A New Milestone for the Koroboi Foundation: Signing the MoU

On May 1, 2024, the Koroboi Foundation reached an important milestone: the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Diocese of Bunda in Tanzania. This agreement focuses on supporting and improving health care at St. Mary's Kibara Hospital.

An inspiring letter from Bishop Simon Chibuga Masondole of the Diocese of Bunda emphasized the importance of our joint efforts. He wrote:

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your work and dedication. After reading your letter, I would like to share my thoughts with you. We have appointed key people for this project who will ensure good rapport and effective communication between our organizations."

Key persons in the Partnership

The key people involved in this collaboration are crucial to the success of our projects:

• Sister Maria Almudena Rios, is the general contact person. As secretary to the bishop, she will ensure smooth communication and mutual understanding between the Koroboi Foundation and the diocese of Bunda.
• Father Leonard Michael Mapendo, the diocesan health secretary and acting secretary of St. Mary's Kibara Hospital, will serve as a liaison for the projects. His role is essential for the planning and implementation of the projects.
• Father Yosef Moensaku, the parish priest of Kibara and the chaplain of the hospital, will participate in the monthly meetings. These meetings will also be attended by members of the Hospital Management Team and, if necessary, by specialists such as architects.

Key points of the MoU

The MoU, signed by both the Diocese of Bunda and the Korobi Foundation, lays the foundation for a long-term collaboration. The main features of the agreement are as follows:

• Joint ProjectsBoth parties will work together in the planning, management and implementation of projects for the benefit of St. Mary's Hospital and the surrounding community.
• Co-financing: The projects will be funded by the Koroboi Foundation (60%) and the Diocese of Bunda (40%).
• Transparency and Communication: A clear agreement has been made on full transparency and regular feedback between both parties and to the donors.
• Monthly Meetings: Monthly meetings will take place to discuss and evaluate the progress of the projects.

Strengthening Our Collaboration

The cooperation with the diocese of Bunda means a lot to us. It gives us the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of health care in Kibara in a structural and well-organized way. The support and recognition of the local authorities gives us the necessary legitimacy and strength to achieve our goals.

We are very grateful for the warm welcome and constructive attitude of Bishop Masondole and his team. Their willingness to work together and their shared vision of the importance of these projects have encouraged us tremendously.

Looking to the Future

The signing of this MoU is just the beginning. We are looking forward to the coming months in which, together with our partners in Kibara, we will carry out the first projects. Thanks to the support of the local community and our donors, we have a solid foundation to build on.

With this milestone, we are taking an important step in our mission to improve care for the poor, sick and vulnerable in Kibara. We thank everyone who made this possible.

Figure 2: Raymond Kimman (left) and Michiel Ruijs (right) sign the MoU