Our people

Our initiator in the Netherlands

Tjitske Weersma, the founder of 4 Smiling Faces, is our driving force in the Netherlands. She maintains all contacts with Nepal, sponsors, and the board. With a lot of energy, she works every day to improve the chances of the children in Nepal.

Board

The 4 Smiling Faces Foundation is proud of its board, which consists of people who made their mark in the world of charity, education, and socially responsible enterprise. With their practical support, brainpower, network, and commitment they raise name awareness, publicity, and effectiveness of the foundation. 

Until May the 20th 2025 our board consists of:

• Peter Heres, voorzitter (LinkedIn)
  He is an independent entrepreneur, ideologist, coach and advisor.
• André de Hamer, penningmeester (LinkedIn)
  He is Program Manager Sustainable PABO, independent entrepreneur, author, advisor.
• Steven Groeneveld, secretaris (LinkedIn)
  He is an independent entrepreneur, marketing consultant and interim & project management and member of the complaints committee of Groenewegen Organisatieadvies & Training

From May the 21 2024 our board consists of:

• André de Hamer, beoogd voorzitter (LinkedIn)
  He is Program Manager Sustainable PABO, independent entrepreneur, author, advisor.
• Petra van Soest, beoogd secretaris (LinkedIn)
  She is engager, initiator, entrepreneur, projectmanager, fundraiser, MarCom professional
• Ronnie Dankelman, beoogd penningmeester (LinkedIn)
  He is databasemarketeer with the Liliane Fonds and a gifted photographer.

The founder and boardmember do not hold any additional positions.

As of May 21, 2025, the audit committee will consist of:

• Peter Heres (LinkedIn)
• Annette Vonk (LinkedIn)

‘Our’ people in Nepal

Without eyes and ears in Nepal, a foundation like ours can’t do anything. We cannot be in Nepal all the time so it is of the utmost importance that we can rely on trustworthy people (volunteers) who want to do the all-important work on the ground. The 4 Smiling Faces Foundation considers itself very lucky to have been able to work with our volunteers for many years. They are worth their weight in gold and enable the foundation to do the work it is doing. Without them, this would be impossible. They are:

• Devendra Aryal (contact for DRC Nepal)
• Asha Aryal (contact NWCSS orphanage and driving force behind the SHCOP)
• Iman en Binita Lama (driving forces behind the Lotus Family Foundation Nepal)