When Olav Kristian Strømme died, his nephew, Gunnar Strømme, took the initiative to establish the Strømme Memorial Foundation. Gunnar Strømme was elected chairman of the board and led the foundation's work in a strong growth period through 8 years. Thanks to the great efforts of many faithful employees, employees and volunteers, Olav Kristian Strømme's life's work is further developed and become what the Strømme Foundation is today.
Since 1989, the Strømme Foundation has been a decentralized organization with its own regional offices and with only local employees working through local partners. The first regional office opened in Bangladesh, then Peru in 1990, Mali in 1991 and Uganda in 1994. The Strømme Foundation's work in South America was wound up in 2019. Today, the Strømme Foundation has regional offices in Mali, Uganda and Sri Lanka.
Stromme Foundation officially established its regional office in Kampala, Uganda in 1994 and a country Office in Juba, South Sudan in 2007. However, we startet our interventions in East Africa with Tanzania in 1980, Uganda in 1982, Kenya in 1997 and South Sudan in 2001.
In the region Strømme Foundation, implements education, livelihoods and civil society strengthening programs in remote and hard to reach areas. We work with local non-governmental and community-based organizations. Program sustainability is ensured through a community led participatory approach. Community participation, respect and the dignity of the beneficiaries are at the core of program success.
Our support for the poor and vulnerable remains inspired by Christian values that reverend Olav Kristian Strømme always held dear.