coolcharity

BY COOLUNLIMITED

COOLCHARITY

CoolCH. boek def 24-11-2006 11:17 Pagina 3

COOLCHARITY 32 33

If all goes well, his neighbours will soon be calling him

Abby Bakker and this good-looking black man will be a

Dutchman. Because that is what he would like, to belong

Abu Bakr is from Sudan. After his parents and sisters were

killed during the civil war, he and his brother fled, both in

different directions. He never found his brother again.

In Sudan he was an accountant. Upon arrival in Holland he

was placed in an asylum seekers’ centre and volunteered

as a painter and handyman in an old people’s home. In

June !""# it was time to celebrate: Abu Bakr was allowed

to stay. He got a paid job as a painter in a different old

people’s home in Amstelveen. Here he met people and

made friends. But after obtaining his residence permit,

he had to leave the asylum seekers’ centre and the

authorities offered him accommodation in Medemblik.

How was he meant to get to work in Amstelveen on time?

Initially, Abby lived in a tiny room in the top of a dreary,

down-at-heel flat block. The kitchen and bathroom were

down the hall and the building was filled with stale

cooking smells. He paid more than ! $#" rent for the

space in Medemblik and much more for the hovel which

he rented illegally in Amstelveen – all because he didn’t

want to lose his job. Luckily, he has now found a room that

is a bit better and nearer to his work.

Abby would like to study. “First learn fluent Dutch, and

then study economics, or something with computers.” But

because Abu Bakr earns money through his part-time

painting job, he is not eligible for all sorts of welfare pro-

visions. He wants to learn the language properly, but he is

not allowed to go to the regional training centre because

there is no accommodation for him in Amstelveen and no

work in Medemblik. He saves and saves to be able to

finance his studies. He eats baked beans every day. “Baked

beans are good.”

Sometimes he feels sad, when he thinks of his family. But

he is determined to build up a life here. For six years he

longed for his residence permit and now that it has come,

life here seems to be full of obstacles. “And still,” says

Abu Bakr, “I am very grateful to Holland.”

Hanneke Groenteman

26.000 gezichten

www.26000gezichten.nl

Abu Bakr

CoolCH. 26000 gezichten 01 20-10-2006 09:47 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

If all goes well, his neighbours will soon be calling him

Abby Bakker and this good-looking black man will be a

Dutchman. Because that is what he would like, to belong

Abu Bakr is from Sudan. After his parents and sisters were

killed during the civil war, he and his brother fled, both in

different directions. He never found his brother again.

In Sudan he was an accountant. Upon arrival in Holland he

was placed in an asylum seekers’ centre and volunteered

as a painter and handyman in an old people’s home. In

June !""# it was time to celebrate: Abu Bakr was allowed

to stay. He got a paid job as a painter in a different old

people’s home in Amstelveen. Here he met people and

made friends. But after obtaining his residence permit,

he had to leave the asylum seekers’ centre and the

authorities offered him accommodation in Medemblik.

How was he meant to get to work in Amstelveen on time?

Initially, Abby lived in a tiny room in the top of a dreary,

down-at-heel flat block. The kitchen and bathroom were

down the hall and the building was filled with stale

cooking smells. He paid more than ! $#" rent for the

space in Medemblik and much more for the hovel which

he rented illegally in Amstelveen – all because he didn’t

want to lose his job. Luckily, he has now found a room that

is a bit better and nearer to his work.

Abby would like to study. “First learn fluent Dutch, and

then study economics, or something with computers.” But

because Abu Bakr earns money through his part-time

painting job, he is not eligible for all sorts of welfare pro-

visions. He wants to learn the language properly, but he is

not allowed to go to the regional training centre because

there is no accommodation for him in Amstelveen and no

work in Medemblik. He saves and saves to be able to

finance his studies. He eats baked beans every day. “Baked

beans are good.”

Sometimes he feels sad, when he thinks of his family. But

he is determined to build up a life here. For six years he

longed for his residence permit and now that it has come,

life here seems to be full of obstacles. “And still,” says

Abu Bakr, “I am very grateful to Holland.”

Hanneke Groenteman

26.000 gezichten

www.26000gezichten.nl

Abu Bakr

CoolCH. 26000 gezichten 01 20-10-2006 09:47 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“People on the street are just like us,” argues Mark, !", the

coordinator of the Amsterdam Salvation Army Soup Bus.

“The only difference is that they have been unlucky or hurt

in some way.” Three evenings a week, Mark makes sure

that the Soup Bus drives through the capital and reaches

around #$$ homeless people. “We distribute the most

basic human needs: food, drink and love. But it is not all

sorrow and misery, we also have a chat with them and

joke around.”

For the past !% years, &%",$$$ litres of soup and #,%$$,$$$

litres of coffee are distributed every year. The Soup Bus

also does a weekly round in Rotterdam and Zwolle to

provide the homeless there with coffee, rolls, soup and

blankets. And to lend a sympathetic ear. “The clients are

diverse – from elderly alcoholics to lost backpackers; some

of them claim they are on their way to work. Good for

them! As long as they keep dreaming their dreams, they

keep their spirits up.”

Living together, sharing together

The Soup Bus is a good example of a project that is sup-

ported by %$|%$, a brand that was introduced by the

Salvation Army in &$$!. “As the advertising agency for the

Salvation Army, we were looking for new ways of reaching

a broader and younger audience,” explains Harry Puts of

Only, the brain behind %$|%$. “For instance, young people

communicate a lot through clothing. This is how the %$|%$

brand was developed in &$$!, with %$|%$ fashion as its

first product. That’s what’s great about %$|%$: that you

have a new way of telling the Salvation Army story and

showing that if you do things together and share things

together, you will get a better, nicer society.”

!"|!" fashion

Harry explains that %$|%$ fashion uses parts of discarded

clothing items from Salvation Army containers to create

new clothes. No two designs are ever identical: “Among ##

million kilos of clothes a year, you are bound to find some-

thing. Put the upper part of a pair of trousers and a curtain

together and you have a new skirt. It just goes to show

that even really old stuff, even mailbags, can be turned

into new clothes. The clothes are assembled by young

people working in a sheltered workshop.”

!"|!" soup

After %$|%$ fashion for young people and kids, and a

range of accessories, %$|%$ soup was introduced. “Besides

clothes, the Salvation Army of course has a strong connec-

tion with soup,” Harry comments. “Their roots lie in soup,

as they distribute litres and litres of soup every day to the

homeless. In a way you could see soup as a splendid meta-

phor for neighbourly love. That’s how we developed the

idea of compiling a special soup cookbook.” The book’s

layout is a blend of &$ different cookery and photography

styles. It was developed by Les Patrons Cuisiniers (#'

Dutch top chefs) in collaboration with the Photographers

Association of the Netherlands (&$ photographers) who all

worked free of charge to complete the project.

With thanks to Mark Voorneveld and Harry Puts for contri-

butions to the text

Together we’re one50|50

www.5050world.com

CoolCH.50-50 01 20-10-2006 09:51 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“People on the street are just like us,” argues Mark, !", the

coordinator of the Amsterdam Salvation Army Soup Bus.

“The only difference is that they have been unlucky or hurt

in some way.” Three evenings a week, Mark makes sure

that the Soup Bus drives through the capital and reaches

around #$$ homeless people. “We distribute the most

basic human needs: food, drink and love. But it is not all

sorrow and misery, we also have a chat with them and

joke around.”

For the past !% years, &%",$$$ litres of soup and #,%$$,$$$

litres of coffee are distributed every year. The Soup Bus

also does a weekly round in Rotterdam and Zwolle to

provide the homeless there with coffee, rolls, soup and

blankets. And to lend a sympathetic ear. “The clients are

diverse – from elderly alcoholics to lost backpackers; some

of them claim they are on their way to work. Good for

them! As long as they keep dreaming their dreams, they

keep their spirits up.”

Living together, sharing together

The Soup Bus is a good example of a project that is sup-

ported by %$|%$, a brand that was introduced by the

Salvation Army in &$$!. “As the advertising agency for the

Salvation Army, we were looking for new ways of reaching

a broader and younger audience,” explains Harry Puts of

Only, the brain behind %$|%$. “For instance, young people

communicate a lot through clothing. This is how the %$|%$

brand was developed in &$$!, with %$|%$ fashion as its

first product. That’s what’s great about %$|%$: that you

have a new way of telling the Salvation Army story and

showing that if you do things together and share things

together, you will get a better, nicer society.”

!"|!" fashion

Harry explains that %$|%$ fashion uses parts of discarded

clothing items from Salvation Army containers to create

new clothes. No two designs are ever identical: “Among ##

million kilos of clothes a year, you are bound to find some-

thing. Put the upper part of a pair of trousers and a curtain

together and you have a new skirt. It just goes to show

that even really old stuff, even mailbags, can be turned

into new clothes. The clothes are assembled by young

people working in a sheltered workshop.”

!"|!" soup

After %$|%$ fashion for young people and kids, and a

range of accessories, %$|%$ soup was introduced. “Besides

clothes, the Salvation Army of course has a strong connec-

tion with soup,” Harry comments. “Their roots lie in soup,

as they distribute litres and litres of soup every day to the

homeless. In a way you could see soup as a splendid meta-

phor for neighbourly love. That’s how we developed the

idea of compiling a special soup cookbook.” The book’s

layout is a blend of &$ different cookery and photography

styles. It was developed by Les Patrons Cuisiniers (#'

Dutch top chefs) in collaboration with the Photographers

Association of the Netherlands (&$ photographers) who all

worked free of charge to complete the project.

With thanks to Mark Voorneveld and Harry Puts for contri-

butions to the text

Together we’re one50|50

www.5050world.com

CoolCH.50-50 01 20-10-2006 09:51 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

The campaign continued in Liberia. In October !""#, on

the eve of the elections, over $,""" demonstrators took to

the streets of the capital Monrovia, many of them wearing

the trademark Pinkpop/Amnesty hats. The demonstration

ended with a manifestation during which the $!,"""

signatures that were collected at Pinkpop were handed

over to a delegation of politicians. That same week,

a radio report made at Pinkpop, in which thousands of

visitors chanted “Vote Against Rape!”, was repeatedly

aired on !# Liberian radio stations.

The campaign proved successful. In December, new legis-

lation was introduced. It was a big step forward. The

new law broadened the definition of rape and denied

bail to anyone charged with raping a minor. The law also

increased sentences for the most serious offences,

allowing life imprisonment to be imposed for the rape of

a minor and for gang rape. In June !""#, the first life

sentence was pronounced against a man who raped a

child. According to AFELL, the support of Amnesty

International and the Dutch public which raised its voice

against rape, was very important and motivating.

With thanks to Wata Modad, Executive Director of the

Women and Children Rehabilitation Resource Centre

Amnesty International

www.amnesty.nl

‘Peace is just assweet as it can be.’

Wata Modad lives in Liberia, a country that has been ravis-

hed by terrible civil war. During years of fighting between

the government and rebel forces, rape was widespread

and systematic. Women who resisted were killed: “You do

or die.” After the conflict ended, sexual violence was still

rampant. Perpetrators, both old and new, were not held

accountable and existing laws failed to stop violence

against women.

Wata Modad is a symbol of the struggle against sexual

violence in her country. She runs a network of rehabilita-

tion centres for victims, which offer material support,

trauma counselling and training. “I have been working

with victims for more than ten years now,” she says, “but

every story still defies my imagination. Our activities help

women to regain control over their lives.” Amnesty

International invited Wata to the Netherlands to support

the campaign “Vote Against Rape!”, which Amnesty

launched together with the Association of Female Lawyers

in Liberia (AFELL). Together with AFELL, Amnesty appealed

to Liberian political parties participating in the !""#

elections to end impunity for rape and other forms of

sexual violence.

At the Dutch music festival Pinkpop, where Amnesty was

campaigning, Wata Modad stressed that new legislation

was long overdue. “In Liberia, rape is not a serious offence.

People don’t think of it as a crime, especially during the

war. But the wave of rape in Liberia is so high, that it must

be placed on the electoral agenda. After the elections, it

should be considered a serious offence.”

The festival at Pinkpop was designed to encourage AFELL

and people like Wata Modad in Liberia. “We will carry this

message back to Liberia,” Wata said. “We will try to con-

vince the Liberians that peace is just as sweet as it can be.”

CoolCH.Amnesty 02 20-10-2006 09:54 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

The campaign continued in Liberia. In October !""#, on

the eve of the elections, over $,""" demonstrators took to

the streets of the capital Monrovia, many of them wearing

the trademark Pinkpop/Amnesty hats. The demonstration

ended with a manifestation during which the $!,"""

signatures that were collected at Pinkpop were handed

over to a delegation of politicians. That same week,

a radio report made at Pinkpop, in which thousands of

visitors chanted “Vote Against Rape!”, was repeatedly

aired on !# Liberian radio stations.

The campaign proved successful. In December, new legis-

lation was introduced. It was a big step forward. The

new law broadened the definition of rape and denied

bail to anyone charged with raping a minor. The law also

increased sentences for the most serious offences,

allowing life imprisonment to be imposed for the rape of

a minor and for gang rape. In June !""#, the first life

sentence was pronounced against a man who raped a

child. According to AFELL, the support of Amnesty

International and the Dutch public which raised its voice

against rape, was very important and motivating.

With thanks to Wata Modad, Executive Director of the

Women and Children Rehabilitation Resource Centre

Amnesty International

www.amnesty.nl

‘Peace is just assweet as it can be.’

Wata Modad lives in Liberia, a country that has been ravis-

hed by terrible civil war. During years of fighting between

the government and rebel forces, rape was widespread

and systematic. Women who resisted were killed: “You do

or die.” After the conflict ended, sexual violence was still

rampant. Perpetrators, both old and new, were not held

accountable and existing laws failed to stop violence

against women.

Wata Modad is a symbol of the struggle against sexual

violence in her country. She runs a network of rehabilita-

tion centres for victims, which offer material support,

trauma counselling and training. “I have been working

with victims for more than ten years now,” she says, “but

every story still defies my imagination. Our activities help

women to regain control over their lives.” Amnesty

International invited Wata to the Netherlands to support

the campaign “Vote Against Rape!”, which Amnesty

launched together with the Association of Female Lawyers

in Liberia (AFELL). Together with AFELL, Amnesty appealed

to Liberian political parties participating in the !""#

elections to end impunity for rape and other forms of

sexual violence.

At the Dutch music festival Pinkpop, where Amnesty was

campaigning, Wata Modad stressed that new legislation

was long overdue. “In Liberia, rape is not a serious offence.

People don’t think of it as a crime, especially during the

war. But the wave of rape in Liberia is so high, that it must

be placed on the electoral agenda. After the elections, it

should be considered a serious offence.”

The festival at Pinkpop was designed to encourage AFELL

and people like Wata Modad in Liberia. “We will carry this

message back to Liberia,” Wata said. “We will try to con-

vince the Liberians that peace is just as sweet as it can be.”

CoolCH.Amnesty 02 20-10-2006 09:54 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

It is with genuine pride that Gladys welcomes visitors to

her new home. Through her living room window one can

still see the remains of her mud hut, which is crumbling in

a nearby field. She is delighted with her new home, as she

no longer had the energy to maintain the small hut. Like

many other elderly women in the village, Gladys, !", has

lost her husband and her sons. Her only surviving child is

a daughter who has eight children. But thanks to AMREF

(African Medical and Research Foundation), all her grand-

children have a bright future ahead of them. “There is an

increasing awareness about the AIDS threat, the children

can go to school, there is clean drinking water, we have

learnt a lot about healthy nutrition and there is medical

care if we need it.”

In Butuntumula in the Luweero region of Central Uganda,

AMREF is not just working on healthcare issues, but also

on housing, water and food production. There is a strange

atmosphere in Butuntumula. As a visitor, Jacqueline

Lampe does not immediately understand why people are

friendly and hospitable and everyone seems to be

working hard. Then, after some time, it becomes clear -

there are hardly any adults! Most children are being cared

for by their grandparents. More than a third of the chil-

dren in Luweero live with their grandparents because their

parents have died of HIV/AIDS.

Just like elsewhere in Africa, these orphans have to turn to

their extended families, who are often stretched to the

limit. As the grandparents are unable to cope with the full

burden of childcare, certain family tasks need to be taken

over by the community – and that includes the internatio-

nal community.

AMREF’s Aids Orphans Project helps the elderly care for

children. AMREF gives these children a future by providing

healthy food, clean water, safety, education and healthcare.

And it encourages local authorities, schools and other

organisations to pursue the same goals.

As Samuel Semuyaba, the chairman of the Butuntumula

town council, comments: “We need so many things. To

really achieve something, we have to bring everyone toge-

ther and abandon the fragmented approach. There is no

point in offering children schooling, if they are going fall

ill by drinking polluted water.”

Despite the fact that Gladys has seen the generation of her

children disappear almost entirely, she is enthusiastic

about the improvements in the last few years. Since #$$%,

AMREF has built #! modern primary schools with large

classrooms, homes for teachers and rainwater cisterns.

Gladys knows that her grandchildren have more opportu-

nities than she had as a little girl. The children today are

aware of the AIDS threat, they have more chance of com-

pleting primary school, they have clean water and they

have learnt about good hygiene. Today, there is also pro-

fessional staff who can help put their lives on the right

track: teachers at school, instructors for professional

training and healthcare workers in the clinics. “They have

more chance than we did of finding a job and escaping

poverty,” says Gladys. “They are the living proof that there

is a future for our people in Luweero.”

Jacqueline Lampe, Director AMREF Flying Doctors Nederland

After the lost generationAMREF

www.amref.nl

CoolCH.Amref 01 20-10-2006 09:56 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

It is with genuine pride that Gladys welcomes visitors to

her new home. Through her living room window one can

still see the remains of her mud hut, which is crumbling in

a nearby field. She is delighted with her new home, as she

no longer had the energy to maintain the small hut. Like

many other elderly women in the village, Gladys, !", has

lost her husband and her sons. Her only surviving child is

a daughter who has eight children. But thanks to AMREF

(African Medical and Research Foundation), all her grand-

children have a bright future ahead of them. “There is an

increasing awareness about the AIDS threat, the children

can go to school, there is clean drinking water, we have

learnt a lot about healthy nutrition and there is medical

care if we need it.”

In Butuntumula in the Luweero region of Central Uganda,

AMREF is not just working on healthcare issues, but also

on housing, water and food production. There is a strange

atmosphere in Butuntumula. As a visitor, Jacqueline

Lampe does not immediately understand why people are

friendly and hospitable and everyone seems to be

working hard. Then, after some time, it becomes clear -

there are hardly any adults! Most children are being cared

for by their grandparents. More than a third of the chil-

dren in Luweero live with their grandparents because their

parents have died of HIV/AIDS.

Just like elsewhere in Africa, these orphans have to turn to

their extended families, who are often stretched to the

limit. As the grandparents are unable to cope with the full

burden of childcare, certain family tasks need to be taken

over by the community – and that includes the internatio-

nal community.

AMREF’s Aids Orphans Project helps the elderly care for

children. AMREF gives these children a future by providing

healthy food, clean water, safety, education and healthcare.

And it encourages local authorities, schools and other

organisations to pursue the same goals.

As Samuel Semuyaba, the chairman of the Butuntumula

town council, comments: “We need so many things. To

really achieve something, we have to bring everyone toge-

ther and abandon the fragmented approach. There is no

point in offering children schooling, if they are going fall

ill by drinking polluted water.”

Despite the fact that Gladys has seen the generation of her

children disappear almost entirely, she is enthusiastic

about the improvements in the last few years. Since #$$%,

AMREF has built #! modern primary schools with large

classrooms, homes for teachers and rainwater cisterns.

Gladys knows that her grandchildren have more opportu-

nities than she had as a little girl. The children today are

aware of the AIDS threat, they have more chance of com-

pleting primary school, they have clean water and they

have learnt about good hygiene. Today, there is also pro-

fessional staff who can help put their lives on the right

track: teachers at school, instructors for professional

training and healthcare workers in the clinics. “They have

more chance than we did of finding a job and escaping

poverty,” says Gladys. “They are the living proof that there

is a future for our people in Luweero.”

Jacqueline Lampe, Director AMREF Flying Doctors Nederland

After the lost generationAMREF

www.amref.nl

CoolCH.Amref 01 20-10-2006 09:56 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“The first National Tree Day was celebrated in Apeldoorn

on !" April !#$% with more than !,&"" children. Almost $"

years later, !"",""" children in '"" towns in the

Netherlands participated in the event. (""% will mark

the $"th anniversary of Holland’s National Tree Day, an

occasion that will be celebrated on a large scale, because

Holland’s school age children have over this period

planted more than !" million trees, which has contributed

to making the country green and healthy. As the oldest

institution in the world for nature education for children,

we have developed a rich tradition which we want to

perpetrate in future in collaboration with the town

councils and of course the children.

In the Jubilee Year we also hope to be able to celebrate the

Second European Tree Day. It would be a follow-up to the

European Tree Day we organised in May !##% in the

European Commission building in Brussels in the presence

of all the ministers of agriculture and forestry of the mem-

ber states. We want to stimulate all these countries to

work with their youth towards a green, healthy world

through the planting of trees.”

Peter J. Derksen, director of National Tree Day Association

After the planting of the trees on Tree Day, the children

often hang a tree wish in their tree. Thus Aniek recently

also hung a tree wish in her tree:

“Our tree is our hero

That is the only thing that counts.

They give us paper,

And also joy.

They give us life

NEVER again let the trees go!”

A very different sort of Tree Day…

“The tree connects rain and wind

the world with the clouds

in order to transmit our greeting

through its branches upwards

where they, so dearly beloved by us,

populate the kingdom of heaven.”

The above poem can be found at the memorial in the

Queen Wilhelmina Forest in Dronten: a memorial forest

that was created on the initiative of the National Tree Day

Foundation in collaboration with KWF-Kankerbestrijding

(the Dutch anti-cancer campaign organisation) and the

Staatsbosbeheer (Forestry Commission). At this spot relati-

ves of deceased cancer patients can plant a “Tree for Life”

and have their name engraved on glass panels.

Anonymous message: “On the occasion of the ‘Trees for

Life Day’ last November, I was allowed to plant a tree for

my beloved wife Ans in the Queen Wilhelmina Forest with

my three children. It was an overwhelming day with many

emotions. Many, many tears were shed and it felt so incre-

dibly good. Ans died of breast cancer. We miss her every

day and that is not always easy to understand for ‘the

outsider’. Here in the forest we were with fellow-sufferers,

together without knowing each other, without even

speaking to each other, but there was an atmosphere of

equality and shared sorrow. Wonderful! We see this day as

a milestone in our further life. We have planted a tree, a

‘Tree for Life’, to perpetrate the warmth of a loved one.”

Boomfeestdag

www.boomfeestdag.nl

2007:50 years of National Tree Day

CoolCH.Boomfeestdag 01 24-08-2006 09:44 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“The first National Tree Day was celebrated in Apeldoorn

on !" April !#$% with more than !,&"" children. Almost $"

years later, !"",""" children in '"" towns in the

Netherlands participated in the event. (""% will mark

the $"th anniversary of Holland’s National Tree Day, an

occasion that will be celebrated on a large scale, because

Holland’s school age children have over this period

planted more than !" million trees, which has contributed

to making the country green and healthy. As the oldest

institution in the world for nature education for children,

we have developed a rich tradition which we want to

perpetrate in future in collaboration with the town

councils and of course the children.

In the Jubilee Year we also hope to be able to celebrate the

Second European Tree Day. It would be a follow-up to the

European Tree Day we organised in May !##% in the

European Commission building in Brussels in the presence

of all the ministers of agriculture and forestry of the mem-

ber states. We want to stimulate all these countries to

work with their youth towards a green, healthy world

through the planting of trees.”

Peter J. Derksen, director of National Tree Day Association

After the planting of the trees on Tree Day, the children

often hang a tree wish in their tree. Thus Aniek recently

also hung a tree wish in her tree:

“Our tree is our hero

That is the only thing that counts.

They give us paper,

And also joy.

They give us life

NEVER again let the trees go!”

A very different sort of Tree Day…

“The tree connects rain and wind

the world with the clouds

in order to transmit our greeting

through its branches upwards

where they, so dearly beloved by us,

populate the kingdom of heaven.”

The above poem can be found at the memorial in the

Queen Wilhelmina Forest in Dronten: a memorial forest

that was created on the initiative of the National Tree Day

Foundation in collaboration with KWF-Kankerbestrijding

(the Dutch anti-cancer campaign organisation) and the

Staatsbosbeheer (Forestry Commission). At this spot relati-

ves of deceased cancer patients can plant a “Tree for Life”

and have their name engraved on glass panels.

Anonymous message: “On the occasion of the ‘Trees for

Life Day’ last November, I was allowed to plant a tree for

my beloved wife Ans in the Queen Wilhelmina Forest with

my three children. It was an overwhelming day with many

emotions. Many, many tears were shed and it felt so incre-

dibly good. Ans died of breast cancer. We miss her every

day and that is not always easy to understand for ‘the

outsider’. Here in the forest we were with fellow-sufferers,

together without knowing each other, without even

speaking to each other, but there was an atmosphere of

equality and shared sorrow. Wonderful! We see this day as

a milestone in our further life. We have planted a tree, a

‘Tree for Life’, to perpetrate the warmth of a loved one.”

Boomfeestdag

www.boomfeestdag.nl

2007:50 years of National Tree Day

CoolCH.Boomfeestdag 01 24-08-2006 09:44 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Campus Nieuw West’s ICT KidZZ Academy gives kids with

a difficult home situation in Amsterdam Nieuw West a

helping hand. Every Wednesday afternoon, a group of

children learn computer skills with coaches from KPN,

Nuon and Getronics PinkRoccade. The programme lasts

three years: it starts with kids of twelve years old and runs

until the second year of secondary school. Coaches focus

on the internet, the hardware and software of the compu-

ter and homework supervision. The project started with

four pupils two years ago, today !" pupils from five

schools are participating. Betty Kooij, the deputy head-

master of primary school De Globe says: “The ICT KidZZ

Academy has a great effect on kids. The quality of their

work is much higher, the children are more confident and

their classmates see them as real whiz-kids.”

Hans Hoeksema (KPN), one of the coaches, comments:

“Bringing twelve-year-old children in contact with profes-

sionals who want to further their development for three

years gives them an immense extra stimulus to make

plans for the future, finish school and get their diplomas.

Working with other professionals, I coach kids in the

second year of the ICT KidZZ Academy. It’s a group of four,

two girls and two boys. They like having fun and chat a

lot. They’ve made a newspaper and are now learning

how computers work, by taking an old PC apart and put-

ting it back together again with functioning program-

mes. If you offer kids interesting subjects and a good

environment, they are keen to get to work.”

Coach Coen Cornelissen (Nuon) talks a lot to the children

about what they have experienced and how it’s going at

school. “The topics come flying at me: one minute I’m

drawing a map of the Middle East to explain how close

Syria is to Turkey, the next minute I am explaining how the

female cycle works, which brings about a mixture of

giggles and interest. It’s a great experience: it’s fun to

teach and touching to see how much trust the children

give you. Beforehand I would never have thought it would

affect me so much.”

Director Frans Duynstee (Nuon) is also enthusiastic about

the ICT KidZZ Academy. “Our company wants to make a

conscious contribution to long-term social welfare, that’s

one of the reasons we are participating wholeheartedly in

the Campus Nieuw West projects. But also because it’s just

great fun. Staff feel involved and get to know a new target

group; they may be future clients or fellow workers.”

ICT kidZZ AcademyCampus Nieuw West

www.campusnieuwwest.nl

CoolCH.Campus Nieuw West 01 07-09-2006 15:31 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Campus Nieuw West’s ICT KidZZ Academy gives kids with

a difficult home situation in Amsterdam Nieuw West a

helping hand. Every Wednesday afternoon, a group of

children learn computer skills with coaches from KPN,

Nuon and Getronics PinkRoccade. The programme lasts

three years: it starts with kids of twelve years old and runs

until the second year of secondary school. Coaches focus

on the internet, the hardware and software of the compu-

ter and homework supervision. The project started with

four pupils two years ago, today !" pupils from five

schools are participating. Betty Kooij, the deputy head-

master of primary school De Globe says: “The ICT KidZZ

Academy has a great effect on kids. The quality of their

work is much higher, the children are more confident and

their classmates see them as real whiz-kids.”

Hans Hoeksema (KPN), one of the coaches, comments:

“Bringing twelve-year-old children in contact with profes-

sionals who want to further their development for three

years gives them an immense extra stimulus to make

plans for the future, finish school and get their diplomas.

Working with other professionals, I coach kids in the

second year of the ICT KidZZ Academy. It’s a group of four,

two girls and two boys. They like having fun and chat a

lot. They’ve made a newspaper and are now learning

how computers work, by taking an old PC apart and put-

ting it back together again with functioning program-

mes. If you offer kids interesting subjects and a good

environment, they are keen to get to work.”

Coach Coen Cornelissen (Nuon) talks a lot to the children

about what they have experienced and how it’s going at

school. “The topics come flying at me: one minute I’m

drawing a map of the Middle East to explain how close

Syria is to Turkey, the next minute I am explaining how the

female cycle works, which brings about a mixture of

giggles and interest. It’s a great experience: it’s fun to

teach and touching to see how much trust the children

give you. Beforehand I would never have thought it would

affect me so much.”

Director Frans Duynstee (Nuon) is also enthusiastic about

the ICT KidZZ Academy. “Our company wants to make a

conscious contribution to long-term social welfare, that’s

one of the reasons we are participating wholeheartedly in

the Campus Nieuw West projects. But also because it’s just

great fun. Staff feel involved and get to know a new target

group; they may be future clients or fellow workers.”

ICT kidZZ AcademyCampus Nieuw West

www.campusnieuwwest.nl

CoolCH.Campus Nieuw West 01 07-09-2006 15:31 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

When I went to India in !""#, my youngest daughter, who

is always interested in children, noticed a group of

orphans playing in the street. They invited us to their

orphanage where we played and sang with the children.

The orphanage was in a very bad state.

Back in the Netherlands, I was able to collect money, part-

ly because I head a yoga centre and have many contacts.

This was the beginning of the Caveri Foundation. The

foundation has taken the children’s home in Whitefield,

near Bangalore, entirely under its care. It allows children

from the slums and from poor families to go to school. It

also distributes food in the slums of several villages.

The Caveri Foundation is based on the idea that all fear

can be transformed into love.

The conditions in the children’s home have improved

immensely, also through renovations to the building. The

home is run by Joseph and Juanthy, two volunteers who

spare no effort to give the children what they need,

regardless of whether they are disabled or not.

Marapha was brought to the orphanage when he was two-

and-a-half years old. He had been used as an attraction to

earn money when he was a baby and was tossed into the

air by a monkey. When it appeared that Marapha had a

neck injury, he was disowned by his parents. This was how

he ended up with Joseph and Juanthy. A doctor advised

them against taking the child because he was in such a

bad state. He couldn’t walk and looked like a one-year-old

baby. Marapha was so afraid that he couldn’t bear to be

alone for even a moment. During the first three months,

Juanthy kept him with her all the time. Now, two years on,

Marapha is the life and soul of the orphanage. He is help-

less, lies around on the floor, but he is also beaming and

everyone adores him.

Despite the fact that the orphanage has to make do with

very limited means, it is an example of love. The house is

always cheerful and welcoming and the children look

healthy. The exchange that takes place here and the love

that it brings, is the energy that comes back to everyone

who is connected to it. Collecting money for this orphan-

age is a contribution to the love that is so openly shared

and given there.

At first Caveri seemed to be about supporting an orphan-

age through money, but it has proven to be an example

of the way that love works. Giving and receiving is one

and the same energy. There is no single donor and no sin-

gle recipient. Where love is shared, all is one. This can

never be expressed in money.

After extensive medical tests it has become clear that

Marapha’s brain is so damaged that the impulses from his

brain no longer reach his organs and that he will not sur-

Ganga Hoogendoorn

Sharing love in IndiaCAVERI

www.caveri.nl

Marapha

CoolCH.Caveri 02 13-06-2006 09:41 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

When I went to India in !""#, my youngest daughter, who

is always interested in children, noticed a group of

orphans playing in the street. They invited us to their

orphanage where we played and sang with the children.

The orphanage was in a very bad state.

Back in the Netherlands, I was able to collect money, part-

ly because I head a yoga centre and have many contacts.

This was the beginning of the Caveri Foundation. The

foundation has taken the children’s home in Whitefield,

near Bangalore, entirely under its care. It allows children

from the slums and from poor families to go to school. It

also distributes food in the slums of several villages.

The Caveri Foundation is based on the idea that all fear

can be transformed into love.

The conditions in the children’s home have improved

immensely, also through renovations to the building. The

home is run by Joseph and Juanthy, two volunteers who

spare no effort to give the children what they need,

regardless of whether they are disabled or not.

Marapha was brought to the orphanage when he was two-

and-a-half years old. He had been used as an attraction to

earn money when he was a baby and was tossed into the

air by a monkey. When it appeared that Marapha had a

neck injury, he was disowned by his parents. This was how

he ended up with Joseph and Juanthy. A doctor advised

them against taking the child because he was in such a

bad state. He couldn’t walk and looked like a one-year-old

baby. Marapha was so afraid that he couldn’t bear to be

alone for even a moment. During the first three months,

Juanthy kept him with her all the time. Now, two years on,

Marapha is the life and soul of the orphanage. He is help-

less, lies around on the floor, but he is also beaming and

everyone adores him.

Despite the fact that the orphanage has to make do with

very limited means, it is an example of love. The house is

always cheerful and welcoming and the children look

healthy. The exchange that takes place here and the love

that it brings, is the energy that comes back to everyone

who is connected to it. Collecting money for this orphan-

age is a contribution to the love that is so openly shared

and given there.

At first Caveri seemed to be about supporting an orphan-

age through money, but it has proven to be an example

of the way that love works. Giving and receiving is one

and the same energy. There is no single donor and no sin-

gle recipient. Where love is shared, all is one. This can

never be expressed in money.

After extensive medical tests it has become clear that

Marapha’s brain is so damaged that the impulses from his

brain no longer reach his organs and that he will not sur-

Ganga Hoogendoorn

Sharing love in IndiaCAVERI

www.caveri.nl

Marapha

CoolCH.Caveri 02 13-06-2006 09:41 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

• The contact between foreigners and Dutch people is

important. Work is the best, but it is difficult to achieve

results immediately. But existing organisations can take

initiatives, organise activities, like sport, dialogue or sha-

ring a meal. A matching centre can also be good.

• Schools should involve parents by organising dialogues,

but also by making them aware and letting them partici-

pate in the multicultural society.

=> I met someone who didn’t listen to others, but only

pointed to what they did wrong.

=> I am happy that the majority had good intentions,

wanted to understand each other and bring about

change and that gives hope.

• Judging people based on behaviour and not on looks,

origins, etc.

• Fighting poverty, that will solve many frustrations!

• Also more youth centres/facilities, in all parts of

Amsterdam, accessible, intercultural!

• More parties! (neighbourhood), getting to know each

other through that.

• Neighbourhood activities => mixing cultures in all

neighbourhoods.

• No elitist neighbourhoods (i.e. rich vs. poor): mixing

expensive and cheap housing everywhere. Prevent ghetto-

forming, no American situations!

• Anti-bullying education at schools, work etc.

• Respect.

• The society of cultures must change, so getting to know

someone first is better than judging immediately.

• And if someone of Moroccan or Turkish origin has done

something, it is only that person, and not all of them. Not

all Moroccans and Turks are like that.

• More peace.

• Call all Amsterdammers Amsterdammers.

• Make it clear that you can only tackle convictions, also

extreme ones, with other convictions, because doing

comes after thinking.

• Keep explaining why we believe, think or do something

and if you don’t know, find out.

• Claim the space, also in the media, to be able to tell your

story; not only results and the like.

• Perpetuate the dialogue and ritualise being an

Amsterdammer.

• Ritualisation, celebrations, and yes to parties in the town

centre.

These notes were made by Amsterdammers during their

dialogue with fellow townsmen at one of the !"# tables

during the first Day of Dialogue ("! December "##$)

around the theme “Living and working in Amsterdam”.

Day of Dialogue Good ideas for Amsterdam

www.amsterdamdialoog.nl

CoolCH.Dagvandedialoog 02 24-08-2006 09:34 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

• The contact between foreigners and Dutch people is

important. Work is the best, but it is difficult to achieve

results immediately. But existing organisations can take

initiatives, organise activities, like sport, dialogue or sha-

ring a meal. A matching centre can also be good.

• Schools should involve parents by organising dialogues,

but also by making them aware and letting them partici-

pate in the multicultural society.

=> I met someone who didn’t listen to others, but only

pointed to what they did wrong.

=> I am happy that the majority had good intentions,

wanted to understand each other and bring about

change and that gives hope.

• Judging people based on behaviour and not on looks,

origins, etc.

• Fighting poverty, that will solve many frustrations!

• Also more youth centres/facilities, in all parts of

Amsterdam, accessible, intercultural!

• More parties! (neighbourhood), getting to know each

other through that.

• Neighbourhood activities => mixing cultures in all

neighbourhoods.

• No elitist neighbourhoods (i.e. rich vs. poor): mixing

expensive and cheap housing everywhere. Prevent ghetto-

forming, no American situations!

• Anti-bullying education at schools, work etc.

• Respect.

• The society of cultures must change, so getting to know

someone first is better than judging immediately.

• And if someone of Moroccan or Turkish origin has done

something, it is only that person, and not all of them. Not

all Moroccans and Turks are like that.

• More peace.

• Call all Amsterdammers Amsterdammers.

• Make it clear that you can only tackle convictions, also

extreme ones, with other convictions, because doing

comes after thinking.

• Keep explaining why we believe, think or do something

and if you don’t know, find out.

• Claim the space, also in the media, to be able to tell your

story; not only results and the like.

• Perpetuate the dialogue and ritualise being an

Amsterdammer.

• Ritualisation, celebrations, and yes to parties in the town

centre.

These notes were made by Amsterdammers during their

dialogue with fellow townsmen at one of the !"# tables

during the first Day of Dialogue ("! December "##$)

around the theme “Living and working in Amsterdam”.

Day of Dialogue Good ideas for Amsterdam

www.amsterdamdialoog.nl

CoolCH.Dagvandedialoog 02 24-08-2006 09:34 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

The sound of !" drums bursts through the Cape Town

gym. The youngest boys and girls start moving to the

rhythm, break-dance, freestyle. Cool airs become childlike

grins, stiff poses turn to fluent movements. Drummer

Mark Dodsworth throws in some yells: “Take res-pons-a-

bil-ity-for-life!” and “Condomise don’t compromise”.

Accompanied by the drums, the rhythmical response

echoes through the space.

Next there is role-playing: how to say “no”, how to

respond to violence, how to stick to your principles. In a

short video, the South African Bridget openly admits she

has AIDS. There is a shocked silence, even though she is

one of the #$ million cases in Southern Africa. But she

dares to admit it, which often entails instant expulsion

from the village community. In this atmosphere of secrecy

and shame, mothers with AIDS often continue to breast-

feed, because for them the thought of the neighbours

finding out is even worse than infecting their own child.

Silence and taboos can be real killers, literally. As can inertia.

During Dance!Life’s school project in South Africa, a boy is

asked what he would do if his mother came home and

announced that she had AIDS. “Me?” the boys exclaims

nervously. It is as though he really cannot imagine such a

situation, even though there are #,""" new cases of HIV

infection a day in South Africa and a number of those are

likely to occur in his township. “I would leave her,” he says

as though stating the obvious. Silence.

A much younger boy, in the back of the classroom, raises

his hand. Softly he starts to speak, but with every word

he seems to become more emotional. “Who brought you

into this world? Who fed you? Who would give her life

for you? Your mother! If she is strong enough to openly

tell you she has AIDS, then it is your turn to be there for

her!” First there is a tense silence, then a huge wave of

applause surges through the classroom. Spine-chilling.

Children and young people are perfectly capable of infor-

ming each other, especially since they often already know

the facts. They are even growing tired of the endless line

of teachers, preachers and other finger-wagging adults.

The question is whether young people get enough oppor-

tunity to break down the silence and the taboos, and whe-

ther they really support each other. How can one create a

climate in which young people around the world will take

control in the fight against a virus that affects %!,""" other

young people every day?

This text was compiled with the help of a facilitator at the

Dance!Life school project in Cape Town.

Dance4Life

www.dance4life.nl

STOP AIDS NOW! in collaboration with WPF presents: dance4Life

CoolCH.dance4life01 12-05-2006 11:09 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

The sound of !" drums bursts through the Cape Town

gym. The youngest boys and girls start moving to the

rhythm, break-dance, freestyle. Cool airs become childlike

grins, stiff poses turn to fluent movements. Drummer

Mark Dodsworth throws in some yells: “Take res-pons-a-

bil-ity-for-life!” and “Condomise don’t compromise”.

Accompanied by the drums, the rhythmical response

echoes through the space.

Next there is role-playing: how to say “no”, how to

respond to violence, how to stick to your principles. In a

short video, the South African Bridget openly admits she

has AIDS. There is a shocked silence, even though she is

one of the #$ million cases in Southern Africa. But she

dares to admit it, which often entails instant expulsion

from the village community. In this atmosphere of secrecy

and shame, mothers with AIDS often continue to breast-

feed, because for them the thought of the neighbours

finding out is even worse than infecting their own child.

Silence and taboos can be real killers, literally. As can inertia.

During Dance!Life’s school project in South Africa, a boy is

asked what he would do if his mother came home and

announced that she had AIDS. “Me?” the boys exclaims

nervously. It is as though he really cannot imagine such a

situation, even though there are #,""" new cases of HIV

infection a day in South Africa and a number of those are

likely to occur in his township. “I would leave her,” he says

as though stating the obvious. Silence.

A much younger boy, in the back of the classroom, raises

his hand. Softly he starts to speak, but with every word

he seems to become more emotional. “Who brought you

into this world? Who fed you? Who would give her life

for you? Your mother! If she is strong enough to openly

tell you she has AIDS, then it is your turn to be there for

her!” First there is a tense silence, then a huge wave of

applause surges through the classroom. Spine-chilling.

Children and young people are perfectly capable of infor-

ming each other, especially since they often already know

the facts. They are even growing tired of the endless line

of teachers, preachers and other finger-wagging adults.

The question is whether young people get enough oppor-

tunity to break down the silence and the taboos, and whe-

ther they really support each other. How can one create a

climate in which young people around the world will take

control in the fight against a virus that affects %!,""" other

young people every day?

This text was compiled with the help of a facilitator at the

Dance!Life school project in Cape Town.

Dance4Life

www.dance4life.nl

STOP AIDS NOW! in collaboration with WPF presents: dance4Life

CoolCH.dance4life01 12-05-2006 11:09 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“As a teenager I often went to the Wereldwinkel (Third

World Shop) in Bergen op Zoom where I bought Fair Trade

Original products. Today, I still sometimes go to the Fair

Trade Shop in my neighbourhood. It’s actually because of

my sister, she’s much more conscious of development pro-

blems. I sometimes still buy presents for her or for my

mum there. I like to choose practical things, that you can

use in the kitchen for instance, or music. I wouldn’t be so

tempted to buy trinkets like statuettes, I would rather

bring things like that back as a souvenir.

Personally, I am especially interested in food products on

sale in my supermarket because it’s so easy. I always go to

the same supermarket, so I am dependent on what’s on

sale there. Unfortunately, the range of Fair Trade Original

products in my branch is limited. I recently received a pepper

grinder as a present from someone. We use it a lot; it

would be great if it was also on sale at my supermarket.

And if the Fair Trade chocolate confetti is put on sale here,

I am immediately switching brands.

I do believe that you can contribute to a better world

through your purchasing behaviour. As long as more

people start doing it. That is why I find the introduction

of the products in the supermarket such a positive step.

The new packaging also helps I think, it is in any case very

recognisable. And that is the way to reach consumers like

myself. Because if they catch my eye, I am definitely willing

to try them. And if it’s good, the price doesn’t really matter

to me.

I have travelled in developing countries several times and

was confronted with the way people live and work. That’s

also why the story of the rice or cacao farmer who wants

to reap greater returns from his efforts appeals to me. But

I also find it important that the local organisation becomes

more professional, because I know that getting those

products here is quite complex. And I want to be sure that

the farmers’ profits don’t go to the export organisation.

That has to be addressed. After all, I can’t really go to get

the cacao from the farmer myself.

I really hope that the chocolate confetti will be in the shop

soon, as I eat it every day. And otherwise I just need to be

patient. We are moving soon, so that offers new chances.

I’m not going to make a detour for it, but I will definitely

keep my eyes open for Fair Trade Original products.”

Karen Sanderse, Fair Trade Original consumer in Amsterdam

Fair Trade Original

www.fairtrade.nl

Change global shopping habits

Karen Sanderse with her

daughter by the rice

section in the Albert Heijn

branch where she

always shops.

CoolCH. Fair Trade 04 24-08-2006 10:42 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“As a teenager I often went to the Wereldwinkel (Third

World Shop) in Bergen op Zoom where I bought Fair Trade

Original products. Today, I still sometimes go to the Fair

Trade Shop in my neighbourhood. It’s actually because of

my sister, she’s much more conscious of development pro-

blems. I sometimes still buy presents for her or for my

mum there. I like to choose practical things, that you can

use in the kitchen for instance, or music. I wouldn’t be so

tempted to buy trinkets like statuettes, I would rather

bring things like that back as a souvenir.

Personally, I am especially interested in food products on

sale in my supermarket because it’s so easy. I always go to

the same supermarket, so I am dependent on what’s on

sale there. Unfortunately, the range of Fair Trade Original

products in my branch is limited. I recently received a pepper

grinder as a present from someone. We use it a lot; it

would be great if it was also on sale at my supermarket.

And if the Fair Trade chocolate confetti is put on sale here,

I am immediately switching brands.

I do believe that you can contribute to a better world

through your purchasing behaviour. As long as more

people start doing it. That is why I find the introduction

of the products in the supermarket such a positive step.

The new packaging also helps I think, it is in any case very

recognisable. And that is the way to reach consumers like

myself. Because if they catch my eye, I am definitely willing

to try them. And if it’s good, the price doesn’t really matter

to me.

I have travelled in developing countries several times and

was confronted with the way people live and work. That’s

also why the story of the rice or cacao farmer who wants

to reap greater returns from his efforts appeals to me. But

I also find it important that the local organisation becomes

more professional, because I know that getting those

products here is quite complex. And I want to be sure that

the farmers’ profits don’t go to the export organisation.

That has to be addressed. After all, I can’t really go to get

the cacao from the farmer myself.

I really hope that the chocolate confetti will be in the shop

soon, as I eat it every day. And otherwise I just need to be

patient. We are moving soon, so that offers new chances.

I’m not going to make a detour for it, but I will definitely

keep my eyes open for Fair Trade Original products.”

Karen Sanderse, Fair Trade Original consumer in Amsterdam

Fair Trade Original

www.fairtrade.nl

Change global shopping habits

Karen Sanderse with her

daughter by the rice

section in the Albert Heijn

branch where she

always shops.

CoolCH. Fair Trade 04 24-08-2006 10:42 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Krisje Hunfeld (!") and Judith Martens (!#) are self-conscious,

clever and ambitious; their young lives are on track, which

is just as well, as they both work for a women’s shelter.

Every day, they are looking for ways to change their

clients’ lives for the better. Hunfeld works as an ambulato-

ry caseworker and individual care coordinator and

Martens is a project coordinator for Social Activation.

In their work, they encounter women and girls with

problems on a daily basis: either a pregnant girl of $", or

a women who is being abused by her husband. Sometimes

it is an immigrant teenager who is being threatened with

honour killing or a welfare mother who can’t cope with

raising her three children on her own. For security reasons

these women regularly spend short or longer periods in

(emergency)shelters; they also often receive help in their

own living environment. In the conversation they have

upon admission, the women discuss what they need to

get themselves back on track. As a caseworker, Hunfled

then makes every effort to make it happen. “It’s not always

easy. Their backpacks are often already pretty full of misery,

and every step in the right direction is a success,” she says.

Growing stronger

As a project coordinator for Social Activation, Martens

focuses on what comes next: making the women stronger,

so that they have less chance of getting into trouble again.

“We always work together with them to look for ways of

giving lost ambitions a new chance. This means that we

encourage the teen mum to finish school and offer the

welfare mother a course that will make raising her three

children easier. And then you see that these women, who

at first often doubt their abilities, become proud of them-

selves. It’s nice to see how enthusiastic clients become and

how much they change for the better.

This approach appeals to both professionals. “We don’t

like to just put a plaster on the wound and only focus on

the women’s problems. It is more productive to look at

what the women can do. That makes them stronger and

less vulnerable. And it makes it less likely that they will

run into trouble again. But still, these women often have

a disadvantage they can’t make up for, because of the

unfortunate circumstances they grew up and/or live in.”

Laughing

It is demanding to have to cope with so much misery on a

daily basis. “We are indeed dealing with the least pleasant

side of society,” says Hunfeld. “But one gets used to things

and you learn to put things in perspective. One has to. The

worst is when there are children involved.” Martens adds:

“While I’m quite good at letting go, those kids tend to

haunt my dreams. But honestly, it isn’t all sorrow here. We

have our laughs too – both between colleagues and with

clients!”

This piece was compiled at the Bocht, an organisation for

women's shelters and the tackling of domestic violence.

de Bocht

www.debocht.nl

“Giving lost ambitionsa chance”

CoolCH. Federatie Opvang 02 30-08-2006 14:04 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Krisje Hunfeld (!") and Judith Martens (!#) are self-conscious,

clever and ambitious; their young lives are on track, which

is just as well, as they both work for a women’s shelter.

Every day, they are looking for ways to change their

clients’ lives for the better. Hunfeld works as an ambulato-

ry caseworker and individual care coordinator and

Martens is a project coordinator for Social Activation.

In their work, they encounter women and girls with

problems on a daily basis: either a pregnant girl of $", or

a women who is being abused by her husband. Sometimes

it is an immigrant teenager who is being threatened with

honour killing or a welfare mother who can’t cope with

raising her three children on her own. For security reasons

these women regularly spend short or longer periods in

(emergency)shelters; they also often receive help in their

own living environment. In the conversation they have

upon admission, the women discuss what they need to

get themselves back on track. As a caseworker, Hunfled

then makes every effort to make it happen. “It’s not always

easy. Their backpacks are often already pretty full of misery,

and every step in the right direction is a success,” she says.

Growing stronger

As a project coordinator for Social Activation, Martens

focuses on what comes next: making the women stronger,

so that they have less chance of getting into trouble again.

“We always work together with them to look for ways of

giving lost ambitions a new chance. This means that we

encourage the teen mum to finish school and offer the

welfare mother a course that will make raising her three

children easier. And then you see that these women, who

at first often doubt their abilities, become proud of them-

selves. It’s nice to see how enthusiastic clients become and

how much they change for the better.

This approach appeals to both professionals. “We don’t

like to just put a plaster on the wound and only focus on

the women’s problems. It is more productive to look at

what the women can do. That makes them stronger and

less vulnerable. And it makes it less likely that they will

run into trouble again. But still, these women often have

a disadvantage they can’t make up for, because of the

unfortunate circumstances they grew up and/or live in.”

Laughing

It is demanding to have to cope with so much misery on a

daily basis. “We are indeed dealing with the least pleasant

side of society,” says Hunfeld. “But one gets used to things

and you learn to put things in perspective. One has to. The

worst is when there are children involved.” Martens adds:

“While I’m quite good at letting go, those kids tend to

haunt my dreams. But honestly, it isn’t all sorrow here. We

have our laughs too – both between colleagues and with

clients!”

This piece was compiled at the Bocht, an organisation for

women's shelters and the tackling of domestic violence.

de Bocht

www.debocht.nl

“Giving lost ambitionsa chance”

CoolCH. Federatie Opvang 02 30-08-2006 14:04 Pagina 2

Together with nine other colleagues, Carolyn and Kevin

make three children’s news bulletins a week. All staff is

trained in workshops that are organised by The Back Lot in

collaboration with the NOS Jeugdjournaal training course

for journalists and cameramen. Besides journalism tuition,

the training includes learning about cameras, sound, light

and editing.

In the long term, our dream is to broadcast five days a

week. We’re working on it.

Hannah Draaibaar, chief editor Tien Minuten Journaal

COOLCHARITY 32 33

On !! October !""# we started the Tien Minuten

Jeugdjournaal, a ten-minute children’s news programme.

We broadcast three times a week on the STVS and ABC

channels. A milestone! In Surinam there was no programme

like this and with this project we have joined the few

countries in the world who broadcast a news bulletin

specially for children. It gives children an own voice. We

immediately seized upon the offer that Free Voice gave

us to develop this project.

It’s the beginning of the week for Tien Minuten. We make

news for children between the ages of !" and !#. The idea

of Free Voice to set up a special news and current affairs

programme for kids in developing countries is a real

winner. The idea works: a survey carried out by the

production company, The Back Lot, shows that $! per cent

of the target group watches the news bulletins two to

three times a week. The Amsterdam-based channel AT%

also broadcasts the programme. Feedback shows that it is

very much appreciated, not just within the Surinam

community, but far beyond.

Collaborator Kevin Headley goes out every day to make

features. One topic moved him in particular: a portrait of

Kevin Fernald.

“Last year Kevin Fernald was chosen as the most promi-

sing sportsman of the year "&&'. I wanted to make a

feature about him and his sport Tae Kwondo. Together

with my colleague, we followed him for an afternoon.

What was great about the item was that his father Ivan

Fernald, an ex-Tae Kwondo champion, is his coach. The

piece also clearly showed how much he admires his father

and wants to follow in his footsteps. It was very touching,

because in Surinam you rarely see fathers doing things

with their kids.”

Carolyn has presented the Tien Minuten Jeugdjournaal

from the very beginning. For her, a day of broadcasting

looks like this:

“Wednesday morning. There’s great activity in the news-

room. Most items have already been shot, but the texts

still need to be written and the images need to be edited.

It’s already ten o’clock. I must hurry, I quickly record an

item, tell the editor that she can start editing and go off to

the hairdresser. Luckily I am no longer nervous when I

present. As long as I prepare properly, the recording goes

well. In the studio I read over the texts again. Often a few

sentences change at the last minute. Before we start,

I remind myself to simply tell the stories. Within ten

minutes it’s on tape.”

Free Voice Kids News in Surinam

www.freevoice.nl

CC.FreeVoice01 06-07-2006 12:56 Pagina 2

Together with nine other colleagues, Carolyn and Kevin

make three children’s news bulletins a week. All staff is

trained in workshops that are organised by The Back Lot in

collaboration with the NOS Jeugdjournaal training course

for journalists and cameramen. Besides journalism tuition,

the training includes learning about cameras, sound, light

and editing.

In the long term, our dream is to broadcast five days a

week. We’re working on it.

Hannah Draaibaar, chief editor Tien Minuten Journaal

COOLCHARITY 32 33

On !! October !""# we started the Tien Minuten

Jeugdjournaal, a ten-minute children’s news programme.

We broadcast three times a week on the STVS and ABC

channels. A milestone! In Surinam there was no programme

like this and with this project we have joined the few

countries in the world who broadcast a news bulletin

specially for children. It gives children an own voice. We

immediately seized upon the offer that Free Voice gave

us to develop this project.

It’s the beginning of the week for Tien Minuten. We make

news for children between the ages of !" and !#. The idea

of Free Voice to set up a special news and current affairs

programme for kids in developing countries is a real

winner. The idea works: a survey carried out by the

production company, The Back Lot, shows that $! per cent

of the target group watches the news bulletins two to

three times a week. The Amsterdam-based channel AT%

also broadcasts the programme. Feedback shows that it is

very much appreciated, not just within the Surinam

community, but far beyond.

Collaborator Kevin Headley goes out every day to make

features. One topic moved him in particular: a portrait of

Kevin Fernald.

“Last year Kevin Fernald was chosen as the most promi-

sing sportsman of the year "&&'. I wanted to make a

feature about him and his sport Tae Kwondo. Together

with my colleague, we followed him for an afternoon.

What was great about the item was that his father Ivan

Fernald, an ex-Tae Kwondo champion, is his coach. The

piece also clearly showed how much he admires his father

and wants to follow in his footsteps. It was very touching,

because in Surinam you rarely see fathers doing things

with their kids.”

Carolyn has presented the Tien Minuten Jeugdjournaal

from the very beginning. For her, a day of broadcasting

looks like this:

“Wednesday morning. There’s great activity in the news-

room. Most items have already been shot, but the texts

still need to be written and the images need to be edited.

It’s already ten o’clock. I must hurry, I quickly record an

item, tell the editor that she can start editing and go off to

the hairdresser. Luckily I am no longer nervous when I

present. As long as I prepare properly, the recording goes

well. In the studio I read over the texts again. Often a few

sentences change at the last minute. Before we start,

I remind myself to simply tell the stories. Within ten

minutes it’s on tape.”

Free Voice Kids News in Surinam

www.freevoice.nl

CC.FreeVoice01 06-07-2006 12:56 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“I have been working as a volunteer at FunCare!Kids for

two years now, organising Fun Days for children who have

a (chronically) ill or disabled family member. These

children are healthy, and from a young age they are asked

help out with household chores. Compared to other

children of the same age, they have more responsibilities.

When they can attend a Fun Day, the gratitude is very

apparent. Both the children and the parents are really

enthusiastic. It makes me realise that by giving just a little

bit of my time and experience, I can really make a difference.

“It’s wonderful to be able to contribute to a child’s happi-

ness. The smiles on the kids’ faces after a day of fun and

games give me a great feeling of satisfaction. When I see

my nephew Tim playing, I know exactly what I want to

give to the children who come to the Fun Days: the

chance to enjoy themselves without having to worry

about the situation back home.

Of course all kinds of things need to be taken care to

prepare a Fun Day. First one has to find a location and

draw up a programme that is suitable for the age group.

It’s different every time. I’ve organised a Circus Day, a

Sailing Day and a Harry Potter Day. The Circus Day is held

every year, and at the end of the day the children perform

real circus acts. The Harry Potter Day was set entirely in

the atmosphere of the first book; they even played a game

of Quidditch. These are just some of the theme days we

organise for different age groups.

“We often work with associations and companies, which

makes it very important to keep up those relationships.

We now organise five Fun Days a year and entertain

between "# and "## kids a day.”

Rob Karman

Project Manager and volunteer at FunCare!Kids

Being a carefree kid for a dayFunCare 4 Kids

www.FunCare4Kids.org

CC.FunCare4Kids 01 06-07-2006 13:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“I have been working as a volunteer at FunCare!Kids for

two years now, organising Fun Days for children who have

a (chronically) ill or disabled family member. These

children are healthy, and from a young age they are asked

help out with household chores. Compared to other

children of the same age, they have more responsibilities.

When they can attend a Fun Day, the gratitude is very

apparent. Both the children and the parents are really

enthusiastic. It makes me realise that by giving just a little

bit of my time and experience, I can really make a difference.

“It’s wonderful to be able to contribute to a child’s happi-

ness. The smiles on the kids’ faces after a day of fun and

games give me a great feeling of satisfaction. When I see

my nephew Tim playing, I know exactly what I want to

give to the children who come to the Fun Days: the

chance to enjoy themselves without having to worry

about the situation back home.

Of course all kinds of things need to be taken care to

prepare a Fun Day. First one has to find a location and

draw up a programme that is suitable for the age group.

It’s different every time. I’ve organised a Circus Day, a

Sailing Day and a Harry Potter Day. The Circus Day is held

every year, and at the end of the day the children perform

real circus acts. The Harry Potter Day was set entirely in

the atmosphere of the first book; they even played a game

of Quidditch. These are just some of the theme days we

organise for different age groups.

“We often work with associations and companies, which

makes it very important to keep up those relationships.

We now organise five Fun Days a year and entertain

between "# and "## kids a day.”

Rob Karman

Project Manager and volunteer at FunCare!Kids

Being a carefree kid for a dayFunCare 4 Kids

www.FunCare4Kids.org

CC.FunCare4Kids 01 06-07-2006 13:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“We live in an old house,” says Kristo Nushi, a member of

the Heifer farmers group in Mertish, Albania. “I have three

sons. One of them is married and lives with his wife and

children. My other sons live with us. There is such high

unemployment; no one in our family has a job with a

regular income.

“We received a cow from Heifer, and she gives us milk and

a reliable income. She’s a fantastic acquisition; thanks to

her we are never hungry anymore. This cow also feeds us

mentally. Before we joined this project, we never talked

about our options. It has helped us re-find our lust for life

and our life. Today my family and I see that we have a future.

With this cow we can once again dream about a better life

for our children.”

“Now I can look after my family.”

Koli Ciko lives with his wife and five children in Mertish.

“My family has suffered a lot,” he says. “We have five chil-

dren and they need healthy meals every day. But my wife

and I had no income and couldn’t buy food for them. My

wife has been sick for years and she was recently opera-

ted. I needed money to buy medicine and healthy food for

her. Thanks to our cow, I can now look after my wife and

children.”

“A wedding dress for my daughter!”

When the Dhima family received a Heifer cow, their grea-

test wish came true. The family lives in a building that was

used as a local storage space during the communist

regime. “We spent our whole life in poverty,” says Mrs. Lili

Dhima. “There is no work, no income and that makes it

very tough to raise three children. In this country, prices

are high and I couldn’t afford clothes and school books for

my three daughters.

“Now I can give my daughter a wedding dress, and that

has always been one of her dreams. But the cow brings

more than just money. She gives fresh milk for my chil-

dren Merisa, Erieta and Julieta. And there is enough milk

left over to sell to others. Thanks to the cow we can now

afford a more comfortable home and pay the school fees

for our children. The cow gives us the power to overcome

poverty and gives us hope for a better future.”

With this cow we can dream againHeifer

www.heifer.nl

CoolCH.Heifer 01 23-05-2006 09:45 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“We live in an old house,” says Kristo Nushi, a member of

the Heifer farmers group in Mertish, Albania. “I have three

sons. One of them is married and lives with his wife and

children. My other sons live with us. There is such high

unemployment; no one in our family has a job with a

regular income.

“We received a cow from Heifer, and she gives us milk and

a reliable income. She’s a fantastic acquisition; thanks to

her we are never hungry anymore. This cow also feeds us

mentally. Before we joined this project, we never talked

about our options. It has helped us re-find our lust for life

and our life. Today my family and I see that we have a future.

With this cow we can once again dream about a better life

for our children.”

“Now I can look after my family.”

Koli Ciko lives with his wife and five children in Mertish.

“My family has suffered a lot,” he says. “We have five chil-

dren and they need healthy meals every day. But my wife

and I had no income and couldn’t buy food for them. My

wife has been sick for years and she was recently opera-

ted. I needed money to buy medicine and healthy food for

her. Thanks to our cow, I can now look after my wife and

children.”

“A wedding dress for my daughter!”

When the Dhima family received a Heifer cow, their grea-

test wish came true. The family lives in a building that was

used as a local storage space during the communist

regime. “We spent our whole life in poverty,” says Mrs. Lili

Dhima. “There is no work, no income and that makes it

very tough to raise three children. In this country, prices

are high and I couldn’t afford clothes and school books for

my three daughters.

“Now I can give my daughter a wedding dress, and that

has always been one of her dreams. But the cow brings

more than just money. She gives fresh milk for my chil-

dren Merisa, Erieta and Julieta. And there is enough milk

left over to sell to others. Thanks to the cow we can now

afford a more comfortable home and pay the school fees

for our children. The cow gives us the power to overcome

poverty and gives us hope for a better future.”

With this cow we can dream againHeifer

www.heifer.nl

CoolCH.Heifer 01 23-05-2006 09:45 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

This is a sentence I have used many times when picking up

the phone. Since I started working as a volunteer for the

Kindertelefoon, a children’s helpline, two years ago, I have

had many phone and chat conversations with children

between the ages of ! and "!.

I started working here because I think it is really good that

there is an organisation which children can turn to if they

are worried, a place where people take children seriously

and look at a child’s perception of things. Our society is

very individualistic and everyone is constantly busy. At the

Kindertelefoon we take time to listen to the children and

to help them find a solution.

During an intensive training course I learnt how to have

conversations with children and acquired the necessary

skills. There are many facets to this. You think you see the

problem and immediately want to start solving it, but

often there is more to it. Every child experiences a

problem in a different way. By showing the children that

they can do something themselves, you also build their

confidence.

I have many different kinds of conversations and it is nice

when a child hangs up with a feeling of relief. But sometimes

it’s difficult. Bullying is a big problem for instance.

Children hope that I have a solution. I wish it were that

simple. Often they’ve already tried many things: they’ve

told their parents, but the parents say they should just

bully back. Not all children are able to do this. They’ve told

the teacher, who talks to the bully or bullies, and makes

them talk to each other, but outside school it only gets

worse. At their wit’s end, the children then phone the

Kindertelefoon. As a member of staff, you don’t want to

disappoint them, but you also know that you can’t make it

So what can you offer at such a time? By showing com-

passion and by identifying the children’s feelings, they

feel understood in a way that they often don’t elsewhere.

It’s also important to give compliments. As soon as I do

that, I can hear them cheer up a bit. I give the children

confidence and let them know that they count. Some

children are just happy to get their story of their chest,

others want solutions to reduce the bullying. First I let the

child think about what he or she would want to do and

whether this is possible. If he or she doesn’t seem to get

anywhere, I offer some possibilities. Children are always

free to determine what they feel most comfortable with.

At the end of the conversation, I compliment the children

with all the things they have come up with.

Many people say it must be really tough to work at the

Kindertelefoon. But I actually don’t think so. Of course, I

sometimes have difficult conversations, but I have learnt

to let them go. And I am also happy if a child who phones

in distress, hangs up with a sense of relief. It gives me the

feeling that this work contributes to children’s well-being.

Carolien Gravemaker, volunteer

Kindertelefoon

www.kindertelefoon.nl

“Hello, the Kindertelefoon

speaking...”

CoolCH. Kindertelefoon 01 25-07-2006 11:32 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

This is a sentence I have used many times when picking up

the phone. Since I started working as a volunteer for the

Kindertelefoon, a children’s helpline, two years ago, I have

had many phone and chat conversations with children

between the ages of ! and "!.

I started working here because I think it is really good that

there is an organisation which children can turn to if they

are worried, a place where people take children seriously

and look at a child’s perception of things. Our society is

very individualistic and everyone is constantly busy. At the

Kindertelefoon we take time to listen to the children and

to help them find a solution.

During an intensive training course I learnt how to have

conversations with children and acquired the necessary

skills. There are many facets to this. You think you see the

problem and immediately want to start solving it, but

often there is more to it. Every child experiences a

problem in a different way. By showing the children that

they can do something themselves, you also build their

confidence.

I have many different kinds of conversations and it is nice

when a child hangs up with a feeling of relief. But sometimes

it’s difficult. Bullying is a big problem for instance.

Children hope that I have a solution. I wish it were that

simple. Often they’ve already tried many things: they’ve

told their parents, but the parents say they should just

bully back. Not all children are able to do this. They’ve told

the teacher, who talks to the bully or bullies, and makes

them talk to each other, but outside school it only gets

worse. At their wit’s end, the children then phone the

Kindertelefoon. As a member of staff, you don’t want to

disappoint them, but you also know that you can’t make it

So what can you offer at such a time? By showing com-

passion and by identifying the children’s feelings, they

feel understood in a way that they often don’t elsewhere.

It’s also important to give compliments. As soon as I do

that, I can hear them cheer up a bit. I give the children

confidence and let them know that they count. Some

children are just happy to get their story of their chest,

others want solutions to reduce the bullying. First I let the

child think about what he or she would want to do and

whether this is possible. If he or she doesn’t seem to get

anywhere, I offer some possibilities. Children are always

free to determine what they feel most comfortable with.

At the end of the conversation, I compliment the children

with all the things they have come up with.

Many people say it must be really tough to work at the

Kindertelefoon. But I actually don’t think so. Of course, I

sometimes have difficult conversations, but I have learnt

to let them go. And I am also happy if a child who phones

in distress, hangs up with a sense of relief. It gives me the

feeling that this work contributes to children’s well-being.

Carolien Gravemaker, volunteer

Kindertelefoon

www.kindertelefoon.nl

“Hello, the Kindertelefoon

speaking...”

CoolCH. Kindertelefoon 01 25-07-2006 11:32 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

I walk back towards the “Vorstengraf” on the “de Hamert”

estate. The panorama near the Pikmeeuwenwater is one

of my favourite spots. It is peaceful and the ideal place to

recover after a day of intense concentration.

Our !"th anniversary celebrations have just ended and

now several groups of professionals want to see our work.

Today we had students from a German university and

representatives from the agricultural sector.

It’s hard to imagine now, but just one generation ago this

wildlife area was in danger of being developed. The previ-

ous owner had died and the heirs auctioned the vast area

of forests, moors and pools. Our foundation tried to buy

it, but a group of German farmers offered more. Het

Limburgs Landschap successfully lodged a complaint

against their development plans. The “useless” piece of

land was again put up for sale and after lengthy negoti-

ations our foundation was able to secure the estate bit by

bit. Now it is part of the National Park de Maasduinen in

North Limburg.

Securing wildlife areas through purchase and clever

management is the main task of Stichting het Limburgs

Landschap (Foundation the Limburg Landscape). Since a

group of worried Limburgers founded the organisation in

!"#!, $" nature reserves with a total surface area of %,#&&

hectares have been secured, showing that much has been

achieved in those %$ years. The protection of nature has

in the meantime been integrated into government policy.

This means that developers are confronted with limitati-

ons in certain places, which sometimes leads to aggrava-

tion on their part. At such times, communication about

long-term interests is very important.

This morning, I first talked to a group of German students

about town and country planning in the Netherlands.

Gradually people in other parts of Europe are realising

that measures need to be taken to give the economics and

ecology equal weight, and the role of a private organisation

like ours sparks interest abroad.

Afterwards I head for a meeting and excursion with a

group of agricultural leaders. Part of the agricultural lands

that are being made available in the region will be turned

into nature reserves, and farmers often regard the activ-

ities of Het Limburgs Landschap with concern. This is why

it is important to be informed about everyone’s intentions.

Farmers are going through difficult times because of eco-

nomic developments. It is good to see that even this group

understands that a place like de Hamert should not be

lost. Having nature close by is not a threat, but an oppor-

tunity. Every time I see this landscape, I am more convin-

ced of the importance of our work.

Oh, and that Vorstengraf I mentioned is a more than

#,$$$-year-old, entirely intact burial mound. This makes it

even more exciting: for #,$$$ years no one has known

what things look like in there. Speaking of long term.

Edmond Staal, staff member external relations, Stichting

het Limburgs Landschap

Het Limburgs Landschap After the party

www.limburgslandschap.nl

CoolCH.Limburgs Lanschap 01 25-07-2006 12:12 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

I walk back towards the “Vorstengraf” on the “de Hamert”

estate. The panorama near the Pikmeeuwenwater is one

of my favourite spots. It is peaceful and the ideal place to

recover after a day of intense concentration.

Our !"th anniversary celebrations have just ended and

now several groups of professionals want to see our work.

Today we had students from a German university and

representatives from the agricultural sector.

It’s hard to imagine now, but just one generation ago this

wildlife area was in danger of being developed. The previ-

ous owner had died and the heirs auctioned the vast area

of forests, moors and pools. Our foundation tried to buy

it, but a group of German farmers offered more. Het

Limburgs Landschap successfully lodged a complaint

against their development plans. The “useless” piece of

land was again put up for sale and after lengthy negoti-

ations our foundation was able to secure the estate bit by

bit. Now it is part of the National Park de Maasduinen in

North Limburg.

Securing wildlife areas through purchase and clever

management is the main task of Stichting het Limburgs

Landschap (Foundation the Limburg Landscape). Since a

group of worried Limburgers founded the organisation in

!"#!, $" nature reserves with a total surface area of %,#&&

hectares have been secured, showing that much has been

achieved in those %$ years. The protection of nature has

in the meantime been integrated into government policy.

This means that developers are confronted with limitati-

ons in certain places, which sometimes leads to aggrava-

tion on their part. At such times, communication about

long-term interests is very important.

This morning, I first talked to a group of German students

about town and country planning in the Netherlands.

Gradually people in other parts of Europe are realising

that measures need to be taken to give the economics and

ecology equal weight, and the role of a private organisation

like ours sparks interest abroad.

Afterwards I head for a meeting and excursion with a

group of agricultural leaders. Part of the agricultural lands

that are being made available in the region will be turned

into nature reserves, and farmers often regard the activ-

ities of Het Limburgs Landschap with concern. This is why

it is important to be informed about everyone’s intentions.

Farmers are going through difficult times because of eco-

nomic developments. It is good to see that even this group

understands that a place like de Hamert should not be

lost. Having nature close by is not a threat, but an oppor-

tunity. Every time I see this landscape, I am more convin-

ced of the importance of our work.

Oh, and that Vorstengraf I mentioned is a more than

#,$$$-year-old, entirely intact burial mound. This makes it

even more exciting: for #,$$$ years no one has known

what things look like in there. Speaking of long term.

Edmond Staal, staff member external relations, Stichting

het Limburgs Landschap

Het Limburgs Landschap After the party

www.limburgslandschap.nl

CoolCH.Limburgs Lanschap 01 25-07-2006 12:12 Pagina 2

In spite of this, Yanar continues her struggle. "Together

with the OWFI I am continuing to fight against the politics

in Iraq. It is absolutely unacceptable that the discrimina-

tion and repression of women is being tolerated and kept

in place in our country. Thanks to new financing from

Mama Cash, we are going to launch a radio and television

station, so that we can disseminate our message to an

even larger group. I don’t see myself in politics. I prefer

going out in the streets to talk to people and change their

mentality.”

Interview with thanks to Annie Pijnenborg.

OWFI's newsletter Al-Mousawat and other OWFI activities

were made possible thanks to a Mama Cash subsidy. Mama

Cash has supported OWFI since its foundation.

COOLCHARITY 32 33

”With the war in Iraq, police protection has weakened,

making women even more vulnerable. The new constitution

turns women into second-class citizens,” says women’s

activist Yanar Mohammed. Despite the unstable situation

in Iraq, Yanar left Canada where she had spent many

years, and returned to her homeland on her own, without

her husband and son. There she created the Organisation

of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), a radical movement

of progressive women and men who fight for the em-

powerment and protection of women.

"A friend from Baghdad told me on the phone that homes

were being looted. Everybody felt un-safe, danger lurked

on every street corner. Women were being kidnapped,

abused and raped, while their husbands were out fighting

at the front. “You have to come, Yanar,” he said. “In

Canada, I had remained an active participant in demon-

strations, but I felt I had to go back to influence and

change the situation on the ground.”

“OWFI offers shelter to women who have to escape

honour killings or domestic violence. So far, we have set

up two Women’s Shelters, where we can offer them

protection and shelter. So far we have saved !" women.

I am convinced that they would no longer be alive if they

had not taken refuge with us.”

OWFI works to empower women. “We provide training to

women’s activists to teach them how to motivate other

women to stand up for their rights. Many women in Iraq

are very religious and they often have the feeling that

their religion, politics and the economic situation are

against them. OWFI aims to make women more assertive.

We also organise conferences and demonstrations and

we publish the Al-Mousawat (Equality) newspaper.”

Yanar has become a role model for many women. How

does she deal with that? “I have often placed myself in the

spotlights, because I realise that I need the media to bring

certain topics in the public eye. I see the fact that I have

become an example for many women as a step towards

the goal I want to reach. Unfortunately, past threats mean

that I currently have to walk the streets with a body-

guard."

A Mama Cash project in IraqMama Cash

www.mamacash.org

Daily life of women in Iraq.

Yanar Mohammed

CoolCH.mamacash 01 21-06-2006 11:41 Pagina 2

In spite of this, Yanar continues her struggle. "Together

with the OWFI I am continuing to fight against the politics

in Iraq. It is absolutely unacceptable that the discrimina-

tion and repression of women is being tolerated and kept

in place in our country. Thanks to new financing from

Mama Cash, we are going to launch a radio and television

station, so that we can disseminate our message to an

even larger group. I don’t see myself in politics. I prefer

going out in the streets to talk to people and change their

mentality.”

Interview with thanks to Annie Pijnenborg.

OWFI's newsletter Al-Mousawat and other OWFI activities

were made possible thanks to a Mama Cash subsidy. Mama

Cash has supported OWFI since its foundation.

COOLCHARITY 32 33

”With the war in Iraq, police protection has weakened,

making women even more vulnerable. The new constitution

turns women into second-class citizens,” says women’s

activist Yanar Mohammed. Despite the unstable situation

in Iraq, Yanar left Canada where she had spent many

years, and returned to her homeland on her own, without

her husband and son. There she created the Organisation

of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), a radical movement

of progressive women and men who fight for the em-

powerment and protection of women.

"A friend from Baghdad told me on the phone that homes

were being looted. Everybody felt un-safe, danger lurked

on every street corner. Women were being kidnapped,

abused and raped, while their husbands were out fighting

at the front. “You have to come, Yanar,” he said. “In

Canada, I had remained an active participant in demon-

strations, but I felt I had to go back to influence and

change the situation on the ground.”

“OWFI offers shelter to women who have to escape

honour killings or domestic violence. So far, we have set

up two Women’s Shelters, where we can offer them

protection and shelter. So far we have saved !" women.

I am convinced that they would no longer be alive if they

had not taken refuge with us.”

OWFI works to empower women. “We provide training to

women’s activists to teach them how to motivate other

women to stand up for their rights. Many women in Iraq

are very religious and they often have the feeling that

their religion, politics and the economic situation are

against them. OWFI aims to make women more assertive.

We also organise conferences and demonstrations and

we publish the Al-Mousawat (Equality) newspaper.”

Yanar has become a role model for many women. How

does she deal with that? “I have often placed myself in the

spotlights, because I realise that I need the media to bring

certain topics in the public eye. I see the fact that I have

become an example for many women as a step towards

the goal I want to reach. Unfortunately, past threats mean

that I currently have to walk the streets with a body-

guard."

A Mama Cash project in IraqMama Cash

www.mamacash.org

Daily life of women in Iraq.

Yanar Mohammed

CoolCH.mamacash 01 21-06-2006 11:41 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“When Dutch Moroccans go to Morocco for holidays or a

family visit they are often confronted with the country’s

problems and the dark sides of Morocco: poverty, social

inequalities, slums, street children. Harrowing situations,

which many of them would like to do something about,”

says Ila Kasem, a Dutch Moroccan who came to Holland at

the age of three when his father came to work here.

“People would like to do something about the inequali-

ties, but back in Holland it is often difficult to do anything.

Not because people don’t want to, but simply because

they don’t know where to start.” Kasem and three other

Dutch Moroccans decided to do something about this by

creating a fund to fight poverty in Morocco.

“My parents brought money to Morocco, but only to

the family. That’s how it worked with first generation

immigrants. Things are slowly changing with the second

and third generation. They still feel a connection to their

country of origin, but they are also seeking other approa-

ches, new ways of doing something for Morocco. We are

less bound to the close family circle than the first genera-

tion was.”

In !""#, the year in which Morocco and the Netherlands

celebrated $"" years of relations, the Morocco Fund came

into being. “We wanted to create a non-religious organi-

sation, a transparent fund that was operated from the

Netherlands and that would allow Dutch Moroccans and

anyone else who has a connection to Morocco to do

something for the country.”

The Morocco Fund fights poverty and promotes sustainable

development throughout Morocco. The focal points are

education, healthcare, equal rights, clean drinking water,

culture and sport. Children, disabled people and people

living in rural environments are specifically targeted by

the projects which the fund supports.

“Those are the groups that are worst affected by poverty

and social exclusion. Thus in !""# we are supporting

a home for mentally disabled children in Berkane in

northern Morocco. It is shocking to see how few facilities

there are for the disabled in Morocco: waiting lists for

these kinds of projects are huge. This home provides $%

children with the care and attention they need.”

Another example is a centre for street children in

Casablanca. Volunteers from the organisation collect the

children from the street and provide them with shelter

and education. This gives the children a chance to work

on their future, so that they will be able to take part in

society. “These are great initiatives, and there are so many

of them in Morocco. We want to make the connection

between these organisations and Dutch Moroccans and

other Dutch people who want to contribute somehow.

Through our fund we can structurally support the positive

initiatives in Morocco from Holland.”

“We started in !""& and immediately encountered great

enthusiasm, especially among young Dutch Moroccans.

Every week we receive applications from young people who

want to volunteer for the fund or who want to do a study

placement on a project in Morocco. That is one of our goals

as wel: we don’t want to just provide financial support

to Moroccan charities, we also want to be platform for

exchange of knowledge and experience. More than

anything, it is that great involvement of young people here

that is very positive, it has a lot of potential. They want to do

something constructive, they are proud of Morocco, and

that’s great. Because Morocco is not only a country with pro-

blems, it is also a country full of beautiful and good things.

Marokko Fonds Strengthening ties betweenMorocco and Holland

www.marokkofonds.nl

CoolCH. Marokko fonds 01 06-07-2006 16:43 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“When Dutch Moroccans go to Morocco for holidays or a

family visit they are often confronted with the country’s

problems and the dark sides of Morocco: poverty, social

inequalities, slums, street children. Harrowing situations,

which many of them would like to do something about,”

says Ila Kasem, a Dutch Moroccan who came to Holland at

the age of three when his father came to work here.

“People would like to do something about the inequali-

ties, but back in Holland it is often difficult to do anything.

Not because people don’t want to, but simply because

they don’t know where to start.” Kasem and three other

Dutch Moroccans decided to do something about this by

creating a fund to fight poverty in Morocco.

“My parents brought money to Morocco, but only to

the family. That’s how it worked with first generation

immigrants. Things are slowly changing with the second

and third generation. They still feel a connection to their

country of origin, but they are also seeking other approa-

ches, new ways of doing something for Morocco. We are

less bound to the close family circle than the first genera-

tion was.”

In !""#, the year in which Morocco and the Netherlands

celebrated $"" years of relations, the Morocco Fund came

into being. “We wanted to create a non-religious organi-

sation, a transparent fund that was operated from the

Netherlands and that would allow Dutch Moroccans and

anyone else who has a connection to Morocco to do

something for the country.”

The Morocco Fund fights poverty and promotes sustainable

development throughout Morocco. The focal points are

education, healthcare, equal rights, clean drinking water,

culture and sport. Children, disabled people and people

living in rural environments are specifically targeted by

the projects which the fund supports.

“Those are the groups that are worst affected by poverty

and social exclusion. Thus in !""# we are supporting

a home for mentally disabled children in Berkane in

northern Morocco. It is shocking to see how few facilities

there are for the disabled in Morocco: waiting lists for

these kinds of projects are huge. This home provides $%

children with the care and attention they need.”

Another example is a centre for street children in

Casablanca. Volunteers from the organisation collect the

children from the street and provide them with shelter

and education. This gives the children a chance to work

on their future, so that they will be able to take part in

society. “These are great initiatives, and there are so many

of them in Morocco. We want to make the connection

between these organisations and Dutch Moroccans and

other Dutch people who want to contribute somehow.

Through our fund we can structurally support the positive

initiatives in Morocco from Holland.”

“We started in !""& and immediately encountered great

enthusiasm, especially among young Dutch Moroccans.

Every week we receive applications from young people who

want to volunteer for the fund or who want to do a study

placement on a project in Morocco. That is one of our goals

as wel: we don’t want to just provide financial support

to Moroccan charities, we also want to be platform for

exchange of knowledge and experience. More than

anything, it is that great involvement of young people here

that is very positive, it has a lot of potential. They want to do

something constructive, they are proud of Morocco, and

that’s great. Because Morocco is not only a country with pro-

blems, it is also a country full of beautiful and good things.

Marokko Fonds Strengthening ties betweenMorocco and Holland

www.marokkofonds.nl

CoolCH. Marokko fonds 01 06-07-2006 16:43 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“Did you know that the genes of the orang-utan and the

human are for !" percent identical?” says Chris Zegers, the

ambassador of the Stichting Monkey Business, which

campaigns to preserve the habitat of the endangered

orang-utan. “Maybe that’s why I feel so attracted to these

beautiful, playful and tremendously strong animals.”

When did he discover that he really wanted to help these

threatened animals? “I was standing in the rainforest in

Borneo, where I had come to film orang-utans, and I was

surrounded by a large open space that had once been

overgrown with tropical greenery. It was so confrontational

to see this in reality instead of on TV. I had travelled across

the world and even here, in this natural environment,

it wasn’t possible to let the orang-utan live in the wild.

It really affected me.”

This is why, when Chris was asked to become an ambassador

for the Stichting Monkey Business three years ago, he

immediately accepted. “I consider myself lucky that I can

travel a lot and that I see beautiful places as part of my job.

In Borneo I realised that if we don’t do anything, we soon

won’t be able to enjoy the beauty of nature anymore.”

Every day, two football fields worth of tropical rainforest

are cut down in Sumatra to create oil palm tree plantations.

The palm oil that is extracted from the trees is used in

countless food and cosmetic products. The orang-utan is

rapidly losing his habitat through the felling of trees. If

this continues at the same rate, there will be no tropical

rainforest left in ten years and the orang-utan will be

extinct.

“Sometimes it can be discouraging, but that doesn’t get

you anywhere. I believe in having a positive attitude!”

That is why Monkey Business organises parties, at which

they raise awareness and raise funds for the orang-utan.

“There is always a special atmosphere at these events,

because so many great people, famous bands and DJs are

willing to work selflessly and for free to make it a good

party to protect the orang-utan.”

With the money it collects, Monkey Business supports the

Sumatran Conservation Programme (SOCP). The organisation

offers shelter to orang-utans who have been driven from

their habitat, abused in the illegal animal trade or whose

parents have been killed. The animals are placed in a

rehabilitation programme after which they are released in

a protected nature reserve in the south of Sumatra.

“From the beginning, I felt very involved with Monkey

Business. It’s a nice organisation, with a pioneer mentality.

It’s a group of creative, dedicated people who enthusias-

tically work together towards a cause they believe in. This

positive attitude appeals to me. Contributing to a better

world and at the same time having a nice time, is an ideal

combination for reaching out to young people. That’s

why it doesn’t cost me any energy to work for Monkey

Business; on the contrary, it gives me energy.”

Monkey Business Save the orang-utan and thetropical rainforest

www.saveme.nl

CoolCH. Monkey Business 02 28-08-2006 17:31 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“Did you know that the genes of the orang-utan and the

human are for !" percent identical?” says Chris Zegers, the

ambassador of the Stichting Monkey Business, which

campaigns to preserve the habitat of the endangered

orang-utan. “Maybe that’s why I feel so attracted to these

beautiful, playful and tremendously strong animals.”

When did he discover that he really wanted to help these

threatened animals? “I was standing in the rainforest in

Borneo, where I had come to film orang-utans, and I was

surrounded by a large open space that had once been

overgrown with tropical greenery. It was so confrontational

to see this in reality instead of on TV. I had travelled across

the world and even here, in this natural environment,

it wasn’t possible to let the orang-utan live in the wild.

It really affected me.”

This is why, when Chris was asked to become an ambassador

for the Stichting Monkey Business three years ago, he

immediately accepted. “I consider myself lucky that I can

travel a lot and that I see beautiful places as part of my job.

In Borneo I realised that if we don’t do anything, we soon

won’t be able to enjoy the beauty of nature anymore.”

Every day, two football fields worth of tropical rainforest

are cut down in Sumatra to create oil palm tree plantations.

The palm oil that is extracted from the trees is used in

countless food and cosmetic products. The orang-utan is

rapidly losing his habitat through the felling of trees. If

this continues at the same rate, there will be no tropical

rainforest left in ten years and the orang-utan will be

extinct.

“Sometimes it can be discouraging, but that doesn’t get

you anywhere. I believe in having a positive attitude!”

That is why Monkey Business organises parties, at which

they raise awareness and raise funds for the orang-utan.

“There is always a special atmosphere at these events,

because so many great people, famous bands and DJs are

willing to work selflessly and for free to make it a good

party to protect the orang-utan.”

With the money it collects, Monkey Business supports the

Sumatran Conservation Programme (SOCP). The organisation

offers shelter to orang-utans who have been driven from

their habitat, abused in the illegal animal trade or whose

parents have been killed. The animals are placed in a

rehabilitation programme after which they are released in

a protected nature reserve in the south of Sumatra.

“From the beginning, I felt very involved with Monkey

Business. It’s a nice organisation, with a pioneer mentality.

It’s a group of creative, dedicated people who enthusias-

tically work together towards a cause they believe in. This

positive attitude appeals to me. Contributing to a better

world and at the same time having a nice time, is an ideal

combination for reaching out to young people. That’s

why it doesn’t cost me any energy to work for Monkey

Business; on the contrary, it gives me energy.”

Monkey Business Save the orang-utan and thetropical rainforest

www.saveme.nl

CoolCH. Monkey Business 02 28-08-2006 17:31 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Founded by two experienced Dutch entrepreneurs in

!""#, NOTS approaches development aid from a business

point of view by encouraging and supporting small busi-

ness development and educational projects in develo-

ping countries.

NOTS stands for “Not One the Same”, embodying the orga-

nisation’s vision of development aid and the funding of

projects: every individual and every problem is different

and therefore no single solution can be the same. Both the

investors and the recipients of support have different aspi-

rations and different needs, and NOTS therefore aims to

cater to these individual requirements on a case-by-case

basis.

NOTS invests in business and education projects in

Argentina, Bolivia, Kenya, Ghana and India. Examples of

projects that benefit from NOTS support include a shelter

for street children in Hyderabad in India, a business

training programme for HIV-infected women in Kenya and

a local radio station in Bolivia that provides farmers with

information on the market prices of their crops and other

data that can increase their productivity.

NOTS forms direct and personal connections between

investors – as NOTS sponsors are known – and projects.

Investors can pick and choose the project they want

to support. Through quarterly updates, investors are

informed about the evolution of their projects and the

way their money is being spent.

“NOTS is like a facilitator that helps business people invest

in development in an entrepreneurial manner,” explains

NOTS co-founder, Bart Hartman. “Depending on their

needs, we identify suitable investments for them. This

can vary from a large investment in a business – almost

like ‘adopting’ a business – to smaller investments in a

micro-credit fund. Some people don’t want to just invest

money, they are also keen to invest time; to go on

location and work on a certain project. In this case, we can

put them in touch with local projects and companies. And

some entrepreneurs from the developed world are keen

to produce a limited edition of one of their products, with

a percentage of the revenues going to a NOTS project.”

A recent example of this form of investment was the

production of designer watches that are now for sale on a

dedicated website, www.notswatches.com. With !" euros

of the sale going to a NOTS project, buyers visiting the web-

site can select not just the model and design of their watch,

but also the project they want their !" euros to go to.

By giving people in the developing world the means and

skills to become productive members of their community,

NOTS in the long term aims to enable them to become

self-sufficient and independent of donations.

With thanks to Bart Hartman, a co-founder of NOTS

Enterprising development aidNOTS

www.nots.nl

CoolCH.NOTS 01 16-06-2006 09:11 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Founded by two experienced Dutch entrepreneurs in

!""#, NOTS approaches development aid from a business

point of view by encouraging and supporting small busi-

ness development and educational projects in develo-

ping countries.

NOTS stands for “Not One the Same”, embodying the orga-

nisation’s vision of development aid and the funding of

projects: every individual and every problem is different

and therefore no single solution can be the same. Both the

investors and the recipients of support have different aspi-

rations and different needs, and NOTS therefore aims to

cater to these individual requirements on a case-by-case

basis.

NOTS invests in business and education projects in

Argentina, Bolivia, Kenya, Ghana and India. Examples of

projects that benefit from NOTS support include a shelter

for street children in Hyderabad in India, a business

training programme for HIV-infected women in Kenya and

a local radio station in Bolivia that provides farmers with

information on the market prices of their crops and other

data that can increase their productivity.

NOTS forms direct and personal connections between

investors – as NOTS sponsors are known – and projects.

Investors can pick and choose the project they want

to support. Through quarterly updates, investors are

informed about the evolution of their projects and the

way their money is being spent.

“NOTS is like a facilitator that helps business people invest

in development in an entrepreneurial manner,” explains

NOTS co-founder, Bart Hartman. “Depending on their

needs, we identify suitable investments for them. This

can vary from a large investment in a business – almost

like ‘adopting’ a business – to smaller investments in a

micro-credit fund. Some people don’t want to just invest

money, they are also keen to invest time; to go on

location and work on a certain project. In this case, we can

put them in touch with local projects and companies. And

some entrepreneurs from the developed world are keen

to produce a limited edition of one of their products, with

a percentage of the revenues going to a NOTS project.”

A recent example of this form of investment was the

production of designer watches that are now for sale on a

dedicated website, www.notswatches.com. With !" euros

of the sale going to a NOTS project, buyers visiting the web-

site can select not just the model and design of their watch,

but also the project they want their !" euros to go to.

By giving people in the developing world the means and

skills to become productive members of their community,

NOTS in the long term aims to enable them to become

self-sufficient and independent of donations.

With thanks to Bart Hartman, a co-founder of NOTS

Enterprising development aidNOTS

www.nots.nl

CoolCH.NOTS 01 16-06-2006 09:11 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

"My struggle for press freedom in Liberia nearly cost me

my life several times. I was imprisoned; I was shot and

our office was set on fire. But I nevertheless returned to

my home country. The decision was difficult. But I just

had to come back; there is so much to be done still.”

After living in exile in the Netherlands for eight years,

oneMen pioneer Tom Kamara successfully launched

the paper version of the only independent Liberian news-

paper, the New Democrat, on !" March #$$%. In the last

few years, security fears meant the paper only published

its news reports on the internet. The paper’s objective

news reporting wasn’t to the liking of the Taylor regime.

Ex-president Taylor prevented journalists from doing their

work and drove them to flee the country.

“Being back in Liberia is completely different than I had

imagined. It was a shock to find that my country was

so badly devastated. The capital doesn’t even have basic

facilities, like paved roads and electricity. In such circum-

stances it is a huge challenge to publish a newspaper. My

aim is to make the New Democrat play a leading role

in the transition to democracy in Liberia. During the

elections last year, we published extra editions.

I am pleased that there is hope for restoration in my country.

Press freedom has been re-established, in theory in any

case, because it is striking that the New Democrat is the

only paper that makes use of this newly acquired freedom.

All the other papers are connected to politicians and are

far from objective. There is a great need for reliable infor-

mation, also in the rural areas, where people are cut off

from the news sources. That’s why we make sure that our

paper is also distributed outside the capital.

Despite the fragile beginnings of peace, I am still often

scared. If you write the truth in Africa, you get into trouble.

I have already been threatened several times. In the

evenings after work, I go home as quickly as I can. There

are still many Taylor henchmen around, who are not too

pleased with my critical pen. Some people say I am mad

and believe that I am risking my life. But thanks to the

support of many, I find the force to carry on.”

oneMen

www.onemen.org

‘More than once they tried to kill me. I am not a soldier.

I am not a criminal. I am a journalist.’

CoolCH.OneMen 01 23-05-2006 09:54 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

"My struggle for press freedom in Liberia nearly cost me

my life several times. I was imprisoned; I was shot and

our office was set on fire. But I nevertheless returned to

my home country. The decision was difficult. But I just

had to come back; there is so much to be done still.”

After living in exile in the Netherlands for eight years,

oneMen pioneer Tom Kamara successfully launched

the paper version of the only independent Liberian news-

paper, the New Democrat, on !" March #$$%. In the last

few years, security fears meant the paper only published

its news reports on the internet. The paper’s objective

news reporting wasn’t to the liking of the Taylor regime.

Ex-president Taylor prevented journalists from doing their

work and drove them to flee the country.

“Being back in Liberia is completely different than I had

imagined. It was a shock to find that my country was

so badly devastated. The capital doesn’t even have basic

facilities, like paved roads and electricity. In such circum-

stances it is a huge challenge to publish a newspaper. My

aim is to make the New Democrat play a leading role

in the transition to democracy in Liberia. During the

elections last year, we published extra editions.

I am pleased that there is hope for restoration in my country.

Press freedom has been re-established, in theory in any

case, because it is striking that the New Democrat is the

only paper that makes use of this newly acquired freedom.

All the other papers are connected to politicians and are

far from objective. There is a great need for reliable infor-

mation, also in the rural areas, where people are cut off

from the news sources. That’s why we make sure that our

paper is also distributed outside the capital.

Despite the fragile beginnings of peace, I am still often

scared. If you write the truth in Africa, you get into trouble.

I have already been threatened several times. In the

evenings after work, I go home as quickly as I can. There

are still many Taylor henchmen around, who are not too

pleased with my critical pen. Some people say I am mad

and believe that I am risking my life. But thanks to the

support of many, I find the force to carry on.”

oneMen

www.onemen.org

‘More than once they tried to kill me. I am not a soldier.

I am not a criminal. I am a journalist.’

CoolCH.OneMen 01 23-05-2006 09:54 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

When I think back to it, I get a warm feeling inside – the

atmosphere that day was so special… I was working in a

small hospital in Soweto and we were expecting our first

visit from Baba Sylla, John Kattenberg and Stef Bakker

from Orange Babies. Luckily they were just as nervous as

we were.

The small hospital ward was crowded; that morning more

mothers with HIV had come in to give birth. I told them

that a Dutch group was coming and that they worked in

fashion. I didn’t know exactly what they did, but we orga-

nised a surprise fashion show. I had given the women

beautifully coloured slings and drawn red hearts on their

round bellies. Our guests really got the show of their lives.

Up till today, those women are still so grateful because

they received medicine to save their babies. If you are

infected and use the medicine during pregnancy, there is

a big chance that the child will be born healthy. But until

then, there had been no money to pay for medicine.

But the AIDS problem cannot be solved simply through

medicine that stops babies from getting infected. It is a

much broader problem that is deep-rooted in society, in

South Africa’s social norms and in the way people believe

they should treat each other. One day a woman came into

the hospital. She had been kicked and beaten, her back

was black and blue. That’s what happens when you tell

your family you have HIV: you are disowned.

When you see that, you consider yourself lucky, though I

haven’t been spared myself. My dearest wish was to see

my daughter grow up. When I was pregnant with her nine

years ago, I suddenly fell ill and had to be rushed to hos-

pital. That’s where they told me I had AIDS.

The doctor talked to me about HIV and AIDS for hours on

end, but all I was interested in was my child. At the time

there was no artificial breast milk yet, and I asked the doc-

tor whether I should stop breast-feeding. But he said I

might as well carry on, because it was too late anyway. I

continued to breast-feed because otherwise my baby

would have gone hungry. But I also knew I was killing my

How can you forget something like that? It’s impossible.

The simple question of why anyone should have to

endure such grief, leaves you feeling paralysed and

helpless. So much has changed now, and today we can

help mothers. And besides medicine, there is something

else that helps you survive: hope. Hope generates the

energy to fight. I have found the courage to make some-

thing of my life, probably because there are still so many

women who can’t say the same.

Florence Ngobeni works at the Chris Hani Baragwanath

Hospital in Soweto. She gives counselling and lectures on

HIV and AIDS around the world. In !""# she lost her

daughter to the illness with which she has to live every

Giving mothers new hopeOrange Babies

www.orangebabies.com

CoolCH. Orange Babies 01 09-06-2006 15:29 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

When I think back to it, I get a warm feeling inside – the

atmosphere that day was so special… I was working in a

small hospital in Soweto and we were expecting our first

visit from Baba Sylla, John Kattenberg and Stef Bakker

from Orange Babies. Luckily they were just as nervous as

we were.

The small hospital ward was crowded; that morning more

mothers with HIV had come in to give birth. I told them

that a Dutch group was coming and that they worked in

fashion. I didn’t know exactly what they did, but we orga-

nised a surprise fashion show. I had given the women

beautifully coloured slings and drawn red hearts on their

round bellies. Our guests really got the show of their lives.

Up till today, those women are still so grateful because

they received medicine to save their babies. If you are

infected and use the medicine during pregnancy, there is

a big chance that the child will be born healthy. But until

then, there had been no money to pay for medicine.

But the AIDS problem cannot be solved simply through

medicine that stops babies from getting infected. It is a

much broader problem that is deep-rooted in society, in

South Africa’s social norms and in the way people believe

they should treat each other. One day a woman came into

the hospital. She had been kicked and beaten, her back

was black and blue. That’s what happens when you tell

your family you have HIV: you are disowned.

When you see that, you consider yourself lucky, though I

haven’t been spared myself. My dearest wish was to see

my daughter grow up. When I was pregnant with her nine

years ago, I suddenly fell ill and had to be rushed to hos-

pital. That’s where they told me I had AIDS.

The doctor talked to me about HIV and AIDS for hours on

end, but all I was interested in was my child. At the time

there was no artificial breast milk yet, and I asked the doc-

tor whether I should stop breast-feeding. But he said I

might as well carry on, because it was too late anyway. I

continued to breast-feed because otherwise my baby

would have gone hungry. But I also knew I was killing my

How can you forget something like that? It’s impossible.

The simple question of why anyone should have to

endure such grief, leaves you feeling paralysed and

helpless. So much has changed now, and today we can

help mothers. And besides medicine, there is something

else that helps you survive: hope. Hope generates the

energy to fight. I have found the courage to make some-

thing of my life, probably because there are still so many

women who can’t say the same.

Florence Ngobeni works at the Chris Hani Baragwanath

Hospital in Soweto. She gives counselling and lectures on

HIV and AIDS around the world. In !""# she lost her

daughter to the illness with which she has to live every

Giving mothers new hopeOrange Babies

www.orangebabies.com

CoolCH. Orange Babies 01 09-06-2006 15:29 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“In !""# I bought an e-ticket to Peru – a few clicks that

were to change my life, though I could never have guessed

to what extent. I found the country fascinating and at the

same time the poverty made a deep impression on me. I

was particularly struck by the number of children with unt-

reated harelips. Apparently in Peru many children have

birth defects such as harelips, spina bifida (split spine) or

clubfeet. There is a variety of reasons for the

prevalence of these defects, including genetic factors and

social circumstances such as large families and unbalan-

ced diets.

If you are born with a harelip in Holland, it isn’t problem

from a medical point of view, as everyone is insured.

Sufferers are operated and receive aftercare if necessary.

In a country like Peru things are different. More than $%

per cent of the population is not insured.

In the past six years I have often thought: what have I

embarked on? The prejudices in the Netherlands and the

difficult situation in Peru can really affect your motivation.

But when I see the joy in the eyes of the children after they

have been operated, or when I hear that they are going

back to school, I know why I am doing this.

Sometimes I don’t understand those armchair philo-

sophers who maintain that development aid doesn’t

make a difference. People say it’s just a drop in the ocean,

but every drop is a drop, and many drops make a sea. We

have operated more than !,"#$ children in Peru.

And we haven’t reached our goal yet. The next step is the

realisation of a long-held dream to create our own chil-

dren’s revalidation hospital. This would offer a sustainable

solution for coming generations, as we would be better

equipped to train local doctors and nurses ourselves,

increase the number of operations and offer even better

care. Thanks to the &,''' square metres of land donated

by the town of Paucarpata this dream is now being turned

into reality.

Marjan van Mourik

Improving healthcare in PeruPAZ-Holandesa

www.pazholandesa.nl

CoolCH. PazHol 01 06-06-2006 13:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“In !""# I bought an e-ticket to Peru – a few clicks that

were to change my life, though I could never have guessed

to what extent. I found the country fascinating and at the

same time the poverty made a deep impression on me. I

was particularly struck by the number of children with unt-

reated harelips. Apparently in Peru many children have

birth defects such as harelips, spina bifida (split spine) or

clubfeet. There is a variety of reasons for the

prevalence of these defects, including genetic factors and

social circumstances such as large families and unbalan-

ced diets.

If you are born with a harelip in Holland, it isn’t problem

from a medical point of view, as everyone is insured.

Sufferers are operated and receive aftercare if necessary.

In a country like Peru things are different. More than $%

per cent of the population is not insured.

In the past six years I have often thought: what have I

embarked on? The prejudices in the Netherlands and the

difficult situation in Peru can really affect your motivation.

But when I see the joy in the eyes of the children after they

have been operated, or when I hear that they are going

back to school, I know why I am doing this.

Sometimes I don’t understand those armchair philo-

sophers who maintain that development aid doesn’t

make a difference. People say it’s just a drop in the ocean,

but every drop is a drop, and many drops make a sea. We

have operated more than !,"#$ children in Peru.

And we haven’t reached our goal yet. The next step is the

realisation of a long-held dream to create our own chil-

dren’s revalidation hospital. This would offer a sustainable

solution for coming generations, as we would be better

equipped to train local doctors and nurses ourselves,

increase the number of operations and offer even better

care. Thanks to the &,''' square metres of land donated

by the town of Paucarpata this dream is now being turned

into reality.

Marjan van Mourik

Improving healthcare in PeruPAZ-Holandesa

www.pazholandesa.nl

CoolCH. PazHol 01 06-06-2006 13:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

I'm tired; I got to bed at !am. As I shut my eyes, I can still

see the camera flashes and hear the cries of the press.

Images of last night collide with those of the last six

years, of when I began my journey. Yesterday we held the

premiere, in America, of Peace One Day, the documenta-

ry that drove the world to create a Peace Day with a fixed

calendar date. The work of countless incredible volun-

teers over these years has paid off and I am travelling

around the world with the film to promote awareness of

the day. Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller were there to

announce their backing of the project and it worked.

They've helped forge relationships for the next stage of

my journey - a new film, about continuing to raise aware-

ness of Peace Day - !" September.

It's great that so many celebrities want to use their status

to help raise awareness of Peace Day, but I also recognise

how many people helped me over the past few years, who

stay anonymous but are vital to Peace One Day's success.

It's a wonderful feeling that we all share the same dream.

It's now !."#am and I'm on my way to UN HQ for this

year's Peace Day ceremony. Once through security, I stroll

down the walkway towards the peace garden. It's a beau-

tiful day, blue sky, still and yet strange. The last time I did

this was $$ September %##$. I had arrived early for the

ceremony planned for that morning in which Secretary

General Kofi Annan was to ring the peace bell and

announce the creation of a United Nations' day of global

ceasefire and non-violence, fixed in the calendar as %$

September annually – Peace Day. But that never happe-

ned. The planes hit and the proceedings were cancelled.

This year feels like a cycle completed. I'm standing beside

Michael Douglas and a small group of others as Secretary

General Kofi Annan begins his speech. I think about the

journey that brought Peace Day into existence… What

happened on $$ September %##$ only strengthened my

belief in how much we need this day and it made me even

more determined to make sure that the day works.

This year Kofi Annan did ring the bell for Peace Day: a day

of global unity, of intercultural cooperation, a day where

we celebrate our common desire for a more peaceful

world. It seems obvious to me that the time has come for

the world to be united. Global unity is only possible when

we all become a part of a move towards such a vision and

%$ September is the starting point. What will it eventually

create? We have no idea. But one thing is certain, it is con-

structive, empowering and a step forward towards a uni-

ted world.

Furthermore, this day has immense practical applications.

When I originally conceived of this day I wanted it to be an

opportunity for ceasefire, and I'm working hard to help

make that a reality for the next year's Peace Day. As

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said to me "Individuals can

make a difference and if each of us does our bit, collecti-

vely we can make a major contribution."

What a great message.

Jeremy Gilley, Founder, Peace One Day

Peace One Day

www.peaceoneday.org

CoolCH.Peaceoneday 01 04-07-2006 06:37 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

I'm tired; I got to bed at !am. As I shut my eyes, I can still

see the camera flashes and hear the cries of the press.

Images of last night collide with those of the last six

years, of when I began my journey. Yesterday we held the

premiere, in America, of Peace One Day, the documenta-

ry that drove the world to create a Peace Day with a fixed

calendar date. The work of countless incredible volun-

teers over these years has paid off and I am travelling

around the world with the film to promote awareness of

the day. Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller were there to

announce their backing of the project and it worked.

They've helped forge relationships for the next stage of

my journey - a new film, about continuing to raise aware-

ness of Peace Day - !" September.

It's great that so many celebrities want to use their status

to help raise awareness of Peace Day, but I also recognise

how many people helped me over the past few years, who

stay anonymous but are vital to Peace One Day's success.

It's a wonderful feeling that we all share the same dream.

It's now !."#am and I'm on my way to UN HQ for this

year's Peace Day ceremony. Once through security, I stroll

down the walkway towards the peace garden. It's a beau-

tiful day, blue sky, still and yet strange. The last time I did

this was $$ September %##$. I had arrived early for the

ceremony planned for that morning in which Secretary

General Kofi Annan was to ring the peace bell and

announce the creation of a United Nations' day of global

ceasefire and non-violence, fixed in the calendar as %$

September annually – Peace Day. But that never happe-

ned. The planes hit and the proceedings were cancelled.

This year feels like a cycle completed. I'm standing beside

Michael Douglas and a small group of others as Secretary

General Kofi Annan begins his speech. I think about the

journey that brought Peace Day into existence… What

happened on $$ September %##$ only strengthened my

belief in how much we need this day and it made me even

more determined to make sure that the day works.

This year Kofi Annan did ring the bell for Peace Day: a day

of global unity, of intercultural cooperation, a day where

we celebrate our common desire for a more peaceful

world. It seems obvious to me that the time has come for

the world to be united. Global unity is only possible when

we all become a part of a move towards such a vision and

%$ September is the starting point. What will it eventually

create? We have no idea. But one thing is certain, it is con-

structive, empowering and a step forward towards a uni-

ted world.

Furthermore, this day has immense practical applications.

When I originally conceived of this day I wanted it to be an

opportunity for ceasefire, and I'm working hard to help

make that a reality for the next year's Peace Day. As

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said to me "Individuals can

make a difference and if each of us does our bit, collecti-

vely we can make a major contribution."

What a great message.

Jeremy Gilley, Founder, Peace One Day

Peace One Day

www.peaceoneday.org

CoolCH.Peaceoneday 01 04-07-2006 06:37 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Warmth

By now Kimberly is “clean”. “It was wonderful when

Kimberly was declared cancer free. But we knew that it

was not over yet. The medicine, the chemotherapy and

radiotherapy have long-lasting after-effects. It’s still like a

little time bomb she has to live with. Our life has changed

a lot through Kimberly’s illness. You live in constant fear.

We try to spend as much time as possible with the

children now. It’s reassuring to know that we will never

need to leave our daughter alone. If she ends up in

hospital again, we know that we can find a warm home

near Kimberly: the Ronald McDonald House.”

Ronald Mc Donald Kinderfonds

www.kinderfonds.nl

Ronald McDonald House: A home away

from homeThe Ronald McDonald Kinderfonds offers support to

families who have a sick or disabled child. Today there

are !" Ronald McDonald Houses in the Netherlands –

three of which are under development – where families

with ill children can come and stay. Other Kinderfonds

projects give sick or disabled children a chance to play, do

sports or go on holiday with their parents. The Kosten

family from Goes, Zeeland looks back on a stay in the

Ronald McDonald House Rotterdam.

In !""!, Eric and Miranda’s daughter Kimberly Kosten (#)

was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumour. It was

the beginning of a difficult time for the family. From one

day to the next, your daughter is transformed from a

cheery, playful little girl to a critically ill child who is

fighting for her life. “As a mother you feel something is

wrong,” says Miranda Kosten. Eric continues: “In the end we

learnt that Kimberly had a tumour behind her cerebellum.

It was a slap in the face for us. Our world fell apart for a

moment. Never in my life have I felt so much fear.”

“It took seven heavy chemo treatments and $! radio-

therapy treatments to save Kimberly’s life,” remembers

Miranda. “It’s surprising how cheerful and energetic

Kimberly still was during much of it. Things were looking

really bad for her. We were so happy when it became clear

that the chemotherapy was having an effect.”

Ray of hope

During Kimberly’s hospitalisation, the Kosten family stayed

in the Ronald McDonald House Rotterdam for more than

nine months. Eric comments: “I’ll never forget how we

walked into the Rotterdam House for the first time, dazed

by all the emotions. The way the volunteers welcomed us

was amazing. At that moment the Ronald McDonald

House was the only ray of hope in our lives. Over time it

has really become our second home.” Miranda adds: “The

home’s management and the volunteers were an enor-

mous support to us. You don’t have to explain anything.

They understand the situation you are in.”

“The Ronald McDonald House is really important when

your child is ill and far from home,” Eric says. “It was our

saviour. I don’t think we would have gotten through it

otherwise. Your whole life is affected: your relationship,

taking care of our son Ricardo, keeping the house clean.

Now we could still have a more or less normal family life

in spite of everything. Thanks to our stay in the Ronald

McDonald House we got through this difficult period.”

CoolCH. RonaldMCDonald 03La 23-08-2006 14:59 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Warmth

By now Kimberly is “clean”. “It was wonderful when

Kimberly was declared cancer free. But we knew that it

was not over yet. The medicine, the chemotherapy and

radiotherapy have long-lasting after-effects. It’s still like a

little time bomb she has to live with. Our life has changed

a lot through Kimberly’s illness. You live in constant fear.

We try to spend as much time as possible with the

children now. It’s reassuring to know that we will never

need to leave our daughter alone. If she ends up in

hospital again, we know that we can find a warm home

near Kimberly: the Ronald McDonald House.”

Ronald Mc Donald Kinderfonds

www.kinderfonds.nl

Ronald McDonald House: A home away

from homeThe Ronald McDonald Kinderfonds offers support to

families who have a sick or disabled child. Today there

are !" Ronald McDonald Houses in the Netherlands –

three of which are under development – where families

with ill children can come and stay. Other Kinderfonds

projects give sick or disabled children a chance to play, do

sports or go on holiday with their parents. The Kosten

family from Goes, Zeeland looks back on a stay in the

Ronald McDonald House Rotterdam.

In !""!, Eric and Miranda’s daughter Kimberly Kosten (#)

was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumour. It was

the beginning of a difficult time for the family. From one

day to the next, your daughter is transformed from a

cheery, playful little girl to a critically ill child who is

fighting for her life. “As a mother you feel something is

wrong,” says Miranda Kosten. Eric continues: “In the end we

learnt that Kimberly had a tumour behind her cerebellum.

It was a slap in the face for us. Our world fell apart for a

moment. Never in my life have I felt so much fear.”

“It took seven heavy chemo treatments and $! radio-

therapy treatments to save Kimberly’s life,” remembers

Miranda. “It’s surprising how cheerful and energetic

Kimberly still was during much of it. Things were looking

really bad for her. We were so happy when it became clear

that the chemotherapy was having an effect.”

Ray of hope

During Kimberly’s hospitalisation, the Kosten family stayed

in the Ronald McDonald House Rotterdam for more than

nine months. Eric comments: “I’ll never forget how we

walked into the Rotterdam House for the first time, dazed

by all the emotions. The way the volunteers welcomed us

was amazing. At that moment the Ronald McDonald

House was the only ray of hope in our lives. Over time it

has really become our second home.” Miranda adds: “The

home’s management and the volunteers were an enor-

mous support to us. You don’t have to explain anything.

They understand the situation you are in.”

“The Ronald McDonald House is really important when

your child is ill and far from home,” Eric says. “It was our

saviour. I don’t think we would have gotten through it

otherwise. Your whole life is affected: your relationship,

taking care of our son Ricardo, keeping the house clean.

Now we could still have a more or less normal family life

in spite of everything. Thanks to our stay in the Ronald

McDonald House we got through this difficult period.”

CoolCH. RonaldMCDonald 03La 23-08-2006 14:59 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Created in the Netherlands in !""#, the Clean Clothes

Campaign aims to improve working conditions in the

garment and sportswear industries around the world and

increase awareness of labour laws and the work

environment.

The campaign is supported by many thousands of individ-

uals and hundreds of organisations in nine countries. Over

the years, it has generated widespread public awareness

about the poor working conditions in the garment industry

and the role of multinational companies in perpetuating

these situations. Consumers today are increasingly con-

cerned about fair trade and decent working conditions for

employees in the fashion industry.

The campaign works on different levels. It reaches out to

consumers and informs them about the poor working

conditions in clothing and sportswear factories around

the world. Through campaigns, debates and publications,

consumers are encouraged to voice their concern to

companies and governments by writing letters.

In the countries where production takes place, the Clean

Clothes Campaign has built up relations with a range of

unions and NGOs that provide information about working

conditions. Together they discuss strategies to improve

conditions with the help of workers’ unions. The

campaign also puts pressure on companies to respect

the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) labour

conventions.

The combination of letter-writing and lobbying has over

the years delivered results. Major sports brands such as

adidas, Nike, Reebok and PUMA have now signed codes

of conduct which specify the maximum number of

work hours and give workers the right to set up unions

and workers’ collectives to defend their rights. The multi-

nationals have also joined the Fair Labour Association, a

multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to develop a more

systematic approach to code implementation, monitor-

ing and verification. ILO reports also show that child

labour has decreased and that safety standards have

improved in many factories.

At the same time, there is still a lot to be done. “We hear

reports of improvements, but it is very difficult to verify

these claims. There is a lack of transparency in the chain

of production which means that work from the large

factories is now often outsourced to illegal sweatshops

with terrible work conditions,” explains Jeroen Merk,

working at the Dutch secretariat of the Clean Clothes

Campaign.

“Still, if you compare the situation today to how it was

ten years ago, you can definitely see improvements,

especially with the larger brands like Nike, PUMA and

adidas. The fact that they have joined the Fair Labour

Association and that they are involved in discussions with

unions, means that it is easier to effect change. They have

realised that consultation with workers can also benefit

their company.

“Among the general public too, there is more awareness

about the poor work conditions in sweatshops in coun-

tries like Indonesia and Mexico. When people start massi-

vely writing letters and emails to a company like PUMA, it

has an effect. Thanks to anti-sweatshop campaigns, many

consumers today want to know that their clothes are

produced under decent conditions. To them it is just as

important as the price and quality of a product.”

Thanks to Jeroen Merk, Dutch secretariat of the Clean

Clothes Campaign

Fighting for workers rightsSKK

www.schonekleren.nl

CoolCH.SKK 02 24-08-2006 11:04 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Created in the Netherlands in !""#, the Clean Clothes

Campaign aims to improve working conditions in the

garment and sportswear industries around the world and

increase awareness of labour laws and the work

environment.

The campaign is supported by many thousands of individ-

uals and hundreds of organisations in nine countries. Over

the years, it has generated widespread public awareness

about the poor working conditions in the garment industry

and the role of multinational companies in perpetuating

these situations. Consumers today are increasingly con-

cerned about fair trade and decent working conditions for

employees in the fashion industry.

The campaign works on different levels. It reaches out to

consumers and informs them about the poor working

conditions in clothing and sportswear factories around

the world. Through campaigns, debates and publications,

consumers are encouraged to voice their concern to

companies and governments by writing letters.

In the countries where production takes place, the Clean

Clothes Campaign has built up relations with a range of

unions and NGOs that provide information about working

conditions. Together they discuss strategies to improve

conditions with the help of workers’ unions. The

campaign also puts pressure on companies to respect

the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) labour

conventions.

The combination of letter-writing and lobbying has over

the years delivered results. Major sports brands such as

adidas, Nike, Reebok and PUMA have now signed codes

of conduct which specify the maximum number of

work hours and give workers the right to set up unions

and workers’ collectives to defend their rights. The multi-

nationals have also joined the Fair Labour Association, a

multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to develop a more

systematic approach to code implementation, monitor-

ing and verification. ILO reports also show that child

labour has decreased and that safety standards have

improved in many factories.

At the same time, there is still a lot to be done. “We hear

reports of improvements, but it is very difficult to verify

these claims. There is a lack of transparency in the chain

of production which means that work from the large

factories is now often outsourced to illegal sweatshops

with terrible work conditions,” explains Jeroen Merk,

working at the Dutch secretariat of the Clean Clothes

Campaign.

“Still, if you compare the situation today to how it was

ten years ago, you can definitely see improvements,

especially with the larger brands like Nike, PUMA and

adidas. The fact that they have joined the Fair Labour

Association and that they are involved in discussions with

unions, means that it is easier to effect change. They have

realised that consultation with workers can also benefit

their company.

“Among the general public too, there is more awareness

about the poor work conditions in sweatshops in coun-

tries like Indonesia and Mexico. When people start massi-

vely writing letters and emails to a company like PUMA, it

has an effect. Thanks to anti-sweatshop campaigns, many

consumers today want to know that their clothes are

produced under decent conditions. To them it is just as

important as the price and quality of a product.”

Thanks to Jeroen Merk, Dutch secretariat of the Clean

Clothes Campaign

Fighting for workers rightsSKK

www.schonekleren.nl

CoolCH.SKK 02 24-08-2006 11:04 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

My name is Anita Tete. I am from a small village called

Bhijadhi in the state of Jharkhand, India. I am the eldest of

seven children and when I was !", my father, who was the

breadwinner of the family, got tuberculosis and I had to

start working to support my family. I left for Mumbai in

search of employment. Through a friend I found a job as a

domestic worker, which I did for three years. I worked

from ":#$ am until !!:#$ pm, washing clothes, cooking

and cleaning the house.

During this time, I heard that Vandana Public Welfare

Foundation was conducting counselling and motivating

sessions on how to become a para teacher. I attended this

programme and immediately enrolled with them to

attend the teacher training course. It was nine-month

course, where I learnt mathematics, Hindi, English, com-

munity health care and vocational training courses. After

completing the course, I got a job as a para teacher and

now I earn %#&' rupees ((' euros) a month. From being a

domestic worker, I have become a skilled worker. Back

home, my family’s situation has also improved. I sincerely

thank Vandana Public Welfare Foundation and Seva

Network Foundation for their support. Without their help,

this wouldn’t have happened to me.

“Now I can finally use a computer”“I was so happy when I heard there would be a cyber café

and a library here. When it actually happened, I immedia-

tely registered as a volunteer. Together with some other

girls I work in the library two days a week and we meet a

lot of people. I really like it. I also followed a course and

now I can finally use a computer. I know how to put texts

in a word-processing programme, how to save, copy and

so on. Soon there will be follow-up courses and I will defi-

nitely join. We’re all so happy with the cyber café and the

library which were set up thanks to Seva. I feel I spend my

free time usefully and pleasantly. Usefully, because I have

learned so many new skills effortlessly. I’ve also noticed

that I have an easier at time at school. The whole idea of

‘learning’ suddenly doesn’t seem so daunting. I used to

find it a nuisance. Now there seems to be nothing to it.”

Sharla Gahar, first-grade advanced elementary education

in Uitkijk, Suriname

Sharla is a volunteer in the library at the Educational

Centre “de Uitkijk”. On ) April &$$" a pilot project was

launched here with the help of Seva to buy furniture and

computers, and to set up a cyber café.

“In the end we will see that the direct relationship

between people and groups of people has better results,

not just in terms of development and poverty reduction,

but especially in terms of human dignity. People prefer to

live in poverty than to be treated without dignity. Seva

fights poverty without harming people’s dignity.”

Anil Ramdas, journalist, director of De Balie and member of

the Seva recommending committee

Seva Network Foundation

www.sevanetwork.net

“I have become a skilled worker”

CC SeVa 02 24-08-2006 16:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

My name is Anita Tete. I am from a small village called

Bhijadhi in the state of Jharkhand, India. I am the eldest of

seven children and when I was !", my father, who was the

breadwinner of the family, got tuberculosis and I had to

start working to support my family. I left for Mumbai in

search of employment. Through a friend I found a job as a

domestic worker, which I did for three years. I worked

from ":#$ am until !!:#$ pm, washing clothes, cooking

and cleaning the house.

During this time, I heard that Vandana Public Welfare

Foundation was conducting counselling and motivating

sessions on how to become a para teacher. I attended this

programme and immediately enrolled with them to

attend the teacher training course. It was nine-month

course, where I learnt mathematics, Hindi, English, com-

munity health care and vocational training courses. After

completing the course, I got a job as a para teacher and

now I earn %#&' rupees ((' euros) a month. From being a

domestic worker, I have become a skilled worker. Back

home, my family’s situation has also improved. I sincerely

thank Vandana Public Welfare Foundation and Seva

Network Foundation for their support. Without their help,

this wouldn’t have happened to me.

“Now I can finally use a computer”“I was so happy when I heard there would be a cyber café

and a library here. When it actually happened, I immedia-

tely registered as a volunteer. Together with some other

girls I work in the library two days a week and we meet a

lot of people. I really like it. I also followed a course and

now I can finally use a computer. I know how to put texts

in a word-processing programme, how to save, copy and

so on. Soon there will be follow-up courses and I will defi-

nitely join. We’re all so happy with the cyber café and the

library which were set up thanks to Seva. I feel I spend my

free time usefully and pleasantly. Usefully, because I have

learned so many new skills effortlessly. I’ve also noticed

that I have an easier at time at school. The whole idea of

‘learning’ suddenly doesn’t seem so daunting. I used to

find it a nuisance. Now there seems to be nothing to it.”

Sharla Gahar, first-grade advanced elementary education

in Uitkijk, Suriname

Sharla is a volunteer in the library at the Educational

Centre “de Uitkijk”. On ) April &$$" a pilot project was

launched here with the help of Seva to buy furniture and

computers, and to set up a cyber café.

“In the end we will see that the direct relationship

between people and groups of people has better results,

not just in terms of development and poverty reduction,

but especially in terms of human dignity. People prefer to

live in poverty than to be treated without dignity. Seva

fights poverty without harming people’s dignity.”

Anil Ramdas, journalist, director of De Balie and member of

the Seva recommending committee

Seva Network Foundation

www.sevanetwork.net

“I have become a skilled worker”

CC SeVa 02 24-08-2006 16:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 26 27

Dutch photographer Adriaan Backer, !", is travelling

around the world with a single mission: to reveal the true

face of the silent assassin, AIDS, and to break down the

taboos and silence surrounding the HIV virus. Many of his

photos were made in Hillbrow, a neighbourhood that is

considered to be the “cesspit of Africa”.

This is where the poorest of the poor live: the unem-

ployed, refugees from other parts of Africa, drug and

alcohol addicts and countless AIDS orphans who have no

relatives anymore and who have come to Johannesburg in

search of help or a job. They are met by gangsters, who

force both boys and girls into prostitution. The child pro-

stitutes get many clients because with its many hotels

Hillbrow is one of the most important stopover points for

South Africans when they are travelling. The consequence

is that the children get HIV/AIDS and subsequently infect

thousands of travellers, who in turn spread the virus

throughout the country. Adriaan’s camera tells the story

of the children, but also of the hopeful initiatives sur-

rounding them.

Every evening, the Twilight Children shelter opens its

doors for street children. In their “bakkie” – the South

African term for pick-up truck – staff drive around to dis-

tribute food and !#,### condoms a month, while at the

same time talking to traumatised children.

In her tiny home, Oma Morphese looks after $" children of

AIDS patients. Morphese has taken the children in because

she does not want them to end up on the streets and fall

into the hands of the prostitution criminals. But if you

knock on Oma Morphese’s door late at night, there is a big

chance the door will not be opened, because there are $"

matrasses blocking the front door.

STOP AIDS NOW! helps Oma Morphese, Twilight Children

and many other AIDS projects in developing countries

through counselling, the support of AIDS orphans, caring

for the sick, providing affordable medication or the devel-

opment of a vaccine. AIDS needs to be fought on all fronts,

because it is rapidly turning into the greatest disaster that

has ever threatened the global community.

With thanks to Adriaan Backer

United in the fight against AIDSSTOP AIDS NOW!

www.stopaidsnow.nl

CoolCH.Stopaidsnow 01 23-05-2006 10:15 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 26 27

Dutch photographer Adriaan Backer, !", is travelling

around the world with a single mission: to reveal the true

face of the silent assassin, AIDS, and to break down the

taboos and silence surrounding the HIV virus. Many of his

photos were made in Hillbrow, a neighbourhood that is

considered to be the “cesspit of Africa”.

This is where the poorest of the poor live: the unem-

ployed, refugees from other parts of Africa, drug and

alcohol addicts and countless AIDS orphans who have no

relatives anymore and who have come to Johannesburg in

search of help or a job. They are met by gangsters, who

force both boys and girls into prostitution. The child pro-

stitutes get many clients because with its many hotels

Hillbrow is one of the most important stopover points for

South Africans when they are travelling. The consequence

is that the children get HIV/AIDS and subsequently infect

thousands of travellers, who in turn spread the virus

throughout the country. Adriaan’s camera tells the story

of the children, but also of the hopeful initiatives sur-

rounding them.

Every evening, the Twilight Children shelter opens its

doors for street children. In their “bakkie” – the South

African term for pick-up truck – staff drive around to dis-

tribute food and !#,### condoms a month, while at the

same time talking to traumatised children.

In her tiny home, Oma Morphese looks after $" children of

AIDS patients. Morphese has taken the children in because

she does not want them to end up on the streets and fall

into the hands of the prostitution criminals. But if you

knock on Oma Morphese’s door late at night, there is a big

chance the door will not be opened, because there are $"

matrasses blocking the front door.

STOP AIDS NOW! helps Oma Morphese, Twilight Children

and many other AIDS projects in developing countries

through counselling, the support of AIDS orphans, caring

for the sick, providing affordable medication or the devel-

opment of a vaccine. AIDS needs to be fought on all fronts,

because it is rapidly turning into the greatest disaster that

has ever threatened the global community.

With thanks to Adriaan Backer

United in the fight against AIDSSTOP AIDS NOW!

www.stopaidsnow.nl

CoolCH.Stopaidsnow 01 23-05-2006 10:15 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“I had expected that I would need more time to adapt

when I arrived in Kenya, but it wasn’t so bad. As I work

for Yacht, a recruitment agency for professional temps, I

am used to being the ‘new kid on the block’, and living up

to expectations. The diversity of projects and organisa-

tions I work with, and the different levels at which I

interact, mean that I quickly feel at home within an

organisation. It’s the same here.

My role is to advise the directors of the Eldoret Diocese

about the future of their orthopaedic workshop. The

Diocese offers housing to disabled children in a number of

small care homes. Their orthopaedic workshop is the only

productive and well-organised workshop in the whole

region. They make mobility aids such as crutches, wheel-

chairs and artificial legs. Originally these were only meant

for the children in the homes, but today they are also used

by other people with a disability. The Diocese wants the

workshop to become self-sufficient. They can develop the

capacity but they can’t raise the prices because the custo-

mers can’t afford to pay more. That means that the work-

shop needs to raise funds or find donors. An interesting

period!

I am learning to listen again, especially to the things that

are said –and not said– between the lines. Communication

is very important and it is interesting to experience how

subtle it can be. Here I really have to be alert when people

are talking. I have to take the time to first talk about

personal things and only then talk about business. Things

like that are also useful back home. By building up more

personal relationships with colleagues, it is easier to

obtain results later on.

Someone once told me that you get to know your own

culture best by experiencing another culture. It’s the same

when it comes to yourself and your attitude to life. At

home I have a comfortable social network. Here I’m on my

own. I’m getting to know a different side of myself,

because the people here demand different skills and beha-

viour from me than at home. I believe everyone can benefit

from taking a step back for a while, and looking at them-

selves and their culture from a distance. It makes me

conscious of my strengths and weaknesses.

I am glad that I decided to do this and would recommend

it to others. It’s really cool to share my knowledge and

experience with people in a less developed country. It’s

great to discuss different insights and show people diffe-

rent ways of thinking and acting. They learn from me, but

I learn just as much from them. And it’s also really nice to

work in another country for a while and see your own way

of working from a different perspective.

Elwin Wolters, interim professional at Yacht, working in

Kenya for half a year with the international development

organisation VSO. Yacht is part of Randstad Holding nv.

Randstad Holding has a partnership with VSO since !""#

“I am learning to really listen again!”VSO

www.vso.nl

www.randstad.com/vso

CoolCH.VSO 02 06-07-2006 10:00 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“I had expected that I would need more time to adapt

when I arrived in Kenya, but it wasn’t so bad. As I work

for Yacht, a recruitment agency for professional temps, I

am used to being the ‘new kid on the block’, and living up

to expectations. The diversity of projects and organisa-

tions I work with, and the different levels at which I

interact, mean that I quickly feel at home within an

organisation. It’s the same here.

My role is to advise the directors of the Eldoret Diocese

about the future of their orthopaedic workshop. The

Diocese offers housing to disabled children in a number of

small care homes. Their orthopaedic workshop is the only

productive and well-organised workshop in the whole

region. They make mobility aids such as crutches, wheel-

chairs and artificial legs. Originally these were only meant

for the children in the homes, but today they are also used

by other people with a disability. The Diocese wants the

workshop to become self-sufficient. They can develop the

capacity but they can’t raise the prices because the custo-

mers can’t afford to pay more. That means that the work-

shop needs to raise funds or find donors. An interesting

period!

I am learning to listen again, especially to the things that

are said –and not said– between the lines. Communication

is very important and it is interesting to experience how

subtle it can be. Here I really have to be alert when people

are talking. I have to take the time to first talk about

personal things and only then talk about business. Things

like that are also useful back home. By building up more

personal relationships with colleagues, it is easier to

obtain results later on.

Someone once told me that you get to know your own

culture best by experiencing another culture. It’s the same

when it comes to yourself and your attitude to life. At

home I have a comfortable social network. Here I’m on my

own. I’m getting to know a different side of myself,

because the people here demand different skills and beha-

viour from me than at home. I believe everyone can benefit

from taking a step back for a while, and looking at them-

selves and their culture from a distance. It makes me

conscious of my strengths and weaknesses.

I am glad that I decided to do this and would recommend

it to others. It’s really cool to share my knowledge and

experience with people in a less developed country. It’s

great to discuss different insights and show people diffe-

rent ways of thinking and acting. They learn from me, but

I learn just as much from them. And it’s also really nice to

work in another country for a while and see your own way

of working from a different perspective.

Elwin Wolters, interim professional at Yacht, working in

Kenya for half a year with the international development

organisation VSO. Yacht is part of Randstad Holding nv.

Randstad Holding has a partnership with VSO since !""#

“I am learning to really listen again!”VSO

www.vso.nl

www.randstad.com/vso

CoolCH.VSO 02 06-07-2006 10:00 Pagina 2

And then she was on her own.

Viktorija, !", was born in a small Kosovan village of #$$

inhabitants. Eleven years ago during the war, the village

was attacked. Only %# villagers survived. Viktorija witnes-

sed the bloody killings and saw her father, mother and

two brothers, but also her neighbours and many playma-

tes being murdered. She never found her best friend

Barbara again. Her father was the only one she spoke to

before he died.

Viktorija still lives in Kosovo. She is one of the many chil-

dren who experienced the horrors of the Balkan war.

Driven away from her home and with no family, she was

able to survive with the help of a former neighbour. But

surviving is not the same as living. Viktorija suffered from

the delayed effects of the traumatising events she witnes-

sed. As time went by, she was increasingly affected by

severe panic attacks and depression. She hardly dared

going to sleep because she had nightmares, gruesome

images from the past that haunted her sleep and caused

her to wake up screaming. Viktorija needed psychological

help to learn to live again.

Child psychologist Dr. Anica Mikus Kos has devoted herself

entirely to children like Viktorija. She is the driving force

behind a local aid organisation in Slovenia. With pro-

fessional and financial support from the War Trauma

Foundation, she has launched a training programme,

which allowed for the psychological counseling of thou-

sands of traumatised schoolchildren in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Since its creation "$$ teachers have been trained to recog-

nise trauma and provide basic help. Through schools

around !$,$$$ children and teenagers, and nearly &,$$$

adults have received help.

As a Jew, Anica Kos was herself a victim of persecution as

a young girl during WWII. Writing in a publication that

was produced with the War Trauma Foundation as a result

of the project and that is today used for trauma care in

various conflict zones, she says: “My life experiences have

shaped my views on what can be done to empower chil-

dren affected by wars and social adversities, and what can

be done to stimulate the healing process. As school is

central in a child’s life and also the most important space

outside the family home, I have concentrated mainly

on that environment. All involved can benefit: children,

families and teachers.”

Viktorija is one of the schoolchildren who benefited from

Anica Kos’ trauma training programme. When she told

her story in bits and pieces to her teacher, it became clear

that it was the first time she had talked about it. Since

then Viktorija hasn’t really changed: she is still an earnest

girl. But her stepsister Renata knows that Viktorija no

longer wakes up screaming in the middle of the night.

New faith in life and in the people around her have ba-

nished her fears, nightmares and depressions. Viktorija

can dream again, of a future without war.

Viktorija is not on her own. Around the world there are

millions of girls, boys and adults who are traumatised by

the violence of war and terror, for example in Congo,

Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Beslan and East-

Timor. That is why the War Trauma Foundation enables aid

in the treatment of these traumatised victims of war, ter-

ror and organised violenced. Anywhere in the world.

WTF “I said to him:‘Daddy, I love you. I’ll see you in heaven.’

COOLCHARITY 32

www.wartrauma.nl

CoolCH.War Trauma Foundation 01 28-08-2006 14:31 Pagina 2

And then she was on her own.

Viktorija, !", was born in a small Kosovan village of #$$

inhabitants. Eleven years ago during the war, the village

was attacked. Only %# villagers survived. Viktorija witnes-

sed the bloody killings and saw her father, mother and

two brothers, but also her neighbours and many playma-

tes being murdered. She never found her best friend

Barbara again. Her father was the only one she spoke to

before he died.

Viktorija still lives in Kosovo. She is one of the many chil-

dren who experienced the horrors of the Balkan war.

Driven away from her home and with no family, she was

able to survive with the help of a former neighbour. But

surviving is not the same as living. Viktorija suffered from

the delayed effects of the traumatising events she witnes-

sed. As time went by, she was increasingly affected by

severe panic attacks and depression. She hardly dared

going to sleep because she had nightmares, gruesome

images from the past that haunted her sleep and caused

her to wake up screaming. Viktorija needed psychological

help to learn to live again.

Child psychologist Dr. Anica Mikus Kos has devoted herself

entirely to children like Viktorija. She is the driving force

behind a local aid organisation in Slovenia. With pro-

fessional and financial support from the War Trauma

Foundation, she has launched a training programme,

which allowed for the psychological counseling of thou-

sands of traumatised schoolchildren in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Since its creation "$$ teachers have been trained to recog-

nise trauma and provide basic help. Through schools

around !$,$$$ children and teenagers, and nearly &,$$$

adults have received help.

As a Jew, Anica Kos was herself a victim of persecution as

a young girl during WWII. Writing in a publication that

was produced with the War Trauma Foundation as a result

of the project and that is today used for trauma care in

various conflict zones, she says: “My life experiences have

shaped my views on what can be done to empower chil-

dren affected by wars and social adversities, and what can

be done to stimulate the healing process. As school is

central in a child’s life and also the most important space

outside the family home, I have concentrated mainly

on that environment. All involved can benefit: children,

families and teachers.”

Viktorija is one of the schoolchildren who benefited from

Anica Kos’ trauma training programme. When she told

her story in bits and pieces to her teacher, it became clear

that it was the first time she had talked about it. Since

then Viktorija hasn’t really changed: she is still an earnest

girl. But her stepsister Renata knows that Viktorija no

longer wakes up screaming in the middle of the night.

New faith in life and in the people around her have ba-

nished her fears, nightmares and depressions. Viktorija

can dream again, of a future without war.

Viktorija is not on her own. Around the world there are

millions of girls, boys and adults who are traumatised by

the violence of war and terror, for example in Congo,

Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Beslan and East-

Timor. That is why the War Trauma Foundation enables aid

in the treatment of these traumatised victims of war, ter-

ror and organised violenced. Anywhere in the world.

WTF “I said to him:‘Daddy, I love you. I’ll see you in heaven.’

COOLCHARITY 32

www.wartrauma.nl

CoolCH.War Trauma Foundation 01 28-08-2006 14:31 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“Are you also fed up with this pointless violence? I am star-

ting a campaign! A campaign for life. Yesterday I created a

foundation dedicated to the fight against violence and the

blurring of moral standards, both mental and physical, on

the street and at home, on a national and international

level.”

These were the opening lines of my first press release on

behalf of the Stichting TegenZinloosGeweld (Foundation

AgainstPointlessViolence). I launched the foundation on a

gut feeling on !! September "##$ after the death of

Meindert Tjoelker from Leeuwarden. On his stag night (of

all nights!) four men beat him up so badly that he died of

the injuries. All he had done was ask his attackers to leave

a couple of bikes alone. Police officer Kees Bangma called

upon the nation to observe a one-minute silence, a sign of

respect that was massively observed throughout the coun-

try. But for me it wasn’t enough; I believe that when it

comes to aggression and violence, there should be better

and more substantial communication. Communication

that can elicit a change in mentalities, raise awareness and

thus bring about a change in behaviour.

That is why I created the StichtingTegenZinloosGeweld, a

foundation that identifies with a positive symbol: the

ladybird. It is a symbol of love and tenderness, a symbol

against aggression and violence. It brings luck and some-

times, who knows, change.

The more people rally around this symbol, the louder our

voice becomes. More and more people are following the

example of others, are being inspired, and each individu-

al tries to contribute in his own way to build a society with

less bullying, aggression and violence.

Let everyone hear that it will no longer be tolerated. The

victims will hear us and know that they are not on their

own. I believe that the solution for aggression and violen-

ce lies in prevention and education. The continued goal-

oriented initiatives are designed to bring about a structural

change in mentalities, so that the children of today will in

future not have to file past the latest victim and think that

aggression and violence are normal and that they should

be taken for granted.

Bart Wisbrun

Initiator Landelijke StichtingTegenZinloosGeweld (National

Foundation AgainstPointlessViolence)

Sweet song

Hi sweet little creatureSweet little ladybirdCome sit on my handWalk around and feel freeGo from hand to hand

Hi sweet little creatureSweet little ladybirdYou stand for love and happinessFor wishes and for existenceAnd if you want to go againFly away.. or I will blow you awayBe free wherever you are

I think you are beautiful, I think you are sweetShow off your dots, your red wingsYou are against pointless violenceMy little creature, my little friend, my heroYou help, for all those in sorrowYou give hope, you represent moreShow yourself, again... and again

You give a signal, a clear messageStop aggression and violenceSweet little ladybirdYou are my hero

I think you are beautiful, I think you are sweetShow off your dots, your red wingsYou are against pointless violenceMy little creature, my little friend, my heroYou help, for all those in sorrowYou give hope, you represent moreShow yourself….

Hi little ladybirdGo from hand to land

StichtingTegenZinloosGeweld

www.zinloosgeweld.nl

“To whoever feels concerned…”

CoolCH.ZinloosGeweld 01 20-06-2006 12:07 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

“Are you also fed up with this pointless violence? I am star-

ting a campaign! A campaign for life. Yesterday I created a

foundation dedicated to the fight against violence and the

blurring of moral standards, both mental and physical, on

the street and at home, on a national and international

level.”

These were the opening lines of my first press release on

behalf of the Stichting TegenZinloosGeweld (Foundation

AgainstPointlessViolence). I launched the foundation on a

gut feeling on !! September "##$ after the death of

Meindert Tjoelker from Leeuwarden. On his stag night (of

all nights!) four men beat him up so badly that he died of

the injuries. All he had done was ask his attackers to leave

a couple of bikes alone. Police officer Kees Bangma called

upon the nation to observe a one-minute silence, a sign of

respect that was massively observed throughout the coun-

try. But for me it wasn’t enough; I believe that when it

comes to aggression and violence, there should be better

and more substantial communication. Communication

that can elicit a change in mentalities, raise awareness and

thus bring about a change in behaviour.

That is why I created the StichtingTegenZinloosGeweld, a

foundation that identifies with a positive symbol: the

ladybird. It is a symbol of love and tenderness, a symbol

against aggression and violence. It brings luck and some-

times, who knows, change.

The more people rally around this symbol, the louder our

voice becomes. More and more people are following the

example of others, are being inspired, and each individu-

al tries to contribute in his own way to build a society with

less bullying, aggression and violence.

Let everyone hear that it will no longer be tolerated. The

victims will hear us and know that they are not on their

own. I believe that the solution for aggression and violen-

ce lies in prevention and education. The continued goal-

oriented initiatives are designed to bring about a structural

change in mentalities, so that the children of today will in

future not have to file past the latest victim and think that

aggression and violence are normal and that they should

be taken for granted.

Bart Wisbrun

Initiator Landelijke StichtingTegenZinloosGeweld (National

Foundation AgainstPointlessViolence)

Sweet song

Hi sweet little creatureSweet little ladybirdYou stand for love and happinessFor wishes and for existenceAnd if you want to go againFly away.. or I will blow you awayBe free wherever you are

You give a signal, a clear messageStop aggression and violenceSweet little ladybirdYou are my hero

I think you are beautiful, I think you are sweetShow off your dots, your red wingsYou are against pointless violenceMy little creature, my little friend, my heroYou help, for all those in sorrowYou give hope, you represent moreShow yourself….

Hi little ladybirdGo from hand to land

StichtingTegenZinloosGeweld

www.zinloosgeweld.nl

“To whoever feels concerned…”

CoolCH.ZinloosGeweld 01 20-06-2006 12:07 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Z vendor Frank Gaby “I started selling Z two months ago.

I do it to support myself, as I don’t get anything from the

council. I spent !" years working for Unilever at a perfume

company. When I left, I even got a gold watch for my hard

work. But the government changed the policy for “witte

illegalen” (illegal immigrants who have worked for six

consecutive years in the Netherlands) and that is why I’m

now waiting for the legal verdict. I am originally from

Ghana and they want me to go back there. I am #" years

old and when I turn $# I will be allowed to come back to

collect my pension. But I don’t want to go to Ghana, I

don’t have anything there anymore. In the meantime, I am

earning some money through the sales of the homeless

paper which allows me to support myself. I also meet new

people through it. Customers are really nice to me, they

even sometimes buy me some food. I am all the time

making new contacts.”

Z vendor Maurice “I started selling the homeless paper

two years ago. Before that I was begging in front of shops

because I had lost my job. I was fired after a merger

between ZAO and Agis; according to the judge it was my

own fault. It meant I couldn’t pay my rent anymore and I

ended up in the street. The people who first saw me beg-

ging, are happy that I am now selling the paper, as I used

to get police fines for begging. I sell the paper by the

Albert Heijn on the Overtoom and I usually manage to sell

about %"" papers a week. I work an average of six days a

week, and can organise my own time. Old friends who see

me now say that I am much more cheerful and happy.”

Z vendor Harald “For me, selling the homeless newspaper

was a way of surviving. I started in %&&# when the paper

had only just been founded. I am from Germany.

Relational problems and the fact that I was declared unfit

to do my job made me come to Holland. I thought I would

be able to find work here, in the flower bulb industry…

unfortunately, I didn’t. In the beginning it was tough,

people didn’t know the paper yet. I heard that some peop-

le thought that the vendors were Jehovah’s Witnesses,

and vendors had to explain that they were homeless and

couldn’t get a job. Now everyone knows. Many customers

buy the paper to help me, I have lots of nice customers

who are concerned about me. I have lived on the street,

slept under bridges, in a tent and sometimes in small

rooms if I could afford them. After a while, I was able to

buy myself a caravan. Now I’m engaged and I’ve moved in

with my girlfriend Ada. We are happy together and we can

live off her pension and the money I make from the sales

of the newspaper.”

Making new contacts all the timeZ-Magazine

www.zmagazine.nl

CoolCH.z-magazine01 09-05-2006 09:51 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Z vendor Frank Gaby “I started selling Z two months ago.

I do it to support myself, as I don’t get anything from the

council. I spent !" years working for Unilever at a perfume

company. When I left, I even got a gold watch for my hard

work. But the government changed the policy for “witte

illegalen” (illegal immigrants who have worked for six

consecutive years in the Netherlands) and that is why I’m

now waiting for the legal verdict. I am originally from

Ghana and they want me to go back there. I am #" years

old and when I turn $# I will be allowed to come back to

collect my pension. But I don’t want to go to Ghana, I

don’t have anything there anymore. In the meantime, I am

earning some money through the sales of the homeless

paper which allows me to support myself. I also meet new

people through it. Customers are really nice to me, they

even sometimes buy me some food. I am all the time

making new contacts.”

Z vendor Maurice “I started selling the homeless paper

two years ago. Before that I was begging in front of shops

because I had lost my job. I was fired after a merger

between ZAO and Agis; according to the judge it was my

own fault. It meant I couldn’t pay my rent anymore and I

ended up in the street. The people who first saw me beg-

ging, are happy that I am now selling the paper, as I used

to get police fines for begging. I sell the paper by the

Albert Heijn on the Overtoom and I usually manage to sell

about %"" papers a week. I work an average of six days a

week, and can organise my own time. Old friends who see

me now say that I am much more cheerful and happy.”

Z vendor Harald “For me, selling the homeless newspaper

was a way of surviving. I started in %&&# when the paper

had only just been founded. I am from Germany.

Relational problems and the fact that I was declared unfit

to do my job made me come to Holland. I thought I would

be able to find work here, in the flower bulb industry…

unfortunately, I didn’t. In the beginning it was tough,

people didn’t know the paper yet. I heard that some peop-

le thought that the vendors were Jehovah’s Witnesses,

and vendors had to explain that they were homeless and

couldn’t get a job. Now everyone knows. Many customers

buy the paper to help me, I have lots of nice customers

who are concerned about me. I have lived on the street,

slept under bridges, in a tent and sometimes in small

rooms if I could afford them. After a while, I was able to

buy myself a caravan. Now I’m engaged and I’ve moved in

with my girlfriend Ada. We are happy together and we can

live off her pension and the money I make from the sales

of the newspaper.”

Making new contacts all the timeZ-Magazine

www.zmagazine.nl

CoolCH.z-magazine01 09-05-2006 09:51 Pagina 2

Ripley would like to introduce herself

I am a real shepherd by nature. I am active and eager to

learn. I bark at most other dogs but when I am off the

lead I really love playing with them. If I do, then I chase

them away by barking. As the people at the shelter don’t

know whether I get along with children, they prefer to

place me in a family with older children.

Which kind owner with a lot of time and an active life will

give me a good life?

Oh, and if you phone, ask for Ripley. That’s my new

COOLCHARITY 32 33

So there you are... after four years of loyalty to your

owner, you all of a sudden find yourself tied to a fence.

And there you were thinking it was going to be a nice walk

along the Valkenburgsemeer.

It’s lovely weather; ideal for a nice, long, relaxing walk to

forget all the worries about the little ones. Your owner

picks up the leash in the hallway and that can only mean

one thing: walkies! Great!

It turns out to be a short walk though, that ends quite

differently than expected. You are tied to a fence and what

does your owner do? He walks off without looking back

and leaves you behind in total bewilderment and despair.

This can’t be true! Your puppies still need love and care!

And what about your breast milk? Against the odds, you

keep quietly hoping your master will come back, but it is

starting to take really long.... It’s raining, you feel a cold

chill running through your body. You look around in the

hope that you will spot someone who can take you home.

Is there no one at all who wants to take care of you?

Oh thank God, someone is coming. He unties you and

brings you to the animal shelter. Thankfully someone has

their heart in the right place.

In the animal shelter they take good care of you. You are

so incredibly sweet that it’s not difficult for the carers and

volunteers to fall in love with you within seconds. You try

to make the best of it and come to terms with your great

sadness by getting lots of cuddles from the carers at the

shelter. To thank them, you dutifully bring back the tennis

balls every time they are thrown in the park and you totally

adapt to the daily routine of the shelter.

But you still can’t understand why that last walk with your

owner had to end the way it did. The people at the shelter

weren’t really surprised, unfortunately they are used to it.

Now they all hope there will soon be a new owner who

will have thought about whether he can offer a dog a

good life, who will take you as you are and who will never

abandon you again.

Streek-Dierentehuis Leiden ‘Stevenshage’

www.dierenasielleiden.nl

Ripley, a shepherd cross

looking for a new home

Ripley

CoolCH dierentehuis 01 08-06-2006 12:03 Pagina 2

Ripley would like to introduce herself

I am a real shepherd by nature. I am active and eager to

learn. I bark at most other dogs but when I am off the

lead I really love playing with them. If I do, then I chase

them away by barking. As the people at the shelter don’t

know whether I get along with children, they prefer to

place me in a family with older children.

Which kind owner with a lot of time and an active life will

give me a good life?

Oh, and if you phone, ask for Ripley. That’s my new

COOLCHARITY 32 33

So there you are... after four years of loyalty to your

owner, you all of a sudden find yourself tied to a fence.

And there you were thinking it was going to be a nice walk

along the Valkenburgsemeer.

It’s lovely weather; ideal for a nice, long, relaxing walk to

forget all the worries about the little ones. Your owner

picks up the leash in the hallway and that can only mean

one thing: walkies! Great!

It turns out to be a short walk though, that ends quite

differently than expected. You are tied to a fence and what

does your owner do? He walks off without looking back

and leaves you behind in total bewilderment and despair.

This can’t be true! Your puppies still need love and care!

And what about your breast milk? Against the odds, you

keep quietly hoping your master will come back, but it is

starting to take really long.... It’s raining, you feel a cold

chill running through your body. You look around in the

hope that you will spot someone who can take you home.

Is there no one at all who wants to take care of you?

Oh thank God, someone is coming. He unties you and

brings you to the animal shelter. Thankfully someone has

their heart in the right place.

In the animal shelter they take good care of you. You are

so incredibly sweet that it’s not difficult for the carers and

volunteers to fall in love with you within seconds. You try

to make the best of it and come to terms with your great

sadness by getting lots of cuddles from the carers at the

shelter. To thank them, you dutifully bring back the tennis

balls every time they are thrown in the park and you totally

adapt to the daily routine of the shelter.

But you still can’t understand why that last walk with your

owner had to end the way it did. The people at the shelter

weren’t really surprised, unfortunately they are used to it.

Now they all hope there will soon be a new owner who

will have thought about whether he can offer a dog a

good life, who will take you as you are and who will never

abandon you again.

Streek-Dierentehuis Leiden ‘Stevenshage’

www.dierenasielleiden.nl

Ripley, a shepherd cross

looking for a new home

Ripley

CoolCH dierentehuis 01 08-06-2006 12:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Love in the City believes in drops in the ocean.

In small and large initiatives to heat the city.

Because every added smile counts.

Every added kiss.

Every friendly gesture.

Joining in is as easy as can be.

Try to smile once in a while, try to give a kiss once in a while,

Let that someone with two errands go ahead at the

supermarket.

Because Love in the City says:

”Give your finger, and someone may want your hand.

But if you don’t give a finger, you will die lonely.”

So give.

Generously.

Sprinkle your love around.

And just wait and see what you get in return.

You’ve got nothing to loose, and love to gain.

The idea for “Love in the City” came about after a series of

debates for !" to #"-year-olds in the Paradiso concert

venue in !""#. With every topic that was brought up, it

became clear that the emphasis lies on the individual and

the self. Are you expanding your mind? Broadening your

horizons? And living your dreams with all the choices on

offer in today’s world? It was also the time of the great

“norms and values” discussion, a hardening of attitudes

and, after $$ September, the growing gap between the

country’s Muslim and non-Muslim population.

It became clear that the profusion of choice is not a

guarantee for happiness. Because it puts people under

pressure – “I don’t know what I want” – and makes them

greedy – “I want friends, relationships, work, travel,

hobbies, and I want them all to be really brilliant, really far

away and really special!” Is seems that you mean to others

is much less important. This excessive individualism in-

spired us to organise a series of programmes about how

we relate to one another in today’s urban culture.

Instituut Liefde in de Stad (Institute Love in the City) is a

research project that explores how people deal with each

other in an urban context. Using a creative and original

approach that is unhindered by policy interests, it seeks to

positively influence people’s attitudes towards each other

through art and culture. Visual artists, marketing strate-

gists, poets, writers, musicians and scientists provide the

institute with innovative research.

A few times a year, Love in the City offers programmes:

some are serious, others are playful; some bring a smile

to your face, others elicit melancholy. The format varies:

public gatherings in Paradiso with lectures, literature and

music, art in the city, small events with actors and thematic

projects by design students. As Love in the City is a plat-

form for artists, they interpret the brief in a personal way.

Love has many facets, and the way in which city dwellers

treat each other is a theme that affects people directly.

People often ask us: “Is there more love in Amsterdam

today?” We think yes. A little bit. A little bit that counts.

And here we refer to Norman Lear, the film producer and

political activist who created “All in the Family”: “I had a

grandfather. One day when I was nine or ten years old, I

was chucking pebbles into a lake. They bounced on the

water. He said: ‘Every time you throw a stone, the water

level rises.’ So I took a huge stone, threw it in and looked

at the shoreline to see the water rise. ‘No,’ said my grand-

father, ‘you can’t see it and you can’t prove it, but a scientist

can. You will never see it, the only thing you will see are

the ripples. You must remember this,’ he said, ‘because it

is important.’”

Lisa, Babs, Saar and Liza

Love in the City Because every added smile counts

www.liefdeindestad.nl

CoolCH.liefdeindestad 01 05-07-2006 07:44 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

Love in the City believes in drops in the ocean.

In small and large initiatives to heat the city.

Because every added smile counts.

Every added kiss.

Every friendly gesture.

Joining in is as easy as can be.

Try to smile once in a while, try to give a kiss once in a while,

Let that someone with two errands go ahead at the

supermarket.

Because Love in the City says:

”Give your finger, and someone may want your hand.

But if you don’t give a finger, you will die lonely.”

So give.

Generously.

Sprinkle your love around.

And just wait and see what you get in return.

You’ve got nothing to loose, and love to gain.

The idea for “Love in the City” came about after a series of

debates for !" to #"-year-olds in the Paradiso concert

venue in !""#. With every topic that was brought up, it

became clear that the emphasis lies on the individual and

the self. Are you expanding your mind? Broadening your

horizons? And living your dreams with all the choices on

offer in today’s world? It was also the time of the great

“norms and values” discussion, a hardening of attitudes

and, after $$ September, the growing gap between the

country’s Muslim and non-Muslim population.

It became clear that the profusion of choice is not a

guarantee for happiness. Because it puts people under

pressure – “I don’t know what I want” – and makes them

greedy – “I want friends, relationships, work, travel,

hobbies, and I want them all to be really brilliant, really far

away and really special!” Is seems that you mean to others

is much less important. This excessive individualism in-

spired us to organise a series of programmes about how

we relate to one another in today’s urban culture.

Instituut Liefde in de Stad (Institute Love in the City) is a

research project that explores how people deal with each

other in an urban context. Using a creative and original

approach that is unhindered by policy interests, it seeks to

positively influence people’s attitudes towards each other

through art and culture. Visual artists, marketing strate-

gists, poets, writers, musicians and scientists provide the

institute with innovative research.

A few times a year, Love in the City offers programmes:

some are serious, others are playful; some bring a smile

to your face, others elicit melancholy. The format varies:

public gatherings in Paradiso with lectures, literature and

music, art in the city, small events with actors and thematic

projects by design students. As Love in the City is a plat-

form for artists, they interpret the brief in a personal way.

Love has many facets, and the way in which city dwellers

treat each other is a theme that affects people directly.

People often ask us: “Is there more love in Amsterdam

today?” We think yes. A little bit. A little bit that counts.

And here we refer to Norman Lear, the film producer and

political activist who created “All in the Family”: “I had a

grandfather. One day when I was nine or ten years old, I

was chucking pebbles into a lake. They bounced on the

water. He said: ‘Every time you throw a stone, the water

level rises.’ So I took a huge stone, threw it in and looked

at the shoreline to see the water rise. ‘No,’ said my grand-

father, ‘you can’t see it and you can’t prove it, but a scientist

can. You will never see it, the only thing you will see are

the ripples. You must remember this,’ he said, ‘because it

is important.’”

Lisa, Babs, Saar and Liza

Love in the City Because every added smile counts

www.liefdeindestad.nl

CoolCH.liefdeindestad 01 05-07-2006 07:44 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

At the age of !", Cefas Bouman (!#$%) is hit by a car while

cycling across a junction. He damages his knee and breaks

his thigh-bone in several places. Cefas was left with a

walking disability after the accident and has since then

been dependent on his wheelchair.

After the accident, Cefas soon picked up sports again. “The

revalidation centre encouraged me to keep on practicing

sports. Sport helps during the revalidation period and

allows you to achieve results, which builds confidence.” It

was Cefas’ father who had the idea of developing a hand-

bike. Hand-biking is a combination of wheelchair racing

and cycling, using the arms to cycle on a kind of reclining

bicycle.

Cefas had such a talent for hand-biking that by !### he

was part of the national team. “Sport allows me to achieve

high-level results and it makes me feel that my disability

doesn’t interfere in my daily life. I also can show others

what can be achieved with a disability.”

Living a healthy life is important for everyone, also for

disabled people. Sport contributes to healthy living and

makes you feel fit. This has positive effects, both in

physical and social terms. “Since I started exercising, I have

a lot more energy. Just look at where sport brought me.

Who would ever have imagined that I would be going for

gold in the Paralympic Games in Beijing in &%%$. My positive

attitude, enthusiasm and the many donations have

brought me to where I am now!”

Fit for life!

Arnold Vanderlyde (!#'"), Olympic boxing champion and

ambassador of the Fonds Gehandicaptensport says:

“There were six of us at home, three brothers and two sis-

ters. My older brother was born with a deformity in his

back, feet and hand. From the first moment he had to

fight, not just physically because of a serious operation

and the brace he had to wear, but also mentally to come

to terms with his disability. Sport had always played a sub-

stantial role in our family. It gave my brother exactly the

right framework and gave him confidence. It certainly con-

tributed to making him the person he is today.”

Through this experience, but also by looking around in his

surroundings, Arnold has become devoted to disability

sport which he feels closely connected to.

For him, sport means “the ability to be able to operate in

fitness, safety and health”. “If you want to live well and

sensibly, movement is essential. For people with and

without a disability, movement offers chances to achieve

goals. Whatever your level, your confidence gets an

enormous boost.”

“During a disability sports day, hundreds of sportsmen

and -women with a physical, mental or sensory disability

took part in a boxing training. During the exercise

“throwing a straight left”, one of the participants ex-

claimed that her “straight left” was on vacation. Through

the paralysis of her left hand, she wasn’t able to do the

exercise, but she was perfectly capable of throwing a good

straight right. With humour this all falls into place and

sport helps you to come to terms with your disability.”

Fonds Gehandicaptensport

www.fondsgehandicaptensport.nl

From healthy baby toprofessional hand-biker

CoolCH.Gehandc sport 01 28-08-2006 12:03 Pagina 2

COOLCHARITY 32 33

At the age of !", Cefas Bouman (!#$%) is hit by a car while

cycling across a junction. He damages his knee and breaks

his thigh-bone in several places. Cefas was left with a

walking disability after the accident and has since then

been dependent on his wheelchair.

After the accident, Cefas soon picked up sports again. “The

revalidation centre encouraged me to keep on practicing

sports. Sport helps during the revalidation period and

allows you to achieve results, which builds confidence.” It

was Cefas’ father who had the idea of developing a hand-

bike. Hand-biking is a combination of wheelchair racing

and cycling, using the arms to cycle on a kind of reclining

bicycle.

Cefas had such a talent for hand-biking that by !### he

was part of the national team. “Sport allows me to achieve

high-level results and it makes me feel that my disability

doesn’t interfere in my daily life. I also can show others

what can be achieved with a disability.”

Living a healthy life is important for everyone, also for

disabled people. Sport contributes to healthy living and

makes you feel fit. This has positive effects, both in

physical and social terms. “Since I started exercising, I have

a lot more energy. Just look at where sport brought me.

Who would ever have imagined that I would be going for

gold in the Paralympic Games in Beijing in &%%$. My positive

attitude, enthusiasm and the many donations have

brought me to where I am now!”

Fit for life!

Arnold Vanderlyde (!#'"), Olympic boxing champion and

ambassador of the Fonds Gehandicaptensport says:

“There were six of us at home, three brothers and two sis-

ters. My older brother was born with a deformity in his

back, feet and hand. From the first moment he had to

fight, not just physically because of a serious operation

and the brace he had to wear, but also mentally to come

to terms with his disability. Sport had always played a sub-

stantial role in our family. It gave my brother exactly the

right framework and gave him confidence. It certainly con-

tributed to making him the person he is today.”

Through this experience, but also by looking around in his

surroundings, Arnold has become devoted to disability

sport which he feels closely connected to.

For him, sport means “the ability to be able to operate in

fitness, safety and health”. “If you want to live well and

sensibly, movement is essential. For people with and

without a disability, movement offers chances to achieve

goals. Whatever your level, your confidence gets an

enormous boost.”

“During a disability sports day, hundreds of sportsmen

and -women with a physical, mental or sensory disability

took part in a boxing training. During the exercise

“throwing a straight left”, one of the participants ex-

claimed that her “straight left” was on vacation. Through

the paralysis of her left hand, she wasn’t able to do the

exercise, but she was perfectly capable of throwing a good

straight right. With humour this all falls into place and

sport helps you to come to terms with your disability.”

Fonds Gehandicaptensport

www.fondsgehandicaptensport.nl

From healthy baby toprofessional hand-biker

CoolCH.Gehandc sport 01 28-08-2006 12:03 Pagina 2

CoolCH. boek def 24-11-2006 11:17 Pagina 2

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