Doortjes Stroopwafel Project is an income-generating project aimed to support the work of the Light for the Children Foundation (a certified welfare organization number 427) via the production and sale of high-quality stroopwafels. It further endeavors to provide training and employment to members of the community, with the goal of holistically providing opportunity to both disadvantaged adults and youth.

The Project has additionally successfully filled a gap in the market for high-quality, local baked goods and has partnered with many local re-sellers for distribution. It has captured demand from middle to upper-income earners in the community, particularly those with Dutch heritage due to the products high-quality nature made in a traditional Dutch manner.

With consistent sales at current production, the Project will be able to bring in several thousand dollars of additional income to support the Light for the Children Foundation’s programs each month. This income provides crucial support to the Foundation in bolstering its’ programs related to Early Childhood Development, food assistance, literacy initiatives and technical training among others.

While the Project has been successful to date and has garnered great support from the local community, it currently aspires to expand its operations and is seeking additional investment. The Project seeks to formalize its operations and desires to renovate a workspace to which it can move production. The Project currently operates from the kitchen of Jac-Louis and Gijsbertha’s home, which is also utilized for temporarily housing orphans and vulnerable children. The Project has secured a facility on the same property at no cost, which it seeks to renovate for the dedicated purpose of supporting the Project. With this space, the Project further aims to acquire additional equipment to optimize production, and simultaneously decrease per unit costs while increasing production capacity.

With both of these needs met, the Project has begun laying the groundwork to scale up its supply and distribution networks and aspires to provide high-quality stroopwafels to a larger market in Namibia. By striving for such goals, the Foundation seeks a future where it could employ more community members while improving upon its’ current child welfare programs – holistically caring for the disadvantaged community of Gobabis.