Ambassadors
On this page we like to introduce 5 of our Ambassadors and their organizations . We support them in Visibility and small donations. We believe in the potential of these diaspora organisations and the local communities and love to empower them.
Abubakarr Bangura
Stichting Youth Initiative
Sierra Leone
Abubakarr comes from Sierra Leone but has been living and working in the Netherlands for years.
In 2005, he founded the Youth Initiative Foundation to stimulate the self-reliance of children and young people in Sierra Leone.
In 2018, Abubakarr and his Foundation entered into a partnership with SEP (Student Entrepreneurship Program). This resulted in 2 important projects with a focus on the development of the Clothing and Agricultural industries.
The first project contained a sewing workshop for young people (especially girls) and the other project focuses on the production of cassava. This project is for small farmers to create a more stable income and contribute to the national goal of being self-sufficient in their food supply.
In the Netherlands, the foundation provides information to schools and approaches funds to finance projects in Sierra Leone. The foundation also receives financial support from the Municipality of Tilburg.
A documentary was recently released about Abubakarr's work.
You can read more on the website: www.slyi.nl
Babah Tarawali
Mopada Foundation
Sierra Leone
Babah Tarawally was born and raised in Sierra Leone. On July 21, 1995, he had to flee to the Netherlands. The war in his native Sierra Leone became more grim and innocent civilians became targets of the rebels and government forces.
In the Netherlands he worked for years for Africa Free Voice, a media organization that supports independent media in developing countries. In 2009 Babah published his first book; “The god with the blue eyes”. This will be followed by a number of books such as The Tamed Man. He is also a regular columnist for the daily newspaper TROUW.
In addition to this wonderful career, Babah is very involved in his home country and works with the Mopada Foundation on projects in Sierra Leone.
This started small with some local projects and a campaign for Ebola that he did together with Pimp My Village in 2015. In the meantime, Mopada has grown into a successful NGO. Despite this, Babah continues to support small local projects in villages.
“ I am convinced that projects in which local private initiatives try to bring change in their community work best. For example, a pharmacist who sets up a pharmacy or a teacher who sets up a school based on his or her passion and local involvement. In my opinion, these types of projects are very effective and sustainable and have a major impact on the lives of poor people.
Nellie Ekua Kirschner-Timmer
Stichting To Be Worldwide
Ghana
Nellie Ekua Kirschner-Timmer was born in Ghana and is half Ghanaian and Dutch. In 2002, Nellie founded the To Be Worldwide Foundation.
Nellie: "I want children to get the most out of their education and develop skills that contribute to a better future and the development of their own local community."
In 2004, Nellie and her Ghanaian mother set up the first To Be Worldwide Educational Resource Center. This includes a children's library and facilities for computer training, as well as an extensive activity program tailored to local needs.verything focused on the children's eagerness to learn; with the aim of inspiring and stimulating.
The Center is so successful that a second To Be Center opened in Cape Coast in 2010.
You can find more about Nellie at www.tobeworldwide.nl
Julliènne Doppenberg
Tosanga Foundation
Congo
Tosangana was founded on February 10, 2006. Juliènne, the founder, set up the organization in honor of her parents.
Her parents raised a total of 17 children, although some of these children were not their own. Her parents placed great value on education; everyone in their household had to graduate first before they could do anything for themselves. Few children in her area had this opportunity.
After the death of her parents Juliènne wanted to continue their work
Juliènne: " Next to the educational projects I am also involved in projects concerning the position of women in society and in professional life.
The conflict situation in Congo has strengthened the desire and need for women's emancipation and the empowerment of women and girls."
You can find more about Juliènne at https://www.tosangana.com/
Kanja Waithira
Normal Different Foundation
Kenya
Kanja started the Normal Difference Mind Health Project in 2008 in Kenya, but the organization is also active in The Netherlands.
He came from a community where there was little information and support about mental well-being. Due to lack of this information, people with mental health issues were treated unfairly. Mental health issues were stigmatized and people had to survive on their own because they were ostracized by the community.”
Kanja found that a lot of people with mental health problems were ridiculed, ignored or driven away. Because of these experiences, many people with mental symptoms decided to suffer in solitude. They were afraid of the stigma that came with it.
The main goal of the Normal Difference Mind Health Project is to promote people's mental health to the fullest through sports, arts, advocacy, educational programs and community empowerment projects.
More info: www.normal-difference.org