StoryGrateful for the years as Treasurer

After more than three years as Niketan’s Treasurer, I’m stepping down as of October 1 and passing the baton to Mellanie. I’m leaving the Netherlands to travel abroad with my partner in our old campervan. Before I go, I would like to take a moment to look back.

I first learned about Niketan back in December 2021, when I saw a small ad on a volunteer platform in The Hague. I was immediately impressed by this small organization with a big reach: a big heart for children, projects with a huge impact in Bangladesh and exceptionally dedicated board members.

From volunteer to Treasurer

After a period of ad hoc work, I joined the board in December 2022, and since June 2023, I have had the privilege of serving as Treasurer, working with the board to ensure that every euro is carefully directed to the projects in Bangladesh.

In 2024, I spent a few weeks in Bangladesh to visit the project. What stayed with me most were the people: the children and young people who come to school and attend the training sessions, the staff who go above and beyond to provide them with the best possible care and education, the volunteers who, among other things, make the educational and enjoyable hours in the veranda schools possible, and many more people.

The longer I was involved, the better I came to understand how many years of work have led up to this. Antoinette initiated this thirty years ago and has continued to build tirelessly, and now many people are working on this together: staff and families in Bangladesh, volunteers, board members and donors. I continue to be impressed by this.

Time for a new adventure

I look back on my time at Niketan with great gratitude. It is not easy for me to say goodbye, but the role of Treasurer deserves more time and attention than I can give while on the road. However, in the coming years, I want to continue to support Niketan wherever I can. I wish Mellanie and the other board members the very best of luck.