Donations instead of birthday presents – that was the wish of Gerhard Trapp from Ensdorf on his 90th birthday. He learned about Dentists for Africa when his daughter visited the dentist. Sandra Koech, a dentist from Ensdorf, has been active in the organization for many years: as a volunteer, for the sponsorship project, the widows’ cooperative, and collecting old gold. She enjoys telling her patients about the projects. Gerhard Trapp also got talking to the dentist and has now been supporting DfA for several years. He was able to hand over a donation of over €2,000. This benefited the widow cooperative’s kindergarten: children’s toilets were built and hygienic tiled flooring was laid in the recreation room. The children were also able to go on an outing with their teachers – for many of them, the first of their lives.
How did you come up with the idea of a birthday donation?
My daughter Annette has Down syndrome, and everywhere we went, she always experienced love and joy. I am grateful for that and would like to bring joy to others as well. It wasn’t always easy for me either: I was six years old when the war broke out. I was hit by shrapnel and grew up surrounded by rubble. During this difficult time, we also received help, for example in the form of care packages containing food. I know what it’s like to have little. I later worked as a miner, and until I was 28, I supported my family with my salary. My father was ill and died young. I had a colleague who built a kindergarten in Bolivia. He always came by with a box of bread under his arm. That’s how he collected donations: everyone who donated something received a loaf of bread from him. I was impressed by that, and I was happy to give. I always thought that I would like to do something like that too. That’s why, a year before my birthday, I decided that I didn’t need any presents, but would rather collect donations for the kindergarten in Nyabondo.
How did your guests react?
Of course, there are always skeptics who say, “Are you really sure…” or “Maybe the money won’t even get there…” But I wanted to do it! I’m glad I made that decision and that I was able to show the skeptics the photos later.
I celebrated with 40 guests. When the party was over, the first thing I did was open the envelopes to see how much had been collected. It was actually €1,000! Then I met up with my friends from the choir and set up a donation box. That brought in another €1,000.
In your opinion, what distinguishes DfA from other humanitarian organizations to which one could also donate?
It was very nice to see that the donation was put to use immediately. The letter from Kenya showed me that the money had arrived. I was able to forward the photos of the tiled floor and the latrines that had been built directly to my guests. I was particularly pleased with the video of the trip because you could see the happy faces of the children.
The children visited Impala Park and the airport in Kisumu, rode the bus together, had a picnic, and enjoyed a day full of joy and lightheartedness. How does this knowledge and these images make you feel?
Excited: For most of the kindergarten children, this was the first trip of their lives. The outing is also a highlight for the teachers.
This project and the kindergarten children have grown very dear to my heart. I am very happy when I can help. I have always enjoyed helping others and getting involved. I was chair of the parents’ council and organized and achieved a lot. And I hope that if I do good, God will let me stay here on earth a while longer so that I can take care of my daughter.
What made you most happy about the birthday donation?
That I was able to convince the skeptics, that they accepted my idea so well and donated so much!
What advice do you have for people who are also considering making a birthday donation?
It makes you happy to do good for others, and as long as you can give and still have enough yourself, you should do so.
Thank you very much for your commitment and your donation!
Would you also like to support the widows’ cooperative or the kindergarten children and their teachers? You can donate here.
If you have any questions about birthday, anniversary, or other event donations, we are happy to help!
The interview was conducted by Sandra Koech and Katharina Weiland-Zejewski, head of the DfA widow project. Thank you!
Photos: Koech, Ogada