The team
Mirjam de Vries-Fokkens, Coordinator
Janutsi Joseph, hoofd groepsbegeleiding
Henriette Ningbers, volunteer Embrace
Henriette started the first week of February 2009 as a volunteer for Embrace. She has her Education degree and experienced in working with special needs children, particularly children with an autism spectrum disorder.
Henriette: “I have specialized in the young child. I'm particularly interested in this group because they are direct and very curious. It's challenging to work with children from a very problematic background who often have behavioral problems. The work we do is aimed at stimulating the development of the child. It is important to me that the work we do is done from a Christian perspective.”
Poleska Trinidad, groepsbegeleider
Marlon Manuela, social worker
Soraida Martines, social worker
Mark Spaargaren, teamadvisor
Personal friend and former colleague of Ane Marten and Mirjam since 1999. Since getting his Psychology Degree he worked in an addiction treatment center. After moving to America he worked as a counselor and clinic manager for a mental health clinic. Since 2008 he is back in the Netherlands working for the Salvation Army.
Mark: “A couple of years ago I visited Ane Marten and Mirjam, and have been able to see the work they do on Curacao first-hand. The work they do is fantastic and really needed!! I try to help out by giving advice and support to Meant to Shine as a psychologist and as a friend. I also occasionally try to write an article for the Meant to Shine weblog.”
Mirjam van Herk, contact in The Netherlands
After getting her degree in Education, Mirjam worked in a children's home on Curacao for a year, and visited the island again in 2007 to do some practical work for our Foundation. Since then she has also completed a degree in Social Work.
Mirjam: “I have been able to watch Ane Marten, Mirjam en Albertine lovingly work with the children and it's a blessing that I'm able, as the contact person in The Netherlands, to help to get the message of Meant to Shine out. I provide informational meetings to tell those who are interested about the work Meant to Shine does. In addition I also interview potential volunteers and interns for the Foundation.”