The Team

Hi, my name is Barend and I am a third year civil engineering student at TU Delft. I am looking forward to being a part of this project as well as experiencing the life in the Gambia. During this project I hope to develop my communication and collaboration skills by working in a team with different cultural backgrounds. I am very exited about the project and I hope we will be able to make some valuable additions.


My name is Lotte Bijwaard. I am currently a fourth year student architecture, urbanism and building sciences. During the minor International Entrepreneurship and Development I want to challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone and broaden my world view. Next to that I want to learn how to cooperate with people who have a different cultural background. I hope I can inspire them and get inspired by them during the internship. 


My name is Renske Verbeek. I am a fourth year Industrial Design student now. I choose to do the minor International Entrepreneurship and Development because I was interested to learn more about entrepreneurship and how you could be able to make a difference in developing countries. The main thing I am looking forward to regarding project Mala is to get to know the local people and get to know their vision on development. Furthermore I really hope to be able to make (even the smallest) difference in some way. 


My name is Barbara. I am from the good year of 1956, born in the Netherlands. I met my husband Kawsu in 1996 in Senegal. We moved to The Gambia and built two guesthouses in local communities named Kairoh Garden. Our focus is to organize programs, meetings and journeys in which it is possible to learn in, and from, other cultures. Next to that I am the secretary of the VSG Verenigde Stichtingen Gambia (Association United Foundations Gambia). In the Mala project I am both a client and a supervisor. Gambia is in a transitioning phase today. Empowerment and entrepreneurship, especially for the youth, is an important subject, because they are the ones who are carrying the future of the country. Making strong and effective connections between vocational education and entrepreneurship would help the youth, and would contribute to the development of themselves, their families and community.