschuhen, doch die strahlenden Kinderaugen, diese tiefe Dankbarkeit über jede gemeinsame Minute, die afrikanische Fröhlichkeit und Freundlichkeit sowie das viele Herzblut, welches in dieser kleinen Orchidee steckt(e), bewogen mich dazu, „Asante Watoto“ und nun „Ndoto zetu“ durch meine Energie und mein Engagement zu unterstützen. Gerade weil ich weiß, wie dringend jeder Cent benötigt wird und auch ankommt.
Maya Schröter
Vize-chairwoman & homepage
I first heard about Asante Watoto from my school friend Robin, who told me enthusiastically about his trip to Tanzania and the organization’s mission. For a long time now, I’ve been delighted to watch the project grow and make an ever-greater impact. When Robin recently asked me for my support, I immediately wanted to get involved! It’s impressive to see how Ndoto zetu has developed, and I’m excited to help drive the project forward and get even more people excited about it.
Pia Hausdörfer
Assistance with funding applications
More than ten years ago, I met Caroline Müller during a school project in Namibia. Now our children play together. I found my time in Africa to be very valuable and formative, and I look back on it fondly. When “Asante Watoto e.V.” asked for financial support in 2023, I didn’t have to think twice. It doesn’t take much to be happy, but some things are simply necessary! That’s why it’s important to me to help secure the financial resources for “Ndoto Zetu.”