Stichting Education for Girls of Gambia

Foundation Education for Girls of Gambia

Who are we?

	Chairperson My name is Olga Ferrol. Mother of three, grandmother of two. I have been going to Gambia on a regular basis since 2017. There spontaneously the idea was born to help, on a small scale, girls and young adults to get an education by helping them financially. Guaranteeing continuity was only possible through a well structured plan. I used my skills gained though my studies and my work experience as a social worker, to achieve this. Motivated and involved people came my way. We form a good and divers team, with which the Foundation was founded. Besides being the Chairperson I am also the treasurer. I find it agreeable and useful to join forces with management and our other volunteers.
	Secretary I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Mariette Bac-English. Married to Theo, mother of Charlotte and Robin and grandmother of Amara for four months now. Born and raised in Amsterdam, but living in the Rotterdam region for the last 20 years. I have always been very active in society and have served on various boards. I have also been politically active. I have worked in addiction care and now work as a policy officer for the municipality of Krimpen aan den IJssel. A few years ago Olga told me about the foundation and everything she did in the Gambia. I wanted to lend a helping hand, but work, family, distance (we live in Krimpen aan den IJssel) and other social activities made it not a good time. Nevertheless, I have always listened with interest to all of Olga's stories and adventures. Things have now calmed down a bit socially, so when Olga asked a few months ago if I wanted to become secretary for the foundation, I could answer positively. I look forward to making my contribution so that the work of the foundation can continue and even more girls in the Gambia can receive an education and thus have a better future.
	General Board member/ Social Media Director My name is Monique Royer. I work in MBO education. In the words of Nelson Mandela: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." In the Netherlands it is a common practice that boys and girls are able to get an education. For girls in Gambia this is not an obvious option. This is why I want to help girls in Gambia achieve the possibility for a better future perspective. The Chairperson was a colleague and has now become a dear friend. Olga's heart has been touched by the girls of Gambia. I believed in her mission straight away. That is why I organised a fundraiser for her cause when she left our place of employ. Colleagues were generous donors. This made me realize that there was a support base to help these girls. This is how I can help.
	Tech Support/ Graphic design Let me introduce myself, my name is Jean Paul. I am a retail entrepreneur and photographer in Amsterdam. I am the graphic designer for the Foundation and I also provide tech support on a technical level. I ended up by chance assisting the Foundation because Olga needed some technical assistance with her first fundraiser. Since then I take pleasure in being one of the Foundation's team.
	Treasurer My name is Raphaël; the initiator of this project is my grandmother. Officially I am not a board member, because of possible conflict of interests. With my technical background I support as much as possible in the technical area. I feel a lot of empathy with the goals of the Foundation and I do not exclude the possibility of stepping in my grandmothers' footsteps.