Video by Wavebreak Media

Education is not a way to escape poverty, it is a way of fighting it. Julius K. Nyerere, Founding Father of Tanzania Julius K. Nyerere Founding Father of Tanzania

Let's get in touch

Welcome to IOP Luxembourg

We are a volunteer-led not-for-profit organisation (ASBL) based in Luxembourg. At Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg, we think that working together to improve the lives of vulnerable children and orphans can have a long-lasting impact.

Our goal is to give these children the support, resources, and education they need to break the cycle of poverty and create a better future. IOP Luxembourg is affiliated with IOP Tanzania based in the township of Ilula in the Kilola district of Tanzania.

We work closely everyday with IOP Tanzania and with the other IOP organisations in various countries around the world. All of the funds we raise are sent directly to IOP Tanzania to support the various programs and projects which are making a real difference to the lives of this community.

We invite you to become part of the our community through child sponsorship, donations, volunteering or spreading the word about our cause.

About IOP

Mission
IOP Luxembourg

Mission

To provide opportunities for quality education, health services, counseling, and socioeconomic empowerment with a special emphasis on marginalized communities to eliminate discrimination and create sustainable communities.

Vision
IOP Luxembourg

Vision

A healthy, educated, economically and socially developed Tanzanian community.

Values
IOP Luxembourg

Values

Commitment, volunteerism, cooperation, integrity, transparency, honesty, accountability, and respect.

Ilula, Tanzania

In the heart of Tanzania, about 400 km west of Dar Es Salaam along the highway leading to Zambia, lies the village of Ilula: it is here that IOP works every day, collaborating with the local community to create sustainable development.

How can I support?

Change a Life: Sponsor a Child's Future

The main activity of IOP Luxembourg is running the child sponsor program. Over 100 children are supported through the generosity of individuals and families in Luxembourg who pay €20 per month to ensure a child in Ilula has the chance of a quality education and a pathway out of poverty.

Your money is transferred in full to IOP Tanzania where the sponsor office, who have direct and regular contact with the children, use it to best support their education journey.

If you wish you can receive letters and updates from the children through the sponsor office or if you prefer, your support can remain anonymous. In either case you will know that your generosity is transforming the life of a child in Tanzania.

The children are supported from pre-school all the way to further education. Depending on the individual circumstances of the children they may attend one of IOP’s own schools or an external school or college. In both cases the support is tailored to the circumstances of the individual child.

It is a truly life-changing decision to sponsor a child through IOP Luxembourg. Many families in Luxembourg have accompanied children through their educational journey in the past 25 years of this program and know that an young adult is thriving, in part, thanks to their support.

Discover how you can sponsor a child

Give Hope: Make a Difference Today

You can really help IOP by making a donation of whatever you can afford. This money will be used to support the sponsor program or one of our projects. Perhaps you are organising a fund-raising event or a sponsor walk/run we would be honoured if you included IOP as one of your charities.

Each year IOP holds various fund-raising events like our Black Stuff Pub Quiz, or Christmas Market stands. We’d love to see you at these events where your support will be truly appreciated.

Join the mission: Volunteer with Us

Become a volunteer for IOP Luxembourg

IOP mobilizes, encourages, and invites volunteers from all over the world to come to volunteer, work, teach, and learn at IOP in Tanzania.

Volunteers can work in a number of professional and non professional works including teaching, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery, beekeeping, sports, electricity, construction, maintenance, cookery, housekeeping, carpentry, tailoring, photography, video editing, fundraising, and gardening.

Please contact IOP Luxembourg to find out more.

Empower Education: Fund a Scholarship

Are you a company or organisation that wishes to make a dramatic positive change to children in Tanzania. You could fund a scholarship in the IOP Sunflower Pre-and Primary School. Each year your generous scholarship donation funds one child in each of the 7 years to attend this excellent school.

The experts in the sponsor office and the school management select a local child who would otherwise be unable to afford this and they benefit from your scholarship.

The scholarship will carry your name and you will receive feedback about the children attending and the difference you are making. The scholarship covers the tuition, boarding and/or transport costs associated with 1 child in each of the 7 years of the school.

Discover how to support a scholarship

Education institutions

We believe in the power of education to improve lives and communities at the Ilula Orphan Program. That is why we are happy to own and operate a number of educational institutions in Tanzania that offer high-quality learning opportunities to students.

The Lord's Hill Secondary School
IOP Luxembourg

The Lord's Hill Secondary School

The Lord's Hill Secondary School was officially opened in January 2012. Currently, it has ordinary-level students from form one to form four.

As a boarding school, the school provides each student with a bed and meals during the school year. The facilities include the main laboratory, the multipurpose hall, one storey building, which consists of eight classrooms, and an administrative office.

As part of their weekly schedule, students participate in clubs and debates where they discuss controversial subjects with fellow students and teachers. The subjects covered include history, Civics, Geography, English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Physics, biology, and Chemistry.

The Sunflower Pre & Primary School
IOP Luxembourg

The Sunflower Pre & Primary School

Sunflower Pre & Primary School is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and educational atmosphere that promotes the whole development and evolution of the student’s personality.

We create pleasant learning environments, have high standards for all students, and challenge them to attain their full potential as contributing members of society with the right attitude, right action, and right thought.

To attain this goal, students, parents, and school personnel collaborate to learn from one another in order to help kids achieve greatness in academics and extracurricular activities. To ensure that we are delivering the best results, we make ourselves available to parents through scheduled meetings and other forms of communication.

The Ilula Peacemakers vocational Training Center
IOP Luxembourg

The Ilula Peacemakers vocational Training Center

We understand the value of practical skills and vocational education at ILULA PEACEMAKERS Vocational Training Center.

Our center is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to find meaningful employment or start their own businesses.

The Kids Corner Pre-school
IOP Luxembourg

The Kids Corner Pre-school

Kids Corner Pre-school was founded in 2003 to give children a high-quality early childhood education, between the ages of two and five.

The preschool has established a solid reputation for excellence and has become a dependable institution in the neighborhood. Since opening, Kids Corner Pre-school has steadily increased the number of children enrolled, whereby 623 pupils have completed their childhood education program.

Currently, Kids Corner Pre-school has 6 teachers and 80 pupils. The number of available classroom spaces has been severely strained by this development, resulting in overcrowded classrooms.

IOP Library
IOP Luxembourg

Our Library

We believe a library is more than just a collection of books; it's an abundant resource of knowledge, a source of inspiration, and a place for curious minds.

Our library is intended to inspire a lifetime love of reading and learning. It is open to the community at a yearly subscription of 12,000 Tsh and 6,000 Tshs for adults and children respectively.

Projects

IOP has supported numerous projects over the years through dedicated fund-raising. We are particularly proud of our involvement in the Sunflower Primary School project.

IOP Luxembourg partnered with Christian Solidarity International (CSI) a Luxembourg-based NGO to deliver an exemplary school with 560 places for primary children.

This multi-year project saw IOP Luxembourg raise 20% of the total costs and the remainder came from the Government of Luxembourg through CSI. The project was expertly managed by CSI and IOP Tanzania.

The school opened its doors in 2018 and is now almost full. The building is of the highest quality and the standard of education is unparalleled in the region.

Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg
Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg
Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg
Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg
Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg
Ilula Orphan Program Luxembourg

Board members

Tom O'Dea, President
Tom O'Dea
President

My name is Tom O'Dea. What struck me on my first visit to Tanzania in 2014 was the warmth of the people and the feeling that I had found a home from home.

Ellen Okkerman, Secretary
Ellen Okkerman
Secretary

My name is Ellen Okkerman. I am married and we have taken care of five Luxemburgish foster children over the years.

Tom Styles, Treasurer
Tom Styles
Treasurer

My name is Tom Styles, and I serve as the Treasurer of IOP Luxembourg. I am a finance professional in Luxembourg who uses accounting skills to support IOP Luxembourg.

Helen Keavney-Clarke, Member
Helen Keavney-Clarke
Member

I am a Montessori teacher and was co-owner and Director of Sunflower Montessori in Luxembourg for 21 years alongside Tom and Sam O'Dea.

Cynthia Letsch, Member
Cynthia Letsch
Member

Mambo vipi? My name is Cynthia and Iam a proud member of IOP Luxembourg.

Claudia Scorci, Member
Claudia Scorci
Member

I joined the IOP Luxembourg board earlier this year, inspired by the organization's long-standing commitment to empowering communities in Tanzania.

Tom O'Dea

Tom O'Dea, President
Tom O'Dea, President
My name is Tom O'Dea.

What struck me on my first visit to Tanzania in 2014 was the warmth of the people and the feeling that I had found a home from home. Whilst there was of course serious poverty and deprivation there was also hope and joy.

I joined the board of IOP Luxembourg in 2015 and served as Treasurer until 2025 when I was elected President. I have since been back to Ilula many times and can attest to the amazing difference people in Luxembourg are making to the lives of the children in this rural area of Tanzania. Through this generosity I have seen, first hand, vulnerable children become thriving young adults. Together we are helping to build a brighter future for them and for Tanzania.

Ellen Okkerman

Ellen Okkerman, Secretary
Ellen Okkerman, Secretary
My name is Ellen Okkerman.

I am married and we have taken care of five Luxemburgish foster children over the years.

Since 1990 I have working as a teacher. After teaching for 9 years in nursery and primary schools in the Netherlands, I moved to Luxembourg and was a teacher at the maternelle for the Dutch section at the European School. Since 2008 I've been working in the Luxemburgish childcare sector. Today I'm responsible for 8 crèches.

Since 2015 I have been on the IOP Luxembourg board. In 2025 I became the secretary of our association. During my mandates I've been several times to IOP Tanzania.

Tom Styles

Tom Styles, Treasurer
Tom Styles, Treasurer
My name is Tom Styles, and I serve as the Treasurer of IOP Luxembourg.

I am a finance professional in Luxembourg who uses accounting skills to support IOP Luxembourg.

Passionate about using my skills to give back, IOP offers the perfect alignment of professionalism and purpose. I help IOP Luxembourg with financial management, budgeting, and accounting, turning numbers into meaningful impact for the children of IOP Tanzania. Whether it’s optimising resources to fund new resources or ensuring donor funds are allocated effectively, I find immense fulfilment in knowing that our work here in Luxembourg helps rewrite futures in Tanzania.

Helen Keavney-Clarke

Helen Keavney-Clarke, Member
Helen Keavney-Clarke, Member
Hi! I'm Helen Keavney Clarke.

I am a Montessori teacher and was co-owner and Director of Sunflower Montessori in Luxembourg for 21 years alongside Tom and Sam O'Dea.

I am currently a member on the board of IOP Luxembourg and this year I stood down as co- president after holding that post for 10 years.

I have travelled to Ilula on multiple occasions and over the past 15 years together with my family we have sponsored 7 students. I have been heavily involved in countless fundraising events which, only due to the astounding support IOP Luxembourg receives from its friends, families, sponsors and community have been hugely successful and have enabled IOP Luxembourg to receive co-financing from the Luxemburgish government to carry out several major projects in Ilula.

On my many visits to Ilula, I have seen firsthand the difference care and education can make to the lives of some of the most vulnerable children. Being a Mother to 2 children myself and a daughter of a Father who spent several years in an orphanage, the first time I visited the Ilula orphan program, I was sold... It is truly fantastic!

I have been lucky enough to visit the orphanage with both of my Children Thomas and Lucy, and I truly believe that our time spent in Ilula has had a lasting effect on us all and our outlook on life and the injustices and unfairness of our world.

None of us can choose where we are born or who are parents are but... those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to help other, no matter how big, or how small that help is, should.

I feel extremely lucky that I have had the opportunity to be part of the Ilula Orphan Program in Tanzania and to have worked together with the tirelessly dedicated team there.

Cynthia Letsch

Cynthia Letsch, Member
Cynthia Letsch, Member
Mambo vipi?

My name is Cynthia and Iam a proud member of IOP Luxembourg.

My journey with IOP began back in 2018 when I volunteered in Tanzania — and from the very first day, the wonderful people there made me feel like I had found my second home. Since then, I have stayed involved because I truly believe that when we share our skills and knowledge with others, we can create real change together.

Claudia Scorci

Claudia Scorci, Member
Claudia Scorci, Member
My name is Claudia Scorci.

I joined the IOP Luxembourg board earlier this year, inspired by the organization's long-standing commitment to empowering communities in Tanzania. Over the years, I had the opportunity to observe IOP's impactful initiatives and the genuine passion of its members.

When new volunteers were needed, I felt it was the right time to become actively involved. I bring professional experience from my current role at the European Investment Bank, as well as previous work with NGOs in Brazil and Spain. Originally from Brazil, I carry a deep appreciation for global cooperation and community-led development.

Supporting IOP Tanzania is a meaningful way for me to contribute to sustainable change and help build bridges between people and opportunities across continents.

Contact

Contact Details

To sponsor a child or if you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to us using the contact details below or fill out the online form.

Email info@iop.lu

Online Contact Form

Please note that, in order to use the online contact form, your consent is mandatory.