The Inception

The Berentsen Foundation was founded with the goal of setting a new standard for sustainable humanitarian work in Mauritius.

The founder of the Foundation, Morten Berentsen, first visited Mauritius in the late 1990s. The destination was a natural choice as the island is known for being one of the world’s best spots for Blue Marlin fishing, a passion for Berentsen. The Norwegian tech entrepreneur, Berentsen, was enamored with the island’s nature, people, and lifestyle. Over the past two decades, he has been a frequent visitor to the island and has watched it grow with improved infrastructure and thriving tourism. At the same time, he was surprised by the class divide on the island, where most of the wealth goes to a handful of wealthy local families and international companies.

For a Norwegian with a well-developed sense of justice who grew up in an abundant society with flat structures, it was surprising to see how the class-divided society created a small group of winners, a large group of hardworking people locked in low-wage tourist-related jobs, and a small group that fell completely outside. Berentsen wanted to do something about it. After several years of planning, he decided in 2021 to move to Mauritius. One of his engagements was to build up a sustainable non-profit foundation to help needy children and youth to get out of poverty so they can realize their full potential.

Berentsen’ s tech-savvy business background led him to base the Foundation’s organization on business principles. The goal is for the Foundation to be sustainable and self-sufficient, and eventually be able to operate without constant infusions of outside capital. The Foundation starts in 2023 by establishing a children’s home with the capacity to help 50 children and youth. In the future, capacity will be expanded, and the Foundation has a goal of establishing commercial companies where the income is redirected back to the operation and further development of the Foundation. The commercial companies will also provide a career path for the Foundation’s youngster.

In parallel, a professional Norwegian Board is established. The organization’s establishment is mainly funded by contributions from Norwegian and Mauritian companies and persons with a social engagement and Berentsen’ s own fortune.

Mission, Vision and Values

OUR MISSION

Empower children to reach their full potential through a safe home and life-long support.

OUR VISION

Setting a new standard for sustainable humanitarian work.

OUR VALUES

Let our meticulous work shine through in every encounter with children, employees, partners, sponsors, and the world, inspiring those around us to greatness.

TRANSPARENCY

We abide by legal requirements, document, and invite transparency to all aspects of the Foundation’s work.

EQUALITY

All individuals are equally valuable and will be treated as such.

The foundation is a member of the foundation association and registered in the voluntary register and collection control.

The foundation’s funds are used exclusively for the establishment and operation of the foundation in Mauritius. Funds can be continuously transferred to the Foundation in Mauritius where a transparent model has been created with a publicly registered foundation for the same purpose (Berentsen Foundation). This foundation has hired a Management Company Fides LTD to manage the foundation and the monitoring of spending and handle authority requirements.

Fides Trustees (Mauritius) Ltd. Is licensed and regulated by the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius (FSC).

All funds are deposited and withdrawn in a bank in Norway or Mauritius.

In addition, a contract has been entered into with: SHEREN GOVINDEN BARRISTER-AT-LAW which ensures that all operations are in accordance with the legislation of Mauritius.

The management company and lawyer are paid by Berentsen Group LTD which is a subsidiary of Metope AS in Mauritius.

It is included in the articles of association that no private person shall ever withdraw money from this foundation. The same statutory provisions is included in the foundation which owns the assets of the orphanage at Mauritius AS. All funds collected are used for the establishment and operation of the orphanage in Mauritius within the foundation’s mandate.