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In Holland

Since January 2010 the Giesbers Groep holding, our main sponsor and initiator, holds its office in the same building as Karuna Foundation, in Arnhem, the Netherlands. We share facilities, but more important, as two complete different organizations, one profit, the other non-profit, we share the same philosophy, the Blue Guideline, and other principles like entrepreneurial approach and ongoing improvement.

The organization in Holland is small, with one fulltime employee, the director, Betteke de Gaay Fortman. Besides, other professionals offer their services in administration, research and rehabilitation and prevention on voluntary or freelance basis.

Betteke de Gaay Fortman is director of Karuna Foundation since April 2007. She gained international experience in setting up and managing her own company in Spanish language services and as a director of De Waal Foundation. “It is a privilege for me to help building up an entire new organization and to reach the targets of Karuna Foundation, together with my Nepalese colleagues. We face many challenges so I learn every day.”

Merel Schreurs  has a Master in Public Health Nutrition from Wageningen University. Since 2007 she worked for both Karuna Nepal and Karuna Holland. On a freelance basis, she supports the Management and gives advice in the field of health, nutrition,monitoring & evaluation and policy planning. 
“It is motivating to do projects for an inspiring and entrepreneurial organization. I am grateful to be able to contribute my enthusiasm and competencies to guarantee that Karuna's projects meet the local needs and interests and work effectively towards better health for women and children and towards a sustainable and improved life of children with a disability.”  

The Board
The Board consists of Rene aan de Stegge (president) en Toon Kasdorp (secretary) en Huub Timmer (treasurer).

René aan de Stegge is entrepreneur at Giesbers Groep and initiator of Karuna Foundation. With his pioneer mentality and the experience he has gathered in his existence as an entrepreneur, he aspires to set up better and more sustainable health services in rural villages. As a chairman of the Board, he is closely involved in the policies and building up of the organization, both in the Netherlands as well as in Nepal.  
"It is a challenge to contribute from my own experience as an entrepreneur to our final aim: decreasing the number of avoidable disabilities and a better life for children with a disability and their families."  

Toon Kasdorp was lawyer and partner at Houthoff Buruma. Currently he is Board Member of some companies. 
Huub Timmer is controller and works as an independent financial officer in some companies

Board of Advisors 
Karuna Foundation has an informal Board of Advisors consisting of experts from different disciplines: 

  • Henk van Stokkom: advisor of a number of charity funds 
  • Huib Cornielje: founder of Enablement: consultancy in the field of disabilities 
  • Ad van der Woude: former director of Philips 

  • Niek Bakker : Senior Advisor Management and Development Foundation