Board

Jan Henk Dubbink, Chairman. After two years of military training, I switched to medicine to be able to work in the field of global health.  The post graduate training in Global Health and Tropical Medicine, a reproductive health affiliated PhD and clinical & research experience in Surinam, Aruba, Tanzania, South Africa, India, Uganda, Sierra Leone and St Eustatius gave me insight into the healthcare system of different countries. The iSTEPup foundation aims to strengthen basic health care in LMIC by donating knowledge and know-how rather than money. We believe the training of sufficient healthcare workers in their own countries is a sustainable longterm solution.

Nikki van der Velde, Secretary. I have had several opportunities to do internships abroad during my medicine study (a nursing internship in Aruba, gynecology/obstetrics and pediatrics internships in South Africa). These experiences have confirmed that I wanted to discover and learn more about healthcare systems in other, less developed countries. Following this experience, I did volunteer work in a hospital run by nuns in Cameroon. There I discovered the advantages and disadvantages of providing (temporary) international healthcare in a low-income country. Our foundation hopes to create continuity in projects in low and middle income countries by applying a different working method.  Ultimately, we hope to improve the healthcare and equality among the population in those countries.

Nick Blok, Treasurer. As a student in business, I studied for 1 semester in South Africa. The inequality I observed there caused a radical change in my life; I decided to study medicine. During my study, I did research on children with Tuberculous Meningitis in Cape Town. After my study, I had the opportunity to work on tuberculosis projects and research for KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation in countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tajikistan and Vietnam. As a public health consultant, I saw the pros and cons of international health care. Together with the founders of iSTEPup, we have combined this knowledge and our strengths to set up a foundation that works in a sustainable and transparent way on basic health and equality for everyone.

Janienke Lier, Social Media Manager. During my medicine study, I worked with various doctors who spent part of their careers on providing medical care abroad. From all stories it emerged that it often lacks financial resources to offer students a medical education and to constitute a better healthcare system. After finishing my study, I wanted to support others who did not have the same opportunities as I had to follow medical education. With iSTEPup I can support students with their medical training and contribute to improvement of healthcare in ‘low and middle income countries’.

Dominique van Dongen, Fundraising Manager. As a military man, my father conducted several United Nations missions when I was a child and ever since, I have been aware of the unfair distribution of prosperity across the globe. The first time I saw that with own eyes was when I was 15 years old and visited Ethiopia with Edukans, an organization aiming to achieve good education in developing countries. After Ethiopia, visits to Kenia and Tanzania followed. I believe that good education is essential for lasting improvement of health and economy in developing countries. With iSTEPup I hope to support ambitious students with less opportunity in their education to become a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or midwife. That way, they can constitute a basis for better healthcare and economy in their environment.

Karin Haring, Student Manager. During my medical studies I spent 4 months in Sudan for a scientific internship. Many children in the refugee neighborhoods did not dare to think beyond becoming a water carrier. It affected me. I could dream further and make my dream of becoming a doctor come true. They saw no possibilities for themselves at all. I am now an internal medicine specialist and I am scouting and training talented people in the Netherlands every day. I think that the inequality of opportunity in the world should be more widely known in the Netherlands. First you have to ‘dare to dream’, then you have to be given the opportunity to make it come true. I like to use my knowledge and skills to give talented, motivated people extra wind in their sails. With iSTEPup I can do this across borders. Education is the best way to advance not only people, but also societies.

Lonneke Holling, Student Manager. After completing a degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action and working in global health for several years, I am currently in the final stages of my medical studies. Contributing to improving access to quality healthcare is important to me, which relies on the availability of skilled healthcare professionals. While I have had the opportunity to pursue an education and follow my interests, this not the reality for many others. During my studies and internships, including in India and Sierra Leone, I have witnessed firsthand the substantial impact that something as relatively simple as a scholarship can have, not only on students but also on their communities. I am therefore glad to contribute to supporting students through iSTEPup.

Advisory Board

Jonas Rosenstok. Having worked in the management of a Tanzanian partly donor-driven organisation for three years, my conclusion is that the direct support to ambitious youths wanting to continue their education has the most direct impact. At the time, we informally arranged that type of support for several young students and none of them disappointed. iSTEPup makes this model structurally available to more ambitious students and strengthens the networks of support for them. More than enough reason for me to support the iSTEPup foundation!

Koen Vliegenthart. Education is essential for the development of Africa. That is where the foundation is laid for knowledge, but especially awareness. Both are of great importance for the development of individuals who will determine the future of Africa and thus contribute to a more prosperous development of this continent. Sponsoring individual promising students is a good and very direct way to contribute to this.

Former board members

Bente Hagen
Student Manager
2019-2026

Parmida Anvary
Student Manager
2021-2024

Laura Umbgrove
Social Media Manager
2018