Meet The Family
Muli bwanji! This is us: an enthusiastic, energetic and expressive family of four. We are extroverted and like to engage with the people we meet: mothers at the hospital, children from the compound and cashiers at the shop. Thomas loves to play the guitar when Lucas (2,5 y) is dancing like a ‘mzungu’ or ‘white boy’. Elias (1 y) shouts and claps and Andrea collects buckets and spoons when more little friends want to join the band.
Our Story
During our university studies in Belgium we had the privilege to go on various mission trips. We were moved by the inequality and poverty we encountered, and it sparked a desire to make a difference in low-income countries. Upon returning we decided to focus our education on this perspective for our future.
SDG 3 and 4
The Sustainable Developpement Goals of the United Nations that we're most passionate about.
SDG 3: ''Good Health and Well-being," calls for universal access to healthcare services for all men and woman, and the end of preventable deaths of newborns, infants and children under five.
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SDG 4: "Quality Education," is the bedrock of progress. Education is the key to unlocking opportunities, reducing inequalities, and boosting innovation. Quality education has a simple effect on extreme poverty: it ends it.
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Our feet next to the SDG-stepping stones in front of the Tropical Institute of Amsterdam.
The Story Continues...
Thomas combined his masters degree in chemistry with a qualification to teach and Andrea quit her job as a family doctor and applied for the specialization 'Global Healthcare and Tropical Medicine'. In 2020 we moved from Belgium to the Netherlands to pursue this dream.
We settled in Apeldoorn and this place became dear to our hearts when we welcomed our sons Lucas and Elias. Andrea worked in the hospital at the surgery and gynecology department where her love for obstetrics and maternal care was born. Thomas taught chemistry, physics and science classes at a secondary school and he became even more passionate about teaching and didactics. We also enjoyed our church, smallgroup and youth band which made it hard to leave this town.
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In august 2023 we waved our family, friends, church and colleagues goodbye to start a new chapter in Malawi.
Previous Missions
From our teenage years, we've been passionate about sharing our faith and showing Jesus' love to the world. From the part of dreaming big and having inspiring brainstorm sessions to the practical and executing mode: working alongside friends to build up the Kingdom energizes us greatly! We've been leading worship bands, Sunday schools, youth camps, Christmas musicals, dramas, and multiple evangelizing events with our Student Union. Our main missions so far have been with Youth With A Mission. We had the privilege to follow a Discipleship Training School (DTS) for 6 months in Australia. Thomas attended the Music, Art, and Dance DTS and went on outreach in the Philippines. Andrea did a medical DTS and went to Papua New Guinea to provide healthcare in remote areas.
