New coordinator UAFC Joint Programme
On behalf of UAFC Joint Programme I am very pleased to present to you Marie Christine Siemerink as the new program coordinator for UAFC. She started to work for us on September 15.
Marie Christine brings with her a broad professional experience.
As a lawyer she has conducted surveys on human rights situations. As Humanitarian Affairs Officer and as Project Coordinator she has worked closely with people and organizations in the field. Marie Christine studied Dutch law and international law and specialized in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
As projectcoordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Marie Christine worked in some of the most difficult areas in the DRC, Chad and the Central African Republic. In that capacity she captained various teams of professionals - both expats and nationals- often under very stressful circumstances. Marie Christine acted as a bridge builder between ngo’s, local civil society and the authorities, and the different armed groups. In her working career, both at MSF and in working as a lawyer for asylum seekers, she represented people and organizations in a convincing and positive manner and acted as a good advocate for their cause.
We are convinced that UAFC will benefit extensively from her professional experience, her management and leadership skills and her involvement in empowerment of vulnerable people.
Marie Christine is very motivated for her job as coordinator of UAFC:
" I have worked in different regions where I have seen from close by the importance of self-determination and access to good health care. Working with the local population and especially with women groups showed me the extent of the burden women have to carry day in day out. The risk they take and the violence they have to suffer is almost beyond imagination. At the same time the power and resilience of the women is a source of hope for a better future. Sexual liberty and the ability to choose is a valuable step towards a better life for these women and their families. I have seen the enormous impact of the female condom during my last mission in the Central African Republic, where in Obo the introduction of the female condom was a big success and where women felt empowered by having the choice to protect themselves. In my project in Zemio we decided -because of this success in this neighboring town - to also start sensitizing the women visiting the women’s clinic to use the female condom. I am convinced that the access and introduction to the female condom will increase independence and will decrease unintended pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases and therefore will save many lives. Having seen from close by the disastrous effects of HIV and unwanted pregnancies, to work for the UAFC therefore highly appeals to me. "
You can reach Marie Christine by email: mariechristine.siemerink@oxfamnovib.nl ; her cell phone number is +31 6 30468312.
With kind regards,
Greetje Lubbi
chair of International Steering Group of UAFC
