As a policeman I was sent to Africa in 1997 to investigate the Rwandan genocide for the UN tribunal. After one year I returned to the Netherlands and by then I felt Africa running through my veins. I deeply respect the resilience and flexibility of African people. The continent didn’t leave my mind and heart and around 2000 I decided to make it my personal mission to contribute to the development of the people and specifically children in Africa.
Looking for possibilities to do so, I got in touch with a couple from Uden (the village I live in, in the south of the Netherlands). This couple founded and now run an educational village for children called Watoto (www.watotofoundation.nl) in Arusha/Tanzania. They teach former street children skills and crafts and make sure they get employed afterwards.
About 5 years ago I heard about the TDA. Since then I have not stopped thinking about taking part in such a gigantic adventure.
I ’m 59 years old and will retire December 1st 2011. I thought of this as an excellent opportunity to make my TDA-dream come true, reset my brains, cycle into this new phase of my life and collect money for the Watoto Foundation.
Together with my 4 children but especially with my wife I have done a lot of cycling in the Netherlands during our holidays. In the last 10 years we made trips from where we live to France, Spain and Italy, crossed mountains as Alps and stayed the nights during the trips of 4 weeks in a little tent.
I’m looking forward to meet everyone in Cairo and I can’t wait till our adventure starts