Carmari Strobos

Carmari Strobos served in youth and children's ministry for 10 years across South Africa in local schools and churches as ordained pastor. After a season as housemother and auxiliary social worker at House of Hope safe houses with 30+ orphans and vulnerable babies/toddlers, the door opened for her in 2009 to attend the Walking with Wounded Children Course at Petra Institute. 

Carmari met her husband, Gerhard Strobos at Petra Institute. They wed In 2010 and started serving together to build  capacity for children's ministry in South Africa and neighbouring countries. 

During their first visit to Tanzania, God called them to move. They took up this calling in 2015. In 2017, they were blessed with twins. As a family, they serve the church and community in East Africa. Learning to speak Swahili opened doors for them to address the big need for teaching English as a foreign language. This gave them the ability to assist teachers in ways of learning that involves the whole of a child; how children learn best; developmental stages and children's needs. Carmari includes play, singing, fine and big motor skills, bilateral integration, etc. in her training of pre-school and primary school teachers. The inclusion of trauma counselling in schools that work with orphans and vulnerable children is an important integration in both schools and churches.

Carmari is passionate about empowering people. Her various skill sets including food preservation and small business skills. All of this is vital for the communities, churches and families of East Africa to enable them to value and take care of their children.

In parenting their children, Carmari and Gerhard involve them in the everyday life and practical aspects of the ministry. The values of African life, not yet overtaken by technology and the West, are what they aim to bring up their children with.

The family recently moved to Geita, Tanzania, where they work with Geita Christian College training future pastors, evangelists and church leaders. The focus is to include children in church and family life.

You are welcome to get in touch with Carmari – she enjoys discussions, brainstorming and sharing ideas.