Who are we?
Votoka International Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged individuals, especially women. We aim to contribute to the development and empowerment of individuals and their communities through training and practical assistance. Our work focuses on public health, agriculture, and education. Additionally, we seek to collaborate with other organizations that share our mission and goals.
Votoka: kom op.. je kan het!
Raise up – you can do it!
Levant-se, vais conseguir!!
The Votoka International Foundation originates from Angola and means in the local Umbundu language: “Rise up, you can do it!” It signifies that one can overcome difficult situations, rise up, and move forward! The women encouraged each other with this word. Within that single word lies a wealth of meaning.
Votoka Foundation represents the life journey of Petra in Angola and her determination to find solutions to the challenges faced by women, children, and the disadvantaged. It marks both a highlight and a new beginning. Since 2004, she has dedicated her life to working and living in Angola, setting up programs in maternal and child health, prenatal care, nutrition, and the treatment of obstetric fistula. Additionally, the focus is on the development of sustainable agricultural practices to help poor farmers become self-sufficient, in line with the principles of Foundation For Farming. In Angola, the Votoka team has been active since 2021 and officially launched under the name Votoka (votokaangola.org) in 2023. All of this led Petra Jobse to realize that an international foundation is essential for the sustainability, continuity, and quality of these projects. Therefore, Votoka International was established in the Netherlands in 2024. We aim to be a link for people with limited opportunities, helping them grow so they can break free from the cycle of poverty and hunger and experience their own worth.