I’m Iris, 27 years old, and one of the founders of the Nova Onda Foundation. I was born and raised in Amsterdam and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Building genuine connections with people has always been important to me. I love meeting new people, listening to their stories, and learning from their experiences. In the fast pace of modern city life, it’s easy to become focused on ourselves and lose sight of the people around us.

Working as a nurse has given me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. It has shown me how different everyone’s story is, and how much we can learn simply by taking the time to connect with one another.

Cape Verde reflects those values for me. It is a place where community plays an important role in everyday life. Through the Nova Onda Foundation, we work together with local partners to support initiatives that make a lasting impact.

I am Sophie, 28 years old, and I was born in the Netherlands. Part of my family comes from Indonesia, yet I knew little about this part of my heritage. This curiosity about my background grew into a broader interest in different cultures, places, and the background stories of others.

This curiosity first led me to pursue a career as a flight attendant, where I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Over time, I discovered that my interest in people and different cultures was closely connected to a growing interest in healthcare. This inspired me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

After spending time working on a local healthcare project in Cape Verde, Iris and I co-founded the Nova Onda Foundation. Guided by my faith in God, I hope to contribute to projects that support local communities while continuing to learn from the people we work with.

I am Georg Bröring, currently serving as the treasurer at the Nova Onda Foundation. This role aligns well with my interests and experiences. My fascination with the Global South was sparked early on in my life. Back in the late 70s, I travelled with family to Tanzania, a time when tourism was still uncommon in that region. Embarking on adventurous journeys to remote areas in a Landrover not only provided excitement, but also offered insights into diverse ways of life on our planet.

These experiences were further deepened through my studies in social pedagogy in Germany and anthropology in the Netherlands. My professional journey has primarily focused on AIDS prevention with various national and international organizations. And my passion for distant lands persisted, leading to travels across all continents.

Presently, I work as an advisor for several non-governmental organizations, including Foundation De Regenboog and Foundation Aidsfonds in Amsterdam. Additionally, I bring my expertise to various board roles, such as serving as a secretary in my choir association and as a treasurer in my homeowners' association. I am excited about my involvement in the Nova Onda board. Although the foundation is still in its developmental stages, it is rich in ideas and ambitions, and I look forward to contributing to its growth.

I'm Hetty Guddens, born in Rotterdam and now living in Santo Antão. I spent my childhood partly in the Netherlands and partly in Cape Verde, finally moving to Santo Antão with my Cape Verdean mother in 2006. I have experience as a tour guide and have established ventures in hospitality, including Casamaracuja in the Paul Valley. This is how I became fluent in six languages and built a network across the island.

I'm Anibal Miranda from Cape Verde, living in Santo Antão. As the hospital administrator, I'm dedicated to the well-being of the island's people. I met Iris and Sophie in 2022, when they arrived in Cape Verde for the first time. The project: ''From Bystander to Rescuer'' is an added value for an island where the population has a lack of knowledge when it comes to First Aid. I have no reservations in continuing to support the development of the work in progress.

My name is Fredson Teixeira Costa, and I grew up on the island of Santo Antão, where I went to school and completed my "Tourism Guide Level IV" training. For more than six years I have been happily working as a tourist guide - in the beginning mostly with French speaking clients, later on also in English and for the future I am now learning German as well. During the past years I gained a lot of experience working with different agencies and therefore with clients from all over the world. Now, I have my own agency Santo Antão Tour, so I can contribute to sustainable and locally maintained tourism here more directly.
My job is my passion and I love sharing the beautiful and unique nature of my island with our visitors.

I am passionate about assisting people, especially during emergencies. That's why I've dived into emergency response and first aid, earning qualifications like First Aid and Emergency Response (EHBO) and Emergency Response for Company First Aid (BHV). Since 2020, through First Aid Assist, I've provided safety courses, collaborating with respected organizations like the Red Cross, NIBHV, Nikta, and CBR.

Teaming up with Nova Onda Foundation on the 'Bystander to Rescuer' project, we're ready to create change in Santo Antao, Cape Verde. Santo Antao holds a special place in my heart—it's where my late wife's roots lie. In her memory, I'm determined to give back to this community that's become dear to me over the years.

Married and mother of three boys. My roots lie in Cape Verde, where my mother is from Santo Antao and my father is from Santiago. At the age of 20, I was introduced to Cape Verde and, like many others, fell in love with the islands, which also contributed to a deeper understanding of myself as an individual. During a six-month internship, I had the opportunity to learn more about my country, its norms and values, and its rich culture.

Upon my return, I decided to increase my involvement with the country and founded the Intercambios International foundation in 2008, with the primary goal of knowledge transfer. The board includes members who have been active since the very beginning, demonstrating their dedication and spirit of collaboration. Over the years, we have built an extensive network, both in the Netherlands and in Cape Verde. As intermediaries and bridge builders, we have established various successful projects.

It is an honor for me to become part of the Nova Onda foundation!