As founder of Sahaya International, I am blessed that I am soon turning 60, an age that many of our beneficiaries in our programs overseas have not reached. Many of the orphans in our programs have experienced the loss of their parents or guardians at a much younger age.
Instead of accepting any personal birthday gifts, I dedicate my birthday towards the many orphans in the programs of Sahaya International. Scroll further down to read more information about these orphan programs.

You are also invited to come to my birthday party which will take place Saturday June 21 at 6 pm in Davis. Please contact me at koen@sahaya.org to get the location of the venue.

Please note that as with any online donation platform, there are transaction fees, which we hope you can cover. The platform also asks for an extra tip, but you are under no obligation to tip, and can set that to zero.

If you like to avoid any transaction fees, you can also make a check, payable to "Sahaya International", with note "birthday fundraiser" to Sahaya International, 1504 Portola Street, Davis, CA 95616

Many thanks in advance

Koen Van Rompay (Founder, Sahaya International)

YOUR DONATION IS MATCHED!

If we receive $6,000 in donations, they will be matched 1:1 to reach our fundraising goal of $12,000 towards immediate needs for orphans in Sahaya's programs.

A very high priority are the children in the program of our close partner organizations is in Uganda: BACHO-K (Banyabutumbi Cultural Heritage Organization-Kanungu). To learn more about BACHO-K, visit https://bacho.sahaya.org/

BACHO-K is active in the very impoverished fishing community of Rwenshama, which is located at Lake Edward and Queen Elizabeth National Park. One of their most important programs is taking care of more than 200 orphans and vulnerable children (including many children living with HIV) who over the course of the past 2.5 years lost their homes in storms and flooding. In addition to trying to provide these children with a safe and loving home (including via two recently constructed dormitories), BACHO-K engages these children also in many cultural and sports activities. Because of their positive energy and high motivation, these children often win competitions!

While constructing the 2 dormitories was a major milestone for these orphans, now the biggest challenge is to find the resources to keep these children in school, and provide them with their basic needs (including food, clothing and medical care).

The average costs to support a child – ranging from kindergarten through highschool – is $40 per month or $480 per year. Some youth who pursue higher education have higher needs. So our fundraising goal of $12,000 means the support for 25 children for 1 year!

You can make a general donation towards helping these children.

If you are interested in becoming a long-term sponsor for one or more of these children, please contact Sahaya founder Dr. Koen Van Rompay at koen@sahaya.org for more information.! We can select one or more children to assign to your sponsorship, or if you prefer to select a child, we can send you some profiles. You will receive regular updates of your child(ren), including letters, photographs/clips, and school marks. In addition, we have also Whatsapp group with regular updates on the daily life in this community, and the fun and uplifting activities that these children engage it, so you can be connected with them even from afar. You are also welcome to visit these children and the BACHO-K programs, and we will be happy to assist and guide you with your itinerary.

We are appealing to your generosity and we invite you to become part of this effort of giving these children renewed hope and a future. Any donation, of any amount, will be much appreciated and helps us one step further.

Your donation is matched 1:1 until we have reached our goal.

Please note that as with any online donation platform, there are transaction fees, which we hope you can cover. The platform also asks for an extra tip, but you are under no obligation to tip, and can set that to zero.

If you like to avoid any transaction fees, you can also make a check, payable to "Sahaya International", with note "birthday fundraiser" to Sahaya International, 1504 Portola Street, Davis, CA 95616

Many thanks in advance

Koen Van Rompay (Founder, Sahaya International)

For more information about Sahaya International, visit www.sahaya.org, or watch our award-winning documentary, Sahaya Going Beyond (narrated by Jeremy Irons) at https://vimeo.com/65517422

You can also watch our sequel documentary Sahaya- The Journey Home at https://vimeo.com/931266591

Akiikih with the children Akiikih with many of the children who now live at the 2nd dormitory, celebrating the grand opening on April 21, 2025

The 2nd dormitory (inaugurated April 2025)
The 2nd dormitory which was opened in April 2025

Koen's 60th birthday fundraiser to support orphans in Sahaya's programs

Your donation will be matched up to $6,000 to reach our target of $12,000

Team Members