My name is Rik Haanen, I am the director of Jacana foundation in Zambia and I am responsible for the day to day management. Before I traveled in 2006 to Africa, I owned a company and managed the team in the Netherlands. I have learned to listen to experts and know how to make plans, and I’ve got the flexibility required to execute them. I worked in several African development countries, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia on different projects. I am grateful for all the chances that’ve been given to me and all the inspiring people that I met. I enjoy the fact that people can grow above their own expectations when they are encouraged to follow their heart and experience the value of making mistakes and learning from them. 

Hello, I am Dinie Nijssen, My responsibilities are raising funds for Jacana and keeping my eyes open for new innovative projects. When I see opportunities for new, innovative projects I mobilize the staff and together we try to realize it. My strength is to motivate people and bring out the best in them. I worked in the Netherlands as a director of my own company and after that I was a consultant for teachers and school managers, whom I trained and coached. I worked in several African developing countries, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia. I am also a board member for the board in the Netherlands and Zambia. Email: dinie.nijssen[at]jacana.help

My name is Bester Kusowa Sakala, I am an experienced professional with demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Skilled in research, natural resources management, program and project management. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Agroforestry from the Copperbelt University. Previously I worked as Seed Analyst intern at Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) and other institutions. I now work for Jacana Foundation as field officer in the water sector.

My Name is Douglas Mudenda, I am an experienced, goal oriented and industrious water and sanitation engineer with vast experience in water and sanitation technical works.
I am passionate about Simple Market Based and Repairable Technologies (SMART) which are aiming at providing solution for sustainable water supply in rural Zambia using local available materials.
In early 2017, I managed to make rope pumps using this manual. The pumps are currently serving people of Mutendere compound in Lusaka.
Before I joined Jacana Foundation, I worked with several institutions; both government and private. I was engaged with the ministry of local government, Nkeza foundation, Southen water and sanitation company, Southern Partners Organisation (SPO) and Chambeshi water supply and sanitation Company.
Presently, I am working for Jacana foundation as a manager of Jacana SMART Centre in Petauke.

My name is Collins Musonda, I am currently the field officer at Jacana Foundation, Chipata office. I enjoy training and guiding small-scale entrepreneurs on how they can grow their business. I have an accounting technician educational background. I am also a farmer and a beekeeper and in my free time, I enjoy creating 3D animations and graphic designing. I worked as beekeeper trainer and made animated video tutorials (which you can find on this website) for Jacana in the past.

Boston Chipeta is my name, current working at Jacana in Petauke district as Agro-officer and part-time EMD manager. In my formal job as Agro-officer at Jacana in Lundazi I gained a lot of experience and enjoyed working on the field with motivated farmers. I hold a certificate in agriculture, carpentry and joinery, fire and rescue services and I am also a holder of a bachelors degree in business entrepreneurship. I guide farmers on how to improve and run their businesses using local materials, for example using organic type of farming and agro-forestry.

My name is Eunice Nkhoma. I am a holder of a certificate in general agriculture, I also obtained my diploma in Agri-business management from a cooperative college in affiliation with Mulungushi University. With the passion I have for working with farmers, I worked with DAPP for four years in the project integrated nutrition and smallholder farmer support project which was funded by WFP and SIDA.

Currently, I am working with Jacana Foundation guiding farmers in garden production using organic type of farming

Hello I am Patson Banda, together with my wife I take care of of 3 daughters and 3 sons. I am a security officer at Jacana, I run a farm and I am making all kinds of pots and buckets from metal sheet.

My name is Moses E. Zimba. I am a water engineer by profession and currently (June 2019) studying project management. At Jacana foundation, I am an office assistant in the Lundazi branch. In most of my free time, I help my friends making their business plans. My passion is to make people think big and out site of the box.

I am Sarah Banda, I am a mother of a ten years old girl and a just born baby. I live in Chipata. I am happy to work for Jacana, so that I can take care of my children and send them to school.

My name is Patson Phiri. I am married and have two daughters. I completed secondary school and got the chance to get a class C drivers license at Industrial Training Centre in Lusaka.
A have been working in a security company as a driver in the rapid response team. I was part of the building team at the Jacana Business Centre.
In future, I love to study power electrics.

My name is Keshias Manza. I am married with six children. I have worked for the forestry department at Masupe Forest Reserve assisting in potting of tree seedlings and planting. I am now working for Jacana Foundation as a security Guard.
In my spare time, I enjoy gardening where I grow different types of vegetables, like cabbage, tomatoes and carrots, etc.

​I am Fanwel Mbale. After completing my secondary education, I worked as a cook at a restaurant. In future, I would love to become a plumber. I am married and have 3 sons and 1 daughter. My hobbies are listening to music, reading and making friends.

My name is Landson Mvula. I am married, and a father of 2 boys and 2 girls. I did my secondary education up to grade 10. In 2017, I acquired a skill in tailoring. My main occupation has been gardening along Lundazi River. However, in my previous job I worked as security guard. Currently I work for Jacana Foundation in Lundazi, as Security guard and general worker.

I am Isaac Gondwe. Previously I worked for the ministry of works and supply; I am skilled in gardening and offering security services as guard. Currently am working for Jacana Foundation in Lundazi as security Guard and general worker.

My name is Tryford Zimba. I am married with 5 children. I am a skilled security guard with 6 years working experience. Before I became a security guard, I was working for conservation and agriculture services providers as a sales officer.
Currently, I am working for Jacana foundation as a security guard and general worker.

My name is George Mbewe. I am married with 6 children. I am a skilled security guard with 11 years of working experience. Previously, from 2009 to 2020 I was working for the Food reserve agency (FRA) as a senior security officer. Later in 2021, I started my own vegetable garden within Petauke to earn an income for my children after the contract ended at FRA.
Currently, I am working for Jacana Foundation as a security guard and general worker and I’m now in charge of the vegetable garden at Jacana Petauke office.

Hi, my name is Floor. I was born in May 2000 and I am the newest member of the Dutch board of stichting Jacana. At the moment (Sep 2022) I am finishing my bachelors degree in international development at Wageningen University & Research. I plan on using the knowledge that I gained during this bachelor at stichting Jacana.
Furthermore I think of myself as an enthusiastic, spontaneous person, who likes to undertake many things and is always up for new projects. Besides this, I am the youngest board member at Jacana, which can bring new insights or plans on how to execute something, for both parties.
During my life I have travelled a lot and I have been involved with several development projects. I am curious to see what working at stichting Jacana will bring.

I’m René van Dongen and I am the chair person for Jacana Foundation in the Netherlands. I am a software consultant specialized in database management.

Hello, I would like to introduce myself. I am Wim Melenberg, the treasurer of the Jacana Foundation in the Netherlands. I am a chartered accountant by profession. In addition, I have been involved as a volunteer with many organizations in health care and education for many years. Also involved as chairman of the Microprojects Foundation in Emmen for over 15 years. For this foundation I have been to Burundi and other African countries several times. And fell in love with Africa. What a beautiful continent and what nice and lovely people I was able to meet there! In my position I hope to be able to contribute in my own way to a healthy future for the Foundation and thus to building a future for the people of Zambia.

Hello, I am Ria de Vries and I am a board member of Jacana Foundation. I have some Africa experience, for example I worked for two years in Ghana with disabled children and I like to travel in African countries. At the moment I am working as occupational therapist in a nursing home.

Mr. Benedicto Phiri has worked as in many International NGO management teams.

Mr. Zulu has a chartered Institute of Bankers Qualification in banking and at the moment is a Branch Manager at Finance Bank Zambia Plc in Chipata. He has more 35 years’ experience in banking and having worked before for Barclays bank Zambia Plc and Cavmont banks prior to joining Finance bank. He is therefore experienced in finances and is Jacana’s Treasurer.

Ms.Josephine Matibini is soil scientist at Msekera Research Station. She studied chemistry at University of Zambia. She has worked from 1998 in Chipata and she knows the town very well.

Mwai Treenetar Phiri Kawimbe is an experienced lawyer, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Cavendish University Zambia. Prior to joining Jacana in November of 2021, Mwai had previously worked with Thandwe Legal Practitioners where she held the position of Legal Assistance from 2018 to 2021 as well as the Zambia Centre for Communications Program under the KWATU umbrella, a non-profit locally based multi-media communications organization, which uses the power of the mass media and social mobilisation to reach the Zambian population and to affect social and behaviour change.

Mr. Brian Kalindi is a Water Engineer by profession. Graduated from Natural Resources Development College. Currently working for the Department of Water Resources Development (DWRD) as an Assistant Water Engineer (Engineering Assistant). His duties:

1. Undertakes timely inspection of project sites in order to monitor compliance to regulation.
2. Coordinates timely maintenance and rehabilitation of surface water infrastructure projects in order to enhance and sustain their operability.
3. Undertakes effectively monitoring and evaluation of surface water infrastructure projects and programmes in order to facilitate decision making and identification of interventions