UPDATE 12/12/24
River of Hope is a non-profit organization founded in February 2010 in Buchs, Switzerland, by Claudia Doron. Inspired by the work of her father-in-law, Dr. Nathaniel Doron, a former UN Official and Diplomat born in Brussels, Belgium in 1936.
During World War II, Dr. Doron was separated from his parents and hidden by a Catholic family on the outskirts of Brussels to escape deportation. He dedicated his life to fighting poverty, famine, and AIDS across the globe. Through his relentless efforts, he positively impacted the lives of thousands of children and adults in the most impoverished regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Dr. Doron aptly named his biography “River of Hope,” a legacy that will continue to inspire our work and ensure his memory lives on.
Our journey began in 2010 with the simple yet powerful idea of using football to engage and uplift children living on the streets. Recognizing the transformative power of football, we established a center in Selo/Kasangulu, 65km outside of Kinshasa, located in a very poor area with limited infrastructure. We built a center, a health clinic, a football field, and a boarding school. We also dug a well and now our center is powered by solar energy. We currently offer education for over 500 students from grades 1-12 coming from all the surrounding villages.
Our purpose is to assist needy and willing communities and empower them to become active members of their own development. The Center Tala Mosika (“look beyond”) in the Democratic Republic of Congo embodies this mission. Tala Mosika utilizes football and education to foster unity among children from diverse communities who often struggle with internal conflicts.
Our football program, conducted on a FIFA-sized field, extends beyond the sport itself. We incorporate workshops on Fair Play, Respect, and Tolerance to help overcome historical divisions and cultivate a generation that understands the power of cooperation to achieve shared goals. Through football camps and matches with other clubs, students gain valuable life skills and learn the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.
2025 Global Peace Games in Belgium – We have been a member of the Peace Pitch network since 2015. We believe that participating in the 2025 Global Peace Games in Belgium would be a fantastic opportunity for eight of our students (four boys and four girls) to learn new things, meet people from other countries, and become ambassadors for peace. This experience would not only broaden their horizons but also showcase the positive impact of our work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a former Belgian colony.
UPDATE 29/09/20
River of Hope ist eine Non-Profit-Organisation, inspiriert durch die Arbeit von Dr.Nathaniel Doron. Ein ehemaliger UN Gesandter und Diplomat, geboren 1936 in Brüssel, Belgien. Während des Zweiten Weltkrieges wurde er von seinen Eltern getrennt. Eine katholische Familie ausserhalb Brüssels versteckte ihn aufgrund der Deportationsgefahr. Im Alter von 13 Jahren immigrierte er nach Israel, lebte fast 10 Jahre in einem Kibbutz und diente in der israelischen Armee.
Gegründet von:
Claudia Doron-Zahner wurde inspiriert vom Leben ihres Schwiegervaters. Sie nahm den roten Faden namens “River of Hope” auf und gründete eine non-profit Organisation basierend auf dem Werk von Dr. Doron.
Ihre internationalen Management Erfahrungen hat sie in Europa, dem Mittleren Osten und den USA geholt und beinhalten: HR Training & Entwicklung, Dozentin in Hotel Management, Projekte & Events Management, mehrjährige Erfahrung in der Airline- und Hotel Industrie. Sie hat ein BSc. in Hotel Business Administration, ist zertifizierte Hospitality Trainerin, dipl. Coach ECA. Sie wohnt mit ihrer Familie in Buchs/SG und siedelt als Relocation Beraterin im Auftrag internationaler Firmen, Expats aus aller Welt im Alpenrheintal an.
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Inspired by:
“River of Hope” is a non-profit organization inspired by the work of Dr. Nathaniel Doron. A former UN Official and Diplomat, Dr Doron was born in Brussels, Belgium 1936. During the Second World War he was separated from his parents and to escape deportation was hidden by a Catholic family on the outskirts of Brussels. At the age of 13 he immigrated to Israel where he spent almost 10 years living in a Kibbutz and serving in the Israeli Army.
Founded by:
Claudia is the daughter in law of Dr. Doron and has been motivated by his inspiring work. Based on his groundwork, Claudia has picked up a thread called “River of Hope” and has created a non-profit organization. Its purpose is to a assist needy and willing communities and other target groups to help themselves and others improve their standard of living for future generations.
UPDATE 17/06/2019
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Inspired by:
“River of Hope” is a non-profit organization inspired by the work of Dr. Nathaniel Doron. A former UN Official and Diplomat, Dr Doron was born in Brussels, Belgium 1936. During the Second World War he was separated from his parents and to escape deportation was hidden by a Catholic family on the outskirts of Brussels. At the age of 13 he immigrated to Israel where he spent almost 10 years living in a Kibbutz and serving in the Israeli Army.
Founded by:
Claudia is the daughter in law of Dr. Doron and has been motivated by his inspiring work. Based on his groundwork, Claudia has picked up a thread called “River of Hope” and has created a non-profit organization. Its purpose is to a assist needy and willing communities and other target groups to help themselves and others improve their standard of living for future generations.