Board members
Ginie Servant-Miklos
Dr. Ginie Servant-Miklos - Chair, 2015 - present, Founder (FR)
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate, Zim 2015, Zim 2016, India 2016, Zim 2018
Ginie is an education expert and a martial artist with a background in NGO work and human rights, currently working as a Senior Lecturer at Erasmus University College, and a post-doc researcher at Aalborg University. Although originally from France, she has lived for extended periods in the UK and South East Asia, and is now based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She has practiced a variety of martial arts since 2004, focusing mainly in shitoryu karate, southern style kung fu and French style kickboxing (savate). In 2014, she combined her experience in NGO project management, her passion for martial arts and her dedication to the cause of women’s rights to found FairFight. She now divides her time between her position as an education researcher at Aalborg University, her role as the founding Chair of FairFight, and her very special job as the mother of a little girl. She has travelled to Zimbabwe in 2015, 2016, and 2018 and to India in 2016.
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate, Zim 2015, Zim 2016, India 2016, Zim 2018
Ginie is an education expert and a martial artist with a background in NGO work and human rights, currently working as a Senior Lecturer at Erasmus University College, and a post-doc researcher at Aalborg University. Although originally from France, she has lived for extended periods in the UK and South East Asia, and is now based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She has practiced a variety of martial arts since 2004, focusing mainly in shitoryu karate, southern style kung fu and French style kickboxing (savate). In 2014, she combined her experience in NGO project management, her passion for martial arts and her dedication to the cause of women’s rights to found FairFight. She now divides her time between her position as an education researcher at Aalborg University, her role as the founding Chair of FairFight, and her very special job as the mother of a little girl. She has travelled to Zimbabwe in 2015, 2016, and 2018 and to India in 2016.
Myrthe Minnaert
Myrthe Minnaert - Secretary, 2018 - present (NL)
India 2018 (January), Zim 2018
Myrthe Minnaert graduated from Erasmus University College in 2018. She was born and raised in the Netherlands, but has always had an international mindset. At EUC she studied International Relations and Philosophy. She sees every new bit of knowledge as an addition to her toolkit and doesn't want to sit and wait till she can start using it. That's why she is active in different organisations raising awareness about sustainability and inequalities. When she was in Varanasi in 2016, she saw the opportunities for FairFight there and was happy to be part of our trip to India in 2018 as our impact evaluator. During the two weeks there, she did interviews with the girls, the volunteers, Devesh and Heifara and helped us get a better understanding of what martial arts means for each of them. The report had so much impact that she ran the study in Zimbabwe in October 2018. Myrthe has been secretary of the board since September 2018.
India 2018 (January), Zim 2018
Myrthe Minnaert graduated from Erasmus University College in 2018. She was born and raised in the Netherlands, but has always had an international mindset. At EUC she studied International Relations and Philosophy. She sees every new bit of knowledge as an addition to her toolkit and doesn't want to sit and wait till she can start using it. That's why she is active in different organisations raising awareness about sustainability and inequalities. When she was in Varanasi in 2016, she saw the opportunities for FairFight there and was happy to be part of our trip to India in 2018 as our impact evaluator. During the two weeks there, she did interviews with the girls, the volunteers, Devesh and Heifara and helped us get a better understanding of what martial arts means for each of them. The report had so much impact that she ran the study in Zimbabwe in October 2018. Myrthe has been secretary of the board since September 2018.
Sushma Sing
Sushma Sing - Treasurer, 2018 - Present (NL)
Martial Arts: 1st Kyu Karate.
Sushma Sing is from The Hague in The Netherlands. She did Judo and Karate in her younger years, and continued with Karate - for 15 years now and still counting. She studies Safety and Security Management Studies at The Hague University. Love, passion and happiness are very important to her, and giving something to others is an opportunity to learn more about yourself. Karate has taught her how to be and accept herself. Making people smile and confident is her passion, and that is the person she envisions to the girls in the projects we run. By traveling around the world she has learned a lot about different cultures. Sushma joined the board as treasurer in December 2018.
Martial Arts: 1st Kyu Karate.
Sushma Sing is from The Hague in The Netherlands. She did Judo and Karate in her younger years, and continued with Karate - for 15 years now and still counting. She studies Safety and Security Management Studies at The Hague University. Love, passion and happiness are very important to her, and giving something to others is an opportunity to learn more about yourself. Karate has taught her how to be and accept herself. Making people smile and confident is her passion, and that is the person she envisions to the girls in the projects we run. By traveling around the world she has learned a lot about different cultures. Sushma joined the board as treasurer in December 2018.
Local Partners
Gerald Muusha
Marondera, Zimbabwe
Gerald Muusha - Teacher and Coordinator
Martial arts: 4th Dan Karate
Gerald is a fourth Dan Shitoryu karateka born and raised in Zimbabwe and has been a national champion in karate several times. He is the core of all our projects in Zimbabwe. Without Gerald, both projects in Zimbabwe would have not been realized in the successful way they did. He has his own karate dojo in his hometown as well as in Marondera, the area FairFight has centered its projects. When we initiated FairFight in Marondera, Gerald continued to teach a group of around fifteen girls, having them do belt gradings and bringing them to competitions. At this very moment, Gerald teaches about 150 boys and girls every day at four different schools around Marondera : Nagle House, Springvale, Peterhouse Girls, Peterhouse Boys. The efforts of both FairFight and himself made it possible for Gerald to become a full-time karate teacher.
In April 2017, Gerald was able to travel to The Netherlands to spend time exploring a new karate teaching style and to experience the other martial arts that FairFight members practice.
Gerald Muusha - Teacher and Coordinator
Martial arts: 4th Dan Karate
Gerald is a fourth Dan Shitoryu karateka born and raised in Zimbabwe and has been a national champion in karate several times. He is the core of all our projects in Zimbabwe. Without Gerald, both projects in Zimbabwe would have not been realized in the successful way they did. He has his own karate dojo in his hometown as well as in Marondera, the area FairFight has centered its projects. When we initiated FairFight in Marondera, Gerald continued to teach a group of around fifteen girls, having them do belt gradings and bringing them to competitions. At this very moment, Gerald teaches about 150 boys and girls every day at four different schools around Marondera : Nagle House, Springvale, Peterhouse Girls, Peterhouse Boys. The efforts of both FairFight and himself made it possible for Gerald to become a full-time karate teacher.
In April 2017, Gerald was able to travel to The Netherlands to spend time exploring a new karate teaching style and to experience the other martial arts that FairFight members practice.
Prichard Zishumba
Prichard Zishumba - Training Assistant
Martial Arts: 1st kyu Karate
Prichard comes from Marondera, Mashonaland province of Zimbabwe. He started karate when he was doing his form 2, just for fun. Before, he was a soccer fan and would watch soccer only during weekends. At school, he had three karate sessions a week so he ended up attending karate more often than to soccer and realised that anyone can chase a ball but not everyone can do karate until one understands what its all about.
After his O level, he took an Automotive Engineering course and received his diploma in 1997. He joined and changed several companies for work up to 2006, but he missed karate. That year, he met Sensei Gerald told him that he was prepared to train with him, and thereby, Gerald became his Sensei. Prichard has competed in several local tournaments. ln 2018, he participated in the Durban Kofukan tournament in the veterans category and got a bronze medal. Prichard regularly takes the classes at Nagle House when Gerald is not able to teach.
Martial Arts: 1st kyu Karate
Prichard comes from Marondera, Mashonaland province of Zimbabwe. He started karate when he was doing his form 2, just for fun. Before, he was a soccer fan and would watch soccer only during weekends. At school, he had three karate sessions a week so he ended up attending karate more often than to soccer and realised that anyone can chase a ball but not everyone can do karate until one understands what its all about.
After his O level, he took an Automotive Engineering course and received his diploma in 1997. He joined and changed several companies for work up to 2006, but he missed karate. That year, he met Sensei Gerald told him that he was prepared to train with him, and thereby, Gerald became his Sensei. Prichard has competed in several local tournaments. ln 2018, he participated in the Durban Kofukan tournament in the veterans category and got a bronze medal. Prichard regularly takes the classes at Nagle House when Gerald is not able to teach.
Devesh Verma
Varanasi, India
Devesh Verma - Teacher
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate
Sensei Devesh Verma is a first Dan in Shotokan Karate and FairFight local instructor for our India project. With the support of the AshaDiya Foundation and with FairFight equipment donations, Sensei Devesh coached the girls at Disha and our students at Asha in Varanasi under the watchful eye of his Shihan Sohan Kumar, 3rd Dan Shotokan. Devesh is an IT graduate who trains at Varanasi Martial Arts Academy in Sarnath. He organised a fundraiser for FairFight in India at the start of 2017.
Since March 2017, Devesh has been working closely with Heifara Danielson to learn about karate pedagogy and Budo.
Devesh Verma - Teacher
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate
Sensei Devesh Verma is a first Dan in Shotokan Karate and FairFight local instructor for our India project. With the support of the AshaDiya Foundation and with FairFight equipment donations, Sensei Devesh coached the girls at Disha and our students at Asha in Varanasi under the watchful eye of his Shihan Sohan Kumar, 3rd Dan Shotokan. Devesh is an IT graduate who trains at Varanasi Martial Arts Academy in Sarnath. He organised a fundraiser for FairFight in India at the start of 2017.
Since March 2017, Devesh has been working closely with Heifara Danielson to learn about karate pedagogy and Budo.
Pankaj Jain & Amit Kumar
Amit Kumar & Pankaj Jain - Training Assistants
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate
Amit and Pankaj began training in shotokan karate in 2010 and 2011 respectively, and by 2015 they were already prepared to take their black belt exam. Now they are both 1st Dan, and assist Devesh in instructing the Disha girls twice a week, having started teaching in 2016. In addition, they were both part of the team for the 2018 National Shotokan Karate Tournament, at which there were over 500 competitors, and won gold.
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate
Amit and Pankaj began training in shotokan karate in 2010 and 2011 respectively, and by 2015 they were already prepared to take their black belt exam. Now they are both 1st Dan, and assist Devesh in instructing the Disha girls twice a week, having started teaching in 2016. In addition, they were both part of the team for the 2018 National Shotokan Karate Tournament, at which there were over 500 competitors, and won gold.
FairFight members
Masters
Mark Caddy
Shihan Mark Caddy
Martial Arts: 5th Dan Karate, Zim 2016 & 2017.
Mark Caddy is a British fourth Dan karate master that has been training and teaching for several decades. We came in contact with him through Ginie, as Mark used to be her teacher at the University of Kent. Mark is a founding member of Jindokai martial arts association, a worldwide nonprofit group of martial artists. He coordinated the teaching in Zimbabwe in 2016 and made it possible for FairFight to become an official partner of Jindokai. Furthermore, he has played a leading role in the organisation and execution of Zimbabwe 2017, strengthening our ties with the Old Hararians, Jindokai and local communities.
Martial Arts: 5th Dan Karate, Zim 2016 & 2017.
Mark Caddy is a British fourth Dan karate master that has been training and teaching for several decades. We came in contact with him through Ginie, as Mark used to be her teacher at the University of Kent. Mark is a founding member of Jindokai martial arts association, a worldwide nonprofit group of martial artists. He coordinated the teaching in Zimbabwe in 2016 and made it possible for FairFight to become an official partner of Jindokai. Furthermore, he has played a leading role in the organisation and execution of Zimbabwe 2017, strengthening our ties with the Old Hararians, Jindokai and local communities.
Gonzalo Villarrubia
Shihan Gonzalo Villarrubia
Martial Arts: 6th Dan Karate 3rd Dan Kobudo, Zim 2018
Gonzalo is originally from Spain and has been practicing karate (shitoryu) and kobujutsu for over 30 years, trained under Ishimi-sensei, the director of Shitokai Europe. He is currently the owner and coach of Delft Karate Club where he has been teaching for around 10 years. The dojo is recognised by the KBN (Dutch Karate Federation), European Shitokai, and affiliated to the NFK (Dutch Federation of Martial Arts). Although he no longer competes himself, he trains and supervises successful national and international kata competitors, most of which are girls and women. Gonzalo believes that the fact that Karate was originally developed as an overwhelmingly ritualized male oriented discipline based on strict hierarchy, would offer us an unique opportunity to make use of Karate as a tool for role modelling and de-gendering as well as to kick off some cultural shifts.
Martial Arts: 6th Dan Karate 3rd Dan Kobudo, Zim 2018
Gonzalo is originally from Spain and has been practicing karate (shitoryu) and kobujutsu for over 30 years, trained under Ishimi-sensei, the director of Shitokai Europe. He is currently the owner and coach of Delft Karate Club where he has been teaching for around 10 years. The dojo is recognised by the KBN (Dutch Karate Federation), European Shitokai, and affiliated to the NFK (Dutch Federation of Martial Arts). Although he no longer competes himself, he trains and supervises successful national and international kata competitors, most of which are girls and women. Gonzalo believes that the fact that Karate was originally developed as an overwhelmingly ritualized male oriented discipline based on strict hierarchy, would offer us an unique opportunity to make use of Karate as a tool for role modelling and de-gendering as well as to kick off some cultural shifts.
Martial arts volunteers
Mary Stevens
Mary Stevens (UK) - India Project Coordinator
Martial Arts: 3rd Dan Karate, India 2018 (January & October).
Mary is a teacher based at Oxford School of Martial Arts in the UK. Her main passion is teaching confidence and independence through a blend of martial arts and life coaching. She teaches students from 3 years old: building focus, self-discipline, leadership and teamwork. She also trains martial arts instructors and mentors the young Black Belts in their professional development. Over the last 25 years - in addition to 15 years of martial arts - she has taught history, English, all types of fitness plus competitive public speaking and debate. Her recent time in state education led to her protesting against the current system of cramming and testing which disadvantages the students who need most help from the education system. Returning to martial arts teaching full time has meant she has been able to focus on students’ purposeful individual development. Mary joined the India 2018 impact evaluation mission.
Martial Arts: 3rd Dan Karate, India 2018 (January & October).
Mary is a teacher based at Oxford School of Martial Arts in the UK. Her main passion is teaching confidence and independence through a blend of martial arts and life coaching. She teaches students from 3 years old: building focus, self-discipline, leadership and teamwork. She also trains martial arts instructors and mentors the young Black Belts in their professional development. Over the last 25 years - in addition to 15 years of martial arts - she has taught history, English, all types of fitness plus competitive public speaking and debate. Her recent time in state education led to her protesting against the current system of cramming and testing which disadvantages the students who need most help from the education system. Returning to martial arts teaching full time has meant she has been able to focus on students’ purposeful individual development. Mary joined the India 2018 impact evaluation mission.
Emma Bouterse
Emma Bouterse - Secretary, August 2015 - September 2018, Founder (NL)
Martial arts: 2nd Dan Instructor Tang Soo Do, Zim 2015 & 2016
Emma, born in Rotterdam, is an alumni and former staff member of Erasmus University College with a decade of experience in martial arts. She has been practicing Tang Soo Do (a Korean form of martial arts affiliated to both Karate and Taekwondo) since she was twelve years old and holds a second Dan Black Belt as well as the 2018 World Champion title. Emma observed that being involved in martial arts helped to discipline her, enlarge her (self)respect and self confidence and wants to spread this empowering feeling to anyone in this world, as no one deserves it to feel inferior, powerless or worthless. Moreover, having traveled to different countries and continents for competitions and championships, she witnessed that martial arts unites people in a beautiful way, creating a worldwide family of different people holding the same values. She has been involved in the Zimbabwe trips of 2015 and 2016 and this has made her belief in an equal world grow stronger and strengthened her passion for martial arts even more.
As of September 2018, she pursues a masters in Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies in the UK, to further expand her knowledge on development-related issues and practices.
Martial arts: 2nd Dan Instructor Tang Soo Do, Zim 2015 & 2016
Emma, born in Rotterdam, is an alumni and former staff member of Erasmus University College with a decade of experience in martial arts. She has been practicing Tang Soo Do (a Korean form of martial arts affiliated to both Karate and Taekwondo) since she was twelve years old and holds a second Dan Black Belt as well as the 2018 World Champion title. Emma observed that being involved in martial arts helped to discipline her, enlarge her (self)respect and self confidence and wants to spread this empowering feeling to anyone in this world, as no one deserves it to feel inferior, powerless or worthless. Moreover, having traveled to different countries and continents for competitions and championships, she witnessed that martial arts unites people in a beautiful way, creating a worldwide family of different people holding the same values. She has been involved in the Zimbabwe trips of 2015 and 2016 and this has made her belief in an equal world grow stronger and strengthened her passion for martial arts even more.
As of September 2018, she pursues a masters in Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies in the UK, to further expand her knowledge on development-related issues and practices.
Krissi Silianova
Krissi Silianova (Bulgaria / Greece)
Martial Arts: 2nd Dan Instructor Tang Soo Do, India 2016
Krissi is a second Dan black belt in Tang Soo Do from Greece who studies and lives in The Hague, the Netherlands. She participated in our first India project in July 2016, where she taught alongside Ginie and Floris at Asha and Disha in Varanasi. She has been involved in women’s empowerment prior to when she joined FairFight, and will continue to actively do so. Her main goals are to inspire young girls and women, and pass on the elements of martial arts further than merely physical capabilities. In addition to this, Krissi has started gaining experience with teaching children with disabilities in a supervised environment of Tang Soo Do – a unique experience which reflects how martial arts are not only about the physical capabilities of the person but also about actively motivating them to outreach their personal mental (and physical) barriers.
Martial Arts: 2nd Dan Instructor Tang Soo Do, India 2016
Krissi is a second Dan black belt in Tang Soo Do from Greece who studies and lives in The Hague, the Netherlands. She participated in our first India project in July 2016, where she taught alongside Ginie and Floris at Asha and Disha in Varanasi. She has been involved in women’s empowerment prior to when she joined FairFight, and will continue to actively do so. Her main goals are to inspire young girls and women, and pass on the elements of martial arts further than merely physical capabilities. In addition to this, Krissi has started gaining experience with teaching children with disabilities in a supervised environment of Tang Soo Do – a unique experience which reflects how martial arts are not only about the physical capabilities of the person but also about actively motivating them to outreach their personal mental (and physical) barriers.
Katie Alexander
Katherine Alexander (UK)
Martial Arts: 2nd Dan Instructor Tang Soo Do, India 2018 (January).
Katie is a second dan black belt in Tang Soo Do based in the UK. She is passionate about building confidence in the vulnerable and using martial arts to express this through the ethos it teaches as well as what it brings physically to empower the individual. Katie has been doing Tang Soo Do for many years and competes internationally, where she recently met other members of the team in the Netherlands. She has previously been involved with local charities in the UK that empower underprivileged children and inspire through sport camps and other fundraising events. Today she works in healthcare with children with complex physical needs. Katie joined the FairFight team in India January 2018 and aspires to continue advocating empowerment for women and vulnerable children.
Martial Arts: 2nd Dan Instructor Tang Soo Do, India 2018 (January).
Katie is a second dan black belt in Tang Soo Do based in the UK. She is passionate about building confidence in the vulnerable and using martial arts to express this through the ethos it teaches as well as what it brings physically to empower the individual. Katie has been doing Tang Soo Do for many years and competes internationally, where she recently met other members of the team in the Netherlands. She has previously been involved with local charities in the UK that empower underprivileged children and inspire through sport camps and other fundraising events. Today she works in healthcare with children with complex physical needs. Katie joined the FairFight team in India January 2018 and aspires to continue advocating empowerment for women and vulnerable children.
Floris Eland
Floris Eland - Treasurer, 2017 - 2018 (NL)
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Aikido, Zim 2016, India 2016, India 2018 (January).
Floris is an alumni of Erasmus University College. Born in Dordrecht with an extensive martial arts background, including a decade of Aikido and half a decade of boxing. Currently Floris holds a 1st Dan black belt in Aikido. With experience as a teacher and a student in martial arts, he has witnessed the power a martial art can have on a child, or for that matter anyone. Respect for oneself and others, self-control and an increase in confidence are all examples of the things a martial art can teach you. The opportunity to help children everywhere grow motivated Floris to get involved with FairFight. Floris travelled to Zimbabwe and India in 2016, and again to India in 2018. He held the position of treasurer of the board for two years in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, he will be in Japan training intensively in Aikido.
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Aikido, Zim 2016, India 2016, India 2018 (January).
Floris is an alumni of Erasmus University College. Born in Dordrecht with an extensive martial arts background, including a decade of Aikido and half a decade of boxing. Currently Floris holds a 1st Dan black belt in Aikido. With experience as a teacher and a student in martial arts, he has witnessed the power a martial art can have on a child, or for that matter anyone. Respect for oneself and others, self-control and an increase in confidence are all examples of the things a martial art can teach you. The opportunity to help children everywhere grow motivated Floris to get involved with FairFight. Floris travelled to Zimbabwe and India in 2016, and again to India in 2018. He held the position of treasurer of the board for two years in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, he will be in Japan training intensively in Aikido.
Guy Shpak
Dr. Guy Shpak (Israel)
Martial Arts: Krav Maga & 1st Dan Karate, India 2018 (October)
Guy is working at the Erasmus MC psychiatry department in Rotterdam as a post-doc researcher, investigating the biology of mental disorders. As a weak boy, he was often abused by kids at school, and started his journey in the martial arts world in a Karate dojo, more than 30 years ago. After almost a decade of Karate (in which he obtained a 1st dan), he learned and later qualified as a military Krav Maga instructor in the Israeli Defense Forces. Following demobilizing from military service, and for the next 20 years, he practiced different Kung-Fu and Tai Chi styles and in parallel continued training and teaching civilian Krav Maga. Over the years, he did his best to experience any other art that was available, like Systema and Ninjutsu, and recently rediscovered his first love, Karate, at Delft Karate Club. He believes martial arts are an amazing tool that can improve any aspect of our life, both at the individual and society levels. As the famous proverb say, give people a fish you will feed them for a day, but teach them martial arts, and you feed them for a lifetime. Guy is married to Yael and is raising three little martial artists. Guy joined the impact visit to India in October 2018.
Martial Arts: Krav Maga & 1st Dan Karate, India 2018 (October)
Guy is working at the Erasmus MC psychiatry department in Rotterdam as a post-doc researcher, investigating the biology of mental disorders. As a weak boy, he was often abused by kids at school, and started his journey in the martial arts world in a Karate dojo, more than 30 years ago. After almost a decade of Karate (in which he obtained a 1st dan), he learned and later qualified as a military Krav Maga instructor in the Israeli Defense Forces. Following demobilizing from military service, and for the next 20 years, he practiced different Kung-Fu and Tai Chi styles and in parallel continued training and teaching civilian Krav Maga. Over the years, he did his best to experience any other art that was available, like Systema and Ninjutsu, and recently rediscovered his first love, Karate, at Delft Karate Club. He believes martial arts are an amazing tool that can improve any aspect of our life, both at the individual and society levels. As the famous proverb say, give people a fish you will feed them for a day, but teach them martial arts, and you feed them for a lifetime. Guy is married to Yael and is raising three little martial artists. Guy joined the impact visit to India in October 2018.
Nivedita Sarveswaran
Nivedita Sarveswaran (AUS / UK)
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate, Zim 2017
Nivedita is currently studying pain & genetics for my PhD at the University of Cambridge. Outside of the lab, she trains in Shorin-Ryu and Shotokan karate and joined the team in Zimbabwe 2017. Having started training as a shy young girl in a class full of grown men, karate showed her that she could match her peers in strength and skill through hard work and perseverance – a lesson she carried off the mat as well. She continued training throughout university, discovering the athleticism and mental resilience essential to sports karate, as well as the fierceness and technical fluency required of more traditional combat. While on the surface these traits may seem unique to the world of martial arts, they strengthen the body and mind in ways that inevitably help inspire self-confidence to make one’s way in the world. Martial arts communities also form support systems, lifelong friendships and encourage empathy and respect across all barriers.
Martial Arts: 1st Dan Karate, Zim 2017
Nivedita is currently studying pain & genetics for my PhD at the University of Cambridge. Outside of the lab, she trains in Shorin-Ryu and Shotokan karate and joined the team in Zimbabwe 2017. Having started training as a shy young girl in a class full of grown men, karate showed her that she could match her peers in strength and skill through hard work and perseverance – a lesson she carried off the mat as well. She continued training throughout university, discovering the athleticism and mental resilience essential to sports karate, as well as the fierceness and technical fluency required of more traditional combat. While on the surface these traits may seem unique to the world of martial arts, they strengthen the body and mind in ways that inevitably help inspire self-confidence to make one’s way in the world. Martial arts communities also form support systems, lifelong friendships and encourage empathy and respect across all barriers.
Jet Huwae
Jet Huwae (NL)
Martial Arts: 1st Kyu Karate, India 2018 (October)
Jet Huwae is an alumni of Technology University Delft, and now works as an IT consultant specialising in teaching programming to children and teenagers, as well as tutoring secondary school children who are unable to attend school for medical reasons. Jet started boxing in 2006 under Bep de Winter, until February 2018. She started karate at Delft Karate Club in 2011 and has now obtained her brown belt. She heard of the FairFight project through Delft Karate Club and volunteered to join the impact visit in India in October 2018. She hopes to use her experience in teaching your children and at-risk children to help the Disha girls develop. Having seen how martial arts helped her and her sons gain in confidence, she is a great believer in using it as a means towards empowerment.
Martial Arts: 1st Kyu Karate, India 2018 (October)
Jet Huwae is an alumni of Technology University Delft, and now works as an IT consultant specialising in teaching programming to children and teenagers, as well as tutoring secondary school children who are unable to attend school for medical reasons. Jet started boxing in 2006 under Bep de Winter, until February 2018. She started karate at Delft Karate Club in 2011 and has now obtained her brown belt. She heard of the FairFight project through Delft Karate Club and volunteered to join the impact visit in India in October 2018. She hopes to use her experience in teaching your children and at-risk children to help the Disha girls develop. Having seen how martial arts helped her and her sons gain in confidence, she is a great believer in using it as a means towards empowerment.
Charlie Stevens (UK)
Martial arts: 1st Kyu Karate, India 2018 (October)
Charlie is about to take on a liberal arts degree in the Netherlands having just completed her A Levels in the UK. She has been training in martial arts since she began karate at the age of three, and since then has gained experience in a range of different styles including TAGB taekwondo, jeet kune do and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She hopes to take her black belt in karate in 2019. Charlie first became involved in FairFight when she encouraged her mother, Mary Stevens, to apply to take part in the Varanasi project in January 2018, and has since visited Varanasi herself as part of the October 2018 impact visit.
Martial arts: 1st Kyu Karate, India 2018 (October)
Charlie is about to take on a liberal arts degree in the Netherlands having just completed her A Levels in the UK. She has been training in martial arts since she began karate at the age of three, and since then has gained experience in a range of different styles including TAGB taekwondo, jeet kune do and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She hopes to take her black belt in karate in 2019. Charlie first became involved in FairFight when she encouraged her mother, Mary Stevens, to apply to take part in the Varanasi project in January 2018, and has since visited Varanasi herself as part of the October 2018 impact visit.
Volunteers
Alex Whitcomb
Alexander Whitcomb - Outreach officer 2017 - 2018, Founder (Zim / NL)
Zim 2015, Zim 2016.
Alex is a business school graduate, currently the head of marketing, recruitment and admissions at Erasmus University College in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Born and raised in Marondera, Zimbabwe, Alex eagerly embarked on his first NGO adventure in 2014 as a co-founder and local coordinator of FairFight Zimbabwe. Despite having only trained two years in martial arts, he is an eager learner and enjoys kickboxing. Alex has coordinated the study trips to Zimbabwe in both 2015 and 2016, and joined the FairFight board as our Outreach officer for marketing, fundraising and more in 2017 and 2018. He travels to Zimbabwe regularly to organise communication and activities with our local partners, and prepare for our team's annual visit. In 2019, he is taking a sabbatical year in Africa.
Zim 2015, Zim 2016.
Alex is a business school graduate, currently the head of marketing, recruitment and admissions at Erasmus University College in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Born and raised in Marondera, Zimbabwe, Alex eagerly embarked on his first NGO adventure in 2014 as a co-founder and local coordinator of FairFight Zimbabwe. Despite having only trained two years in martial arts, he is an eager learner and enjoys kickboxing. Alex has coordinated the study trips to Zimbabwe in both 2015 and 2016, and joined the FairFight board as our Outreach officer for marketing, fundraising and more in 2017 and 2018. He travels to Zimbabwe regularly to organise communication and activities with our local partners, and prepare for our team's annual visit. In 2019, he is taking a sabbatical year in Africa.
Mathieu van Kooten
Mathieu van Kooten - Multimedia & Technology (NL)
Zim 2016
Mathieu van Kooten is an alumni of Erasmus University College. After having made a few promotional videos for FairFight projects, he officially got involved in the charity. As Mathieu is passionate for making videos and websites, the charity is the perfect place to develop his talents. Mathieu is not particularly a martial artist, but still he loves being involved in the projects around FairFight. Mathieu has several years of experience in making websites and videos. Mathieu makes sure FairFight is well promoted throughout the Internet. Mathieu completely edited the 2016 documentary 'A Fair Fight' and in January 2016, he joined the Zimbabwe trip for research and as our dedicated photographer.
For information on the 2016 documentary 'A Fair Fight', contact the us to schedule a viewing.
Zim 2016
Mathieu van Kooten is an alumni of Erasmus University College. After having made a few promotional videos for FairFight projects, he officially got involved in the charity. As Mathieu is passionate for making videos and websites, the charity is the perfect place to develop his talents. Mathieu is not particularly a martial artist, but still he loves being involved in the projects around FairFight. Mathieu has several years of experience in making websites and videos. Mathieu makes sure FairFight is well promoted throughout the Internet. Mathieu completely edited the 2016 documentary 'A Fair Fight' and in January 2016, he joined the Zimbabwe trip for research and as our dedicated photographer.
For information on the 2016 documentary 'A Fair Fight', contact the us to schedule a viewing.
Nora Chirikure
Nora Chirikure - FairFight Women's Health Programme (Zim)
Nora is a student at Erasmus University College. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe. Although Nora is not a martial artist, she is interested in projects that promote sustainable development. In particular, the opportunity to help women and children emancipate themselves in the developing world motivated Nora to get involved with FairFight. As Nora is enthusiastic about organizing projects and connecting with people, the charity is the perfect place for her. Further, her linguistic and cultural knowledge of Zimbabwe makes her valuable member to the group.
Together with Tinashe she set up a project around Marondera to educate children about sexual/menstrual health and raised money to provide local girls, including the FairFight girls with reusable pads.
Nora is a student at Erasmus University College. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe. Although Nora is not a martial artist, she is interested in projects that promote sustainable development. In particular, the opportunity to help women and children emancipate themselves in the developing world motivated Nora to get involved with FairFight. As Nora is enthusiastic about organizing projects and connecting with people, the charity is the perfect place for her. Further, her linguistic and cultural knowledge of Zimbabwe makes her valuable member to the group.
Together with Tinashe she set up a project around Marondera to educate children about sexual/menstrual health and raised money to provide local girls, including the FairFight girls with reusable pads.