Team
The team in the Netherlands is responsible for fundraising, coordination and support of the project in Africa. The team is supported by a growing number of volunteers and is supervised by the Board.
Pim de Wit
Founder and Director
Heads the foundation in the Netherlands as well as Africa, former CEO of Sanoma Publishing Company in the Netherlands until 2005. Also founder of social venture Africa Interactive.
Henri Aalders
Programme Manager
Responsible for office operations, worked for the UN in Benin and Haiti, the ministry of Agriculture and as a Management Consultant for Capgemini.
Olivier Nyirubugara
Senior Coach & Content Coordinator
Coordinates the training programme, originally from Rwanda, used to work as journalist in Central Africa, currently PHD student Media Studies at University of Amsterdam.
Volunteers
"Having worked in media for many years myself, I realise how important it is that people feel that they are seen and heard. I think it is important that the sound that reaches us here is a real sound coming from real people and not just a journalistic interpretation from an outsider. I support Voices of Africa Media foundation, because it offers a future to youth with limited opportunities. I hope the foundation continues to voice many more young Africans in future."
Marjolein Westerterp, Freelance Media Expert, used to work for different publishers since 1980. At Sanoma she launched magazines One, Zin and Felderhof as chief editor. In 2008 she won the first Aad Struijs Press Award for the travel story Expedition Ethiopia. Since 1994 she has been visiting Africa as a freelance journalist. She own a house in South Africa which is her big love with the people as main actors in a fabulous set.
"Natural Capital Ventures has worked with Voices of Africa Media Foundation with pleasure. The concept is unique, the trainings are low barrier and the need is large. Congrats with the new website and trainings in 2010!" Dale Anne Bourjaily, Senior Advisor Natural Capital Ventures, expert in partnerships for sustainable development, was regional director of Interpress Service, board member of Communications for Development.
"Without journalists we are nowhere. That is why I like to assist in developing the training magazine Voices to distribute knowlegde among Africa journalists to be. There were always people who took the effort to teach me the profession as well." Margreet Hagdorn, Freelance Editor, Interim chief editor of various magazines (e.g. Red), freelance communication expert and writes about health, fitness & beauty.
Annelies van Velden, International Finance Manager at WWF, previously worked for Voices of Africa Media Foundation as Programme Manager and has experience working as project manager in Kenya.
"I am delig ht ed to contribute to Voices of Africa Media Foundation, because I strongly support the mission of the foundation."
Suzanne van der Velden, editor in chief New Media at VARA (Dutch TV channel), has been working as a volunteer with Voices of Africa Media Foundation since 2007. She directed and co-produced the training DVD's. Suzanne has studied development economics and journalism.
