Henk Italiaander, owner of an Art gallery specialising in African Art, decided to celebrate his 60th birthday in 1998 by transforming his occasional help for Africa into organised support via a Foundation, encouraged by an acquaintance already active in Mali.

The PUM, a semi-government organisation in The Hague, advised co-operation with Solisa, a completely trustworthy partner in Mali. Today, well over 180,000 people benefit from the structural investment of the Mali Foundation, with emphasis on women and children.