I'm Iris, 25 years old, and one of the founders of the Nova Onda Foundation. I was born and raised in Amsterdam, on a street with a daily market where people cared for each other and saying "good morning" was normal.

Connecting with people is really important to me. I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories. I went to a multicultural school where not everyone had a supportive home and faced challenges. That's where I learned how important it is to look beyond my own world. In busy city life, the demands of living often push us towards individualism, making it easy to lose contact with others.

I studied Cultural Organization first and then pursued a bachelor's degree in nursing. During my nursing studies, I met individuals from diverse segments of society. which opened my eyes. I saw how much small conversations can mean to someone. Taking the time to listen and be there for someone, without assuming anything, is one of the most important parts of nursing to me.

Santo Antão, Cape Verde, represents this special sense of connection to me. There, people look out for each other and care deeply. The Nova Onda Foundation represents unity and the belief in what we can achieve together. Doing good for others, without expecting anything in return, is priceless to me. To me, giving is more valuable than receiving because it builds trust and hope.

We are the Nova Onda, so I hold onto hope. Obstacles will be there, but it's how we deal with them together, that matters.

I am Sophie Gabriëlle Koster, 25 years old and from Hilversum, the Netherlands. Growing up, I felt somewhat disconnected from my own identity. A part of my family hails from Indonesia, yet I knew very little about this aspect of my heritage. These early experiences sparked my curiosity, leading to a love for exploring new places and experiencing different cultures.

Ultimately, this led me to pursue a career as a flight attendant. However, as I started on my journey in the aviation industry, I realized that my true passion lies elsewhere – in healthcare. So, I enrolled in a Nursing (HBO-V) program, unsure of where it would eventually lead me. During my nursing education, I had the opportunity to participate in a research project on Santo Antão, Cape Verde, exploring global health issues. This was a perfect opportunity for me to go on a new adventure.

Motivated by my drive to create positive change and inspired by optimism and creativity, I co-founded the Nova Onda Foundation, believing that true progress happens when coming together. With my faith in God and grounded in my values of compassion, resilience and perseverance, I am devoted to carry out my work with an open heart and building genuine connections.

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 20222, 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!