It was in 2001 when Heike and Heiner Tautz had to stop for a longer period of time in Gambia (West Africa).
Initially, they had planned to stay for about six months only: today, Heike and Heiner are in their fifth year, still living in Gambia.
The couple, who had previously known Africa only from a tourist's perspective while on vacation, has been overwhelmed by the true living conditions under which the Gambian population has to survive.
They were, above all, touched by the severe health situation they witnessed.
After a very short time, word was out in the local population that Heike Tautz is a trained nurse.
From then on, sick and ailing people began to visit them, asking for help. And Heike and Heiner simply had to help them – they couldn't simply observe the situation and do nothing but twiddle their thumbs.
 

Heiner Tautz, a trained mechanical engineer with a master craftsman diploma, found his area of assignment just as easily: people soon started bringing in defective generators or water pumps for him to repair. Having worked as an instructor in Germany before, Mr. Tautz set out to not merely repair defective machinery but to also teach the local Gambians how to repair the machines by themselves.
In the course of time, the workload and things to do became overwhelming and the Tautz couple hardly could manage anymore.
Especially Heike requires professional medical assistance with many of the various ailments.
So what to do?
Next, the couple set out to analyze the health situation in the Gambian heartland.
 

They found that the situation there is by far more dramatic.
Driving parallel to the river, their car was besieged every day by people seeking help. The couple's medical supplies were soon exhausted, and sometimes they just drove away – not being able to help, they could not bear the distress and misery anymore.