I grew up in Almelo and Vriezenveen. During my studies, I lived in Leiden, The Hague, and spent half a year in Cape Town. After that, I lived for a while in Rotterdam and Utrecht, and now I enjoy living in Amsterdam.

When I was 20, I attended a workshop about consent at a festival. That moment was eye-opening: I realized how many layers there are in intimate contact and how important it is to both feel and communicate your desires and boundaries. Because this enriched my own life, I wanted to share it with others. I began attending more workshops on the topic and eventually started teaching them myself: first with friends, then with larger groups, and finally at festivals.

Although I found my studies in International Studies and African Languages and Cultures intellectually fascinating, I wasn’t sure for a long time what I wanted to do with them. An office job didn’t suit me; I prefer working directly with people. I immersed myself in personal development and learned to better understand what I value, what I’m good at, and where my pitfalls lie. Together with two close friends, I founded Groeispurt Workshops, with the goal of helping young people develop more direction, self-awareness, and resilience.

Because I am queer myself and have had a very diverse group of friends since my student years, I became increasingly engaged in discussions and societal debates about sexuality, orientation, and gender. It felt like a natural next step to offer workshops on these topics alongside consent.

I am committed to creating a world where everyone can be as much themselves as possible!

I believe it’s important to teach without judgment. Everyone comes from a different background and sees the world in their own way — and that’s okay. As long as we keep engaging in conversation and truly listen to each other, we don’t always have to agree. It’s from this mindset that I facilitate discussions between participants.

At the same time, you always bring yourself with you. I grew up as a queer person in a rural town and know what it feels like to be treated differently because of who you are. I come from a single-parent household with limited financial resources, so I understand some of the challenges that can bring.

I also have privileges: I am white, fluent in Dutch and English, and hold a Dutch passport. There are certain forms of exclusion I will never personally experience. I carry this awareness into my work — with attention to nuance, context, and empathy.

Compassion

Keeping overview