Founders

Frank van Akkeren

19 May 1942 – 4 April 2022

I was born in Indonesia and grew up there until I was sixteen. Then I came to the Netherlands to finish secondary school and study medicine. After my marriage to Martha I took the tropics course and we left for Kenya. There we worked for 5 years. After my return to the Netherlands, I worked in Psychiatry for a year and then settled as a General Practitioner in Amsterdam-North.

After a holiday trip to my birth country, I accidentally ended up in Pacung. A couple of kids crossed our path and so we got involved in village life and the school. We noticed there was not much learning material at the schools and that the children were very eager to learn. A group of children gathered at our place twice a week to learn more, to sing together and to play. From there the after-school project grew. I discovered that it was gratifying and great fun to teach. This added to the pleasantness of our stay. It grew and grew and our plans developed with it. Young teachers who felt that the formal way of teaching was not satisfactory to them, came by to ask whether they could help and learn. I look back upon a very fertile and pleasant period in which Marga and I both did some work that felt satisfactory. My dream, of course, is that this work may prolong for a long time.

Marga van Akkeren-Brink

I spent my youth in Amersfoort. Being a ‘jack of all trades, but master of none’ I discovered my passion for teaching. I did my education at what was then called “forming school for nursery teachers”. Immediately putting theory into practice was my way of learning. When I lived in Amsterdam with Frank, I was working at a primary school in Jordaan for years, where I enjoyed teaching toddlers and after doing the application course I enjoyed teaching all groups. In Pacung I discovered the joy of developing my own teaching materials. That discovery I passed on to our teachers.

It is very satisfactory to me when all children can understand what must be understood. With great pleasure I also look back upon the English lessons and the coaching talks with older children. Parents and relatives were always welcome, and I recall pleasant discussions with them about the development of their children. It was great to do this meaningful and joyful work. Together we managed to support people in taking the first steps. Needless to say, my dream for the future is that this meaningful work will be continued.