A short trip is enough to renew ourselves and the world. -Marcel Proust
Our foundation came about due to a trip to the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela. There Fernando Lambos, a dedicated Pemon Indian, showed me the world of an endangered culture. He was from the neighboring country of Guyana. Continuing conflicts between the government and the indigenous peoples during the 1960s had lead his family to emigrate to Venezuela. For his protection, Reginold's name was changed to Fernando, taking a piece of his background and identity. This foundation is named after him in an effort to bring strength and attention to his projects in South America.
Anna Selzer
I have been a trained Field, Trails and Marines Guide in South Africa since 2016. I discovered my love for the wilderness after my first trip through Malawi. I currently live in Germany and study physics. I am also involved in the work of the foundation, coordinating small construction projects and keeping in touch with the people in Zomba, Malawi. The aim of my work in Zomba is to create an exchange of knowledge and a fair distribution of resources in order to compensate for deficits in social services, education and health.
How it all began; 2014, the first time in Malawi. A place where baobabs and red earth shape the landscape, ground squirrels guard the houses and colorful fabrics enliven the streets. My image of Africa is wild, moving and free. After this trip, I am of the opinion that the sun nourishes the growth of a good-humored soul.
During my stay in Zomba, I meet two Malawians who are working in a small district outside the city to improve education, social cohesion and food supplies for children and young adults. Ernest and Victor speak Chichewa, their national language, and English. They tell and show us how to chew sugar cane, cook Nsima, set up the national board game in 5 variations, estimate market prices and have a long chat with the supermarket saleswoman. There are many things that are foreign to me.
Grace Orphan Care, a place where all the children in the village come together, lies amidst the green papaya trees and tea plantations. This is where Ernest and Victor spend most of their time. There is a large building on the grounds, which consists of an empty room with lots of windows. In the mornings, kindergarten children learn to count here and eat small snacks for lunch, usually some kind of colorful peanut flips. In front of the building is a green square, which fills up with schoolchildren in the afternoon. They come to play soccer, to study and to eat. There are always teachers and supervisors on hand to help the pupils with their homework or cook a meal for the day. Ernest coordinates the hustle and bustle. He divides the children into working groups, gives the teachers a weekly schedule and takes care of the funding. The after-school care center is financed by a corn mill and Canadian sponsors. For a few weeks, I come to the daycare center every day, get to know the customs and receive lessons in Chichewa. Ernest puts me in touch with his friends and helpers.
Ernest's team hopes to give children from difficult family backgrounds and living conditions better educational and future opportunities. In order to achieve this, the day care center is to be expanded, more teachers hired and thus more children cared for. The Reginold-Brooks Foundation specifically supports the projects of the Malawians, who have a clear understanding of the reality on the ground. Since 2014, a large network of sponsors and specialists has been formed who are involved in various projects. One of the main projects is the construction of a dormitory to provide accommodation for orphans on the grounds of Grace Orphan Care.
My name is Kathrin Selzer. I work as an engineer and am very interested in other cultures, people who have no access to medical care, nature and climate protection and the use of alternative energies. In March 2012, I had the opportunity to get to know and love South America, Venezuela. I was particularly impressed by the jungle with its huge centuries-old trees, massive trunks and gigantic foliage. Having the opportunity to experience untouched nature while trekking, visiting remote Indian tribes and getting to know the wildlife in the Orinoco Delta was a life-changing experience for me. It was a wonderful experience to see a sea turtle come to a remote beach at midnight to lay its 80 eggs in the sand and then disappear back into the depths of the sea. When Fernando, our tour guide, told me that he wanted to start his own travel company, I was enthusiastic about the idea and offered him my help. As I had set up a company myself, I was able to support him in word and deed.
It was during this time that the idea was born to use a small portion of the travel costs and invest them in projects to preserve nature and help the indigenous people. The idea for a foundation was born. In 2013, together with my daughter Anna, I set up the foundation "Reginold Brooks - international nature and climate protection (non-profit company)". Our goal is to realize projects worldwide, except in South America, and to send the donated money directly to the people and nature in need of help.
Our work and collaborations have led us to the following memberships
Zomba Hospital Project e.V.
The association is involved in promoting medical care at Zomba Hospital in Malawi. Since 2014, we have been providing support and receiving help with the construction of our dormitory in Grace.
TARGET e.V. Ruediger Nehberg
We are enthusiastic about the project for the new maternity clinic in the Danakil Desert (Ethiopia). We know what a feat it is to realize a functioning water and sewage system in a stony desert and to implement a completely energy self-sufficient project.