Educational institution Leoncio Prado, Karina, Chucuito, Puno, Peru
We provided school furniture and computers.
Mission
Together we make children’s lives more promising by supporting local educational projects in developing countries.
Realised projects
01.
02.
Educational institution Capi Cruz Grande, Uros Chulluni, Puno, Peru
The school was rebuilt with our support after it was destroyed by fire, and we provided furniture and a motorboat to take the children – who live on reed islands that the people built themselves on Lake Titikaka – to school and bring them back safely every day.
03.
Educational institution Capi Cruz Grande, Uros Tribuna, Puno, Peru
We provided a motorboat to take the children – who live on reed islands that the people built themselves on Lake Titikaka – to school and bring them back safely every day.
04.
Professional training for former child soldiers, Monrovia, Liberia
Despite the efforts of many, hardly any progress could be made, due to the severe drug addiction of the former child soldiers. Therefore, we decided with pain in our hearts to stop supporting this project financially.
05.
Educational institution of Suana, Suana Island, Peru
We provided this school with furniture, computers, and musical instruments.
06.
Educational institution of Anapia, Anapia Island, Peru
We provided this school with a motorboat for safe school transport.
07.
Healthcare institution ‘House of Peace’, Juli, Peru
We provided this health care institution with the necessary equipment and materials to improve the quality of life and social integration of disabled people.
08.
Educational institution of Conima, Conima, Moho, Puno, Peru
We provided this school with furniture and computers.
09.
Children from Dhading, Nepal
We made possible that 12 children, from families with no financial means, go to school for three years (2020 – 2022).
10.
St. Francis Training Institute, Mbarara, Uganda
We provided this school, a training institute for young tailors and counsellors, with 30 new laptops.
11.
St. Francis Training Institute, Mbarara, Uganda
We provided this school, a training institute for young tailors and counsellors, with sewing machines and tailoring tools.
12.
Young girl, Lira, Uganda
Through our work in Uganda we came into contact with a young girl who needed urgent medical attention. The treatment has now been successfully completed.
13.
Educational institution of Kamsontenga, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Together with AGAD, Lenie Hoegen Dijkhof, her husband Yessa Diarra and our donors, we realized the first three classrooms plus general facilities of a new school in the Kamsontenga district.
14 & 19.
Multipurpose Hall, Varanasi, India
Father Abhi (DARE) runs a shelter for girls, who were found homeless and without family in the train stations of Varanasi. The goal is to reunite the children with the parents as soon as possible. The previous shelter was too small. Partly thanks to the support of the Wilde Ganzen Foundation (a Dutch NGO) and a private donor, we have built, furnished, and fully equipped a multipurpose hall. On March 3, 2023, the new building was officially opened
15.
Burlobo Rock View Primary School, Lira, Uganda
With great regret – after a breach of trust – we had to decide to cancel this project. Both donors have received their full donation back.
16.
Literacy Centre, Varanasi, India
DARE, led by Father Abhi, runs a literacy center at all five Varanasi train stations, where 20 to 25 children learn to read and write/functional literacy. In addition, food is provided to ensure their nutritional requirements. Eligible and interested children continue their studies in the local formal schools. Through financial support, we have enabled the literacy class at Banaras station for two years (April 2022 – March 2024).
17.
Le Tisserin, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
At the request of Association Le Tisserin, we contributed to the education of 22 displaced children during the 2022-2023 school year. The children, in most cases together with their families, have fled the areas of violence in the north of Burkina Faso and have permanently settled in the safer south. Considering the distress situation of the beneficiary children, we have decided, in close consultation with the local organization, not to post photos of the children.
18.
St Johns School For The Deaf, Serrekunda, Gambia
Initiated by Wil and Annemarie Koch (two Dutch benefactors), we helped to deliver two passenger vans for daily school transport, so that the deaf students, who were stuck at home, can go to school again.
20.
OCADES, Koupela, Burkina Faso
Sister Felicité Sandwidi (OCADES) teaches sewing to girls in a hangar. Thanks to two donors, we have built a classroom and delivered 20 new sewing machines. This way we have doubled the teaching capacity. The new classroom is operational since Q1 2024.
21.
Water supply, Kondin’s school, Burkina Faso
We have realized a water supply at the school in Kondin, Burkina Faso. The local community and especially the children are very happy with the water supply. Big thanks to the donor and Lenie Hoegen Dijkhof – who, together with her husband Yessa – has once again brought a great project to a successful conclusion.
22.
St Johns School For The Deaf, Serrekunda, Gambia
At the initiative of Wil and Annemarie Koch (two Dutch benefactors), we have provided the school with a maintenance/repair budget for the vans (see project 18). We have also provided the metal and wood departments with various tools, and we have contributed to optimizing the energy supply via solar panels.
23.
School reintegration project for displaced pupils, Koupela, Burkina Faso
At the request of and together with the Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI), we have contributed to the socio-educational reintegration of internally displaced pupils. This is mainly done by providing school supplies and meals during the 2023 – 2024 school year.
25.
Children of Nalanda, India
Joint Action Networking is an NGO active in Nalanda, Bihar, India. There they run thirty ‘support centers’ where children receive simple primary education in preparation for regular education. Thanks to one of our donors, we have provided learning materials to 1,000 children and sitting mats to 100 children. Some of the materials will be used for one year, others for two years.
26.
Multipurpose Hall, Majhila, India
At the request and in collaboration with Father Abhi of the IMS Varanasi Province, we have built a multifunctional hall in Majhila in 2025. While the hall will serve various purposes, over 75% of its use will be dedicated to daily preschool activities preparing 150–200 vulnerable children each year for formal education.
27.
Laafi Ziiga, Koudougou, Burkina Faso
Laafi Ziiga is a vocational school for young people in difficult circumstances. Until recently, only boys attended. In Q4 2025, two new courses – sewing and weaving – aimed at girls began. Thanks to two new donors, we provided 15 sewing machines, 10 weaving looms, and built sanitary facilities.
Projects in progress
24.
Thirteen children from Nepal
From mid-April 2024 until mid-April 2027 we support 13 children to attend school in Dhading, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk (Nepal). The support includes, among other things: tuition fees, books, stationary, bag, dress. This is an initiative of ‘Stichting Veldwerk Nepal’ (SVN), which also manages the project locally. We have done a similar project in the past, see project 9.
28.
Multipurpose Hall interior and education, Majhila, India
After the completion of the hall (see project 26), we furnished the newly built hall in Majhila village with essential equipment and furniture at the request of VPIMS. The space is used to provide school readiness programs, coaching classes for children, and skill training for adolescent girls and women. Thanks to our donors, we can support these educational activities from October 2025 through March 2027. The project aims to improve children’s education, promote school enrollment, and equip young women with livelihood skills to support their families.
About us
The unpaid board consists of Maarten Verhoeven (Chair), Michael van den Berg (Secretary) and Rianne Vermeulen (Treasurer).
Thanks to our contributors we can do this great work.
Thanks to our contributors we can do this great work.
Rianne Vermeulen (Treasurer)
Making a voluntary contribution to society is something, I think, goes without saying. My belief is that we should always stand up for those less fortunate. That is what makes a society a “human” society. Over the years, I have been involved as a volunteer for various associations, schools and foundations.
When my friend Maarten asked me to become treasurer for the Little Smile Foundation, I did not hesitate at all. Our mission is to help children get a good education so that with knowledge and skills they can shape a better future for themselves and their communities. All children deserve the opportunity to thrive in this world, let’s equipe them with the right tools to do so wisely.
Michael van den Berg (Secretary)
As a father of 3 children, I would like all children to have the same opportunities for education. But not everyone gets the same opportunities, it matters a lot where you were born. Nobody is going to change that, but as a person, you can do your best to give others opportunities for education. Education is an important building block for children to develop.
When Rianne and Maarten asked me to help, to give children in developing countries better access to education, I didn’t have to think long. Giving children opportunities for a good education is always a good thing, especially in developing countries, where going to school is the exception rather than the rule for many children. I would like to dedicate myself to this goal.
Maarten Verhoeven (Chair)
In 2016, I met Rosa Isabelle and her parents on a self-built reed island on Lake Titicaca in Peru. The parents’ greatest dream was to send their daughter to school. This inspired me to start projects focusing on underprivileged children and education. After a few projects, my brother Wouter, my friend Rianne, and I decided to establish a foundation. We have since completed projects in Peru, Liberia, Nepal, Uganda, Burkina Faso, India, and Gambia.
Michael has been our secretary since October 2025. Together with him and Rianne – and everyone who supports us financially – I hope to continue making a difference in the coming years by providing underprivileged children with access to education. Because education is the only way out of poverty.
Contact
Stichting Little Smile Foundation was founded on 27 June 2018.
For the Articles of Association, click here, for the policy plan click here.
The CoC number is: 71994335.
Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI), RSIN/fiscal code: 8589 33 421.
Triodos Bank IBAN number: NL 48 TRIO 0379 3156 37. Triodos Bank BIC number: TRIONL2U.
Click here for the Annual Report 2024.
Click here for the Standard form publication obligation ANBI Fundraising institutions.