Social work

We live in a world, the world of today. The lives and work of the brothers also take place in the frameworks of today's social structures. The brothers want to be present wherever the need is.

OIP Aids project (Oyugis, Kenya)

In Oyugis, Kenya, the brothers started an outpatient clinic. The number of disease cases treated there increased very fast with the rapid spread of AIDS in the 1980s. They realized that the work could not be limited to the care for the sick and therefore they started the Oyugis Integrated Project (OIP) in 1996, which aims at an integrated approach. First of all, there is a shelter for many orphans: not in a separate orphanage, but through helping their relatives take care of them. The congregation also supports many AIDS widows and widowers, people who have lost their partner and are sometimes sick as well. In addition, the brothers are organizing information campaigns so that the disease does not make other victims. Finally, there is of course also medical care for people who are often in a very bad physical condition. The OIP is an extensive project with about 20 staff and, in addition, many volunteers. It cares for more than 4000 orphans. There are various OIP circles of friends from the Netherlands  and Belgium who collect money for the project, but also provide support in other ways.

Microcredits (Nias, Indonesia)

On the island of Nias, Brother Ad Hems started in 1985 a bank that offers microcredits to small farmers and craftsmen. This Credit Union is a cooperative bank and has proven its value over the years. Currently, many thousands of farmers and small entrepreneurs are connected to the bank. They have taken small loans at low interest rates, thus making an investment in their business. The Credit Union is one of the means to boost the economy and society in this poor area of Indonesia and enables sustainable development. The model introduced by the brothers on Nias is now being followed in some of the surrounding islands in Indonesia.

The island of Nias was a heavily affected area after the devastating tsunami in 2004 and the earthquakes in 2005. The Credit Union has contributed to the recovery and reconstruction following these disasters.