Belair, Luxembourg (Helvilux Media)– 23 November 2025.
The International English-speaking Catholic Community at St. Pie X Church in Belair received a moving and eye-opening presentation from the team of IOP Luxembourg (Ilula Orphan Program Tanzania), shedding light on decades of transformative work taking place in Ilula, Tanzania. The session followed the regular Sunday English Mass at 11:00 a.m., a cherished weekly gathering of diverse families, expatriates, and long-term residents who worship together under the Parish of Luxembourg Notre Dame.

The presentation, organized by a family of the International English-speaking Catholic Community and delivered together, offered parishioners a vivid window into the lives of vulnerable children and the powerful impact of the IOP network. What began as a simple slideshow soon evolved into an immersive testimony of hope, development, and human connection.

A Journey into Ilula: Sharing an Experience That Changes Lives

Following their recent trip to Tanzania, the family shared photographs and heartfelt stories showing the realities, challenges, and deeply inspiring progress happening in Ilula. Their presentation included a live web conference with a representative from IOP Tanzania, a former beneficiary of the program who is now a taking care in school administration and community development.

Together, the presenters walked the audience through the structures, people, and systems that make IOP a long-lasting, sustainable model of social upliftment. They emphasized that while donations remain crucial to the mission, IOP is deliberately designed to create employment, foster local leadership, and build self-sustaining revenue streams. These initiatives include:

• Tailoring and cloth stitching programs, where women and young adults learn skills that help them earn a livelihood;
• A small community children farm, where vegetables are grown to feed residents and generate income.
• A grocery shop operated by IOP, offering both employment and local access to essential goods.
• A restaurant / café at the highway, serving the local community and travellers.
• Carpentry workshop, creating all furniture for IOP and offering practical skills for students.
• Block machine; making brick blocks for building.
• Cabins, renting to volunteers and vacationers;
• Empowerment Program, supporting women and young mothers for self-sustained living;
• Nutrition program, for maternal health and school lunch for children.

Their slideshow revealed not only the landscape of Tanzania, but also the dignity and joy of the children and staff whose lives have been touched by the organization. Parishioners were visibly moved as the family shared how warmly they were welcomed and how profoundly they were inspired by the resilience of the community.

During their visit to Tanzania, the family were warmly welcomed by a local parish priest, who accompanied them to the Ilula Orphan Program site. They also explored Neema Crafts, a well-known social enterprise featuring a craft shop, café, guesthouse, and workshop tour, where they witnessed how local artisans learn, create, and support their community through meaningful work. The family learned of a small accommodation facility in Tanzania built by Luxembourgish volunteers specifically for visitors from Luxembourg who wish to stay close to the community and experience the local culture. Throughout their stay, the family organized joyful activities for the children, including a picnic, an evening of traditional Tanzanian folk dance, a day at a swimming pool, and a festive gathering. Reflecting on the experience, they shared that while swimming may feel ordinary in Europe, for many of the Tanzanian children, most of whom had never been in a pool it was an unforgettable celebration.

Inside IOP Luxembourg: A Mission Rooted in Education and Compassion

IOP Luxembourg is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization (ASBL) committed to improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Tanzania. For years, the organization has worked side-by-side with IOP Tanzania, located in Ilula in the Iringa region, about 400 km west of Dar es Salaam.

The Luxembourg team collaborates daily with the Tanzanian offices and with international IOP branches, ensuring that every contribution and every euro directly supports transformative programs on the ground. The IOP Ilula Orphan Program is based on:

The Schools That Shape Futures

IOP’s long-term commitment to education is visible in the schools it has established and continues to strengthen in Ilula. Kids Corner Pre-School, founded in 2003, provides high-quality early childhood education for children aged 3 to 5. Since its inception, 623 children have completed the program, and the school currently supports 65 pupils guided by 6 dedicated teachers. Its rapid growth has resulted in increasing pressure on classroom space, underscoring the need for future expansion. The school is widely regarded for its nurturing environment and consistent educational excellence.

At the foot of Lord’s Hill stands the Sunflower Pre- and Primary School, a co-educational day and boarding institution offering a safe and supportive learning atmosphere. Known for strong academic standards, committed teaching staff, and well-organised boarding facilities, Sunflower School strives to shape self-reliant, ethically grounded future citizens. 348 students learn currently here for their future. The school maintains a close partnership with parents and emphasizes holistic development, academic, emotional, social, and moral. Corner is widely respected in the community for its consistent excellence and nurturing atmosphere.

Ilula Peacemakers Vocational Training Center

This center provides practical training in essential trades and professional skills, preparing young adults for real-world employment opportunities. Programs include tailoring, mechanics, agriculture, carpentry, welding, and other vocational disciplines aimed at economic empowerment.

Speaking at the event, the family emphasized that IOP’s approach is truly impactful because it focuses not only on supporting young people in the moment but on empowering them to stand on their own feet rather than remain dependent throughout their lives.

Building Awareness Within the Parish Community

The parish of the International English-speaking Catholic Community in Luxembourg regularly features IOP in its weekly leaflets, keeping the mission visible to parishioners and visitors alike. Masses are celebrated weekly on Wednesdays at 18:15 and Saturdays at 19:30 in the Garden Chapel, as well as on Sundays at 11:00 at St. Pie X in Belair and 18:30 at St. Michel in Luxembourg City. The parish frequently organizes collections in support of the Ilula Orphanage Program, and this steady presence in the leaflets often leads newcomers to want to learn more, what the Ilula Orphanage Program really is, who benefits from it, and how it transforms lives.

The Sunday’s presentation by the family offered a clear and heartfelt response to those questions. Their testimony provided the community with a deeper understanding of IOP’s work in Tanzania transforming curiosity into awareness and, for many, inspiring a desire to contribute to the mission.

The Heart Behind the Mission

Sunday’s gathering at St. Pie X was more than a presentation, it was a reminder of what human compassion can achieve when communities work together across continents. The IOP story continues to grow, not because of one organization alone, but because of partnerships between ordinary families, volunteers, donors, teachers, and faith communities who believe every child deserves a chance.

During the presentation, the family also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Helen, a long-time supporter of the project. Helen, a Montessori teacher and former co-owner and Director of Sunflower Montessori in Luxembourg for 21 years, was also present. Her ongoing commitment and financial support have played a significant role in sustaining and expanding the educational initiatives in Tanzania, and the community warmly acknowledged her dedication.

The family also highlighted a practical way for the community to contribute, noting that the schools in Ilula are in great need of computers to support IT education. He encouraged companies in Luxembourg to donate any older but functioning computers they no longer use, explaining that even equipment considered outdated locally can offer tremendous value to students in Tanzania who are eager to learn essential computer skills. He added that the impact of IOP’s support extends far beyond students living in the locals and the boarding schools, many sponsored children who live in distant villages and attend other educational institutions also benefit from the program’s assistance. The family shared that one such beneficiary even went on to become a pilot, a powerful example of how access to education can change the trajectory of a young life in Tanzania.

The presentation also featured a touching testimony from Ajolon Mgeveke, the Head of the Department of Education and Culture at IOP Tanzania. Joining the event via video conference, Ajolon shared his deeply personal story of losing his father at a young age and watching his mother struggle to raise him and his two siblings.His father passed away due to tuberculosis. IOP stepped in during those difficult years, providing him with the education and support that shaped his future. Today, he serves within the very organization that once uplifted him, dedicating his work to empowering vulnerable children in Tanzania and ensuring they receive the same opportunities that changed his life.

The IOP Ilula Orphan Program has been created and built up by Berit Skaare from Norway in 1998. She came as a late girl scout to Tanzania while children were asking her to help them to go to school. After she had taken over sponsorship of 5 children, she was so impressed and touched by the success that she founded IOP and made together with Edson and the whole team to what it is now. Berit celebrated her 80^th birthday at Ilula this year.

Alongside IOP Luxembourg, several sister organizations around the world including IOP Denmark, IOP Germany, IOP Italy, IOP Netherlands, IOP Norway, IOP Sweden, and IOP USA work together to strengthen the Ilula Orphan Program. Their collective support helps expand opportunities and improve the lives of children and families in the local Tanzanian community.

How the Lux Community Can Support

IOP Luxembourg offers several meaningful ways for individuals, families, schools, companies, and organizations to make a tangible difference in the lives of children in Tanzania. The cornerstone of its work is the child sponsorship program, through which more than 100 children receive support each year. With a contribution of €20 per month, sponsors ensure a child’s complete educational journey from pre-school through higher studies while having the option to receive updates and letters or remain anonymous. Beyond sponsorship, donors can also contribute directly to school development, food support, and community projects, or take part in annual fundraising events such as the Black Stuff Pub Quiz and the IOP Christmas Market.

For those wishing to engage more actively, IOP encourages volunteers to travel to Tanzania and contribute skills in areas such as teaching, construction, agriculture, tailoring, sports coaching, photography, and various vocational activities. Companies and organizations can also participate by funding full scholarships at the Sunflower Pre. & Primary School, covering tuition, boarding, or transport for seven students, one per academic year with each scholarship carrying the donor’s name and providing regular feedback on the children supported.

Gifts That Give Back: IOP Christmas Market

The family’s closing words captured the spirit of the day.

Yet behind these stories of individual triumph, Tanzania still faces deep systemic challenges that make initiatives like IOP’s indispensable. According to the United Nations Development Programme’s 2023/2024 Human Development Report, Tanzania ranks 168th out of 193 countries, with a Human Development Index of 0.555. The World Bank’s latest Multidimensional Poverty Index shows that 47.2% of the population, more than 27 million people, suffer deprivations in nutrition, education, and basic services, especially in rural areas such as Kilolo district. UNICEF reports that over one million Tanzanian children have lost one or both parents, while 89% of ten-year-olds cannot read a simple text. Although the government’s ambitious Vision 2050 and rising primary-school enrolment (now 11.4 million pupils) signal progress, the gap between need and resources remains vast.

A report published by The Borgen Project highlights that 88% of children in Tanzania face multidimensional poverty, with widespread deprivation across nutrition, education, sanitation, and protection.

This is why partnerships with communities worldwide, like the one between Luxembourg’s English-speaking parish and Ilula, are not just acts of charity, but essential bridges that turn vulnerability into lasting opportunity for an entire generation.

Readers in Luxembourg who wish to contribute directly can simply scan the QR code to donate via Digicash (Payconiq) or make a transfer to the Friends English Catholic Community account: LU10 0019 5155 8196 2000.
For further information please write to info@iop.lu or look on the website: https://www.ioptanzania.org and https://iop.lu