The support association

Support association

The Shanzu Orphans Home (SOH) and the Förderverein were founded by Christa Wolff from Berlin.
In her honor we have named the organization Mama Christa Foundation (MCF).


Our work to support children in need is financed by a small group of charity donators in Germany ‘Foerderverein des Kenianischen Waisenhauses’.

We support former children, youth and young adults from Shanzu Orphans Home.

Reiner and Alexandra Gebhardt travel to Mombasa every year to document the work on site for donors and to offer professional advice. 
During the Corona period, the exchange took place regularly and successfully via video conferences. The association has a broad network of experts who make their knowledge available free of charge.
The professional commitment of the association is based on volunteering to ensure that donations go directly to the MCF.
The board of directors of the association is in contact with the MCF team throughout the year, regardless of travel activities. 

At the general meeting on October 30, 2020, the following were elected: Unchanged: 
1st chairman: Reiner Gebhardt 
2nd chairlady: Alexandra Gebhardt 
Treasurer: Simon Schäfer 
Financeal auditors: Elena and Thomas Umfahrer 
We welcome our newly elected secretary Snezana Stark and Tobias Volz as an advisory board member to the team

Board MCF e.V.

Our board members are dedicated leaders who are passionate about our vision.

They enrich our association with their unique qualifications and experiences.

The Executive Board is supported and advised by Advisory Board member Tobias Volz.


1st Chair



Reiner Gebhardt

Reiner has been traveling to Kenya with his wife every year since 2010.

As board members of the Deutscher Förderverein MCF. e.V., they work directly with the team in Kenya.

For the children and young adults, the two are Papa Reiner and Mama Alex. For them, the Mama Christa Foundation is a project of their hearts, in which they invest a great deal of commitment and time.

They are the main contact for the sponsors and together with the German team they plan events and lreport about their work.


As an engineer and project manager, it is important for Reiner to bring clear processes and transparency to the cooperation with the Kenyan CBO.



2nd Chair



Alexandra Gebhardt


Together with her husband Reiner, they are a strong team. The MCF family is an important part of her life.

They have learned a lot about the kenyan culture  over the last few years and work tirelessly for the rights and well-being of the MCF protégés.


From her professional work as a coach and her social management studies, Alexandra contributes her intercultural skills and specialist knowledge and is a consultant and mentor for the young adults of the MCF.




treasurer



Simon Schäfer






Simon brings with him his many years of professional experience as an accountant and financial controller.

He examines and advises the finances of the association with a professional eye.

In 2018 he traveled to Kenya to get to know the local work and culture better.










Advisory Board



Tobias Volz


Tobias has been advising the work of the association since his first stay in Kenya in October 2016. The focus of the support is the organizational development and capacity building of the MCF, as well as technical advice on strategic issues. He continues to serve as a contact for development policy and educational issues. He gained his expertise through a bachelor's degree in social work and master's degrees in applied ethics and mediation and conflict management. In addition to more than 10 years of professional experience with organizations such as the United Nations, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Brot für die Welt in Germany, Nepal, Kenya, Myanmar and currently Georgia, he has recently worked on the topic of restorative justice in cases of sexual violence PhD in Nepal.

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