Like so many people, Norbert Grote Ganseij simply wants to make the world a better place. Unlike the majority of those people, he’s actually going to do it. He will soon leave the confines of his Dutch hometown of Zwolle for a small village near Goa, India to build a home for disabled street children. But what makes Norbert rather special is that he used to live on the streets himself.

As a child, Norbert’s dream was to join a circus. He also loved birds, because they were always free. After a troubled youth at home and with foster families, he eventually walked out and left it all behind.

Dream shattered
While he showed promise as a trapeze artist, that dream was shattered when he was hit by a drunk driver, seriously injuring his shoulder and leg. After the accident, he became depressed and wound up living on the street.

After a while, and with the help of various aid organisations, Norbert was able to put his life back on track again – literally, as he found a job as a train conductor at the Dutch national rail company NS.

Life-changing
But Norbert says his biggest life-changing moment occurred last year in India, where he was on vacation. In Delhi, he met 16-year old Athay, a homeless disabled boy.

“I was lost and I was looking for a cheap tourist hang out. I saw Athay as he was moving through the crowds in the street on his skateboard. He showed me the way to a café. He didn’t ask any money for it as he said he was making money out of his job as a shoeshine boy. He simply helped me out of kindness.”

Norbert and Athay got to talking and the young Dutchman was impressed by Athay’s story. “I was intrigued by his strength and positivity he displayed. I felt I needed to do something with that. Young boys and girls like him deserve so much better. He’s opened my eyes.”

Outcast
Although he too has spent time living on the streets, Norbert doesn’t want to compare his experiences with Athay’s. “I simply walked out on a foster family. That was my choice. Indian homeless children like Athay are rejected and outcast, simply because of their handicap. They don’t have a choice.”

Entrepreneur
During that same trip, Norbert coincidentally met a rich Indian entrepreneur and senator who wanted to help. “I was stranded at an airport due to delays and we started talking. I told him about my idea of starting a project for disabled street children; he immediately offered to help me.”

The benefactor happened to have founded over sixty schools in the state of Karnataka, and he offered Norbert a piece of land where he could build a care home and a school.

Back in the Netherlands, Norbert recruited a couple of friends and together they founded the KIND foundation (‘Kind’ is ‘child’ in Dutch). He received sponsorships from several Dutch companies, while hospitals donated medical appliances and schools offered furniture and educational materials.

Fulfilling
Norbert is now ready to leave for India to start building the home - and fulfilling his dreams. He’s hoping to offer 25 mentally and physically disabled children a home and a future.

“This is just a beginning and I don’t know where it will all end. I’ll do my best, that’s all I can do.”