How long have you been volunteering?
I’ve been a member of the association for over 6 years now, and I’ve been listed on the website as the contact person for the Caribbean islands for several years, but that role hasn’t really taken off yet. As a new board member, I would like to actively contribute both to the board and to raising awareness on the islands (particularly Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire).
What made you decide to become a volunteer?
I’m really drawn to the association’s mission. And an association can’t exist without volunteers. I also have quite a bit of administrative experience, so I’d like to put that to good use.
What does your volunteer role involve?
General Board Member and Contact Person for the Caribbean Islands. As for the board, I’ve just joined and am still figuring out exactly what my role will be. I’m very curious to see how this role will develop and what I can contribute. Since I live in Curaçao, a large part of my work will have to be done remotely. Fortunately, online meetings and email make a lot of this possible.
How has your condition or ocular prosthesis affected your life?
I was diagnosed with ocular melanoma, and within two weeks I had to travel from Curaçao to the Netherlands. There, my eye was removed immediately. After a few months, I had actually gotten used to it. The impact on me is pretty minimal now. You learn to make small adjustments, which means life is actually pretty normal. There are always challenges and little tricks you need to use, but for me, it’s very manageable.
What do you do for a living?
I’m an actuary in Curaçao, and I’m the director of a life insurance company. So I’m a very busy person. We also run a bed and breakfast out of our home, which keeps us pretty busy as well.
What are your hobbies?
I love hiking in nature, swimming, and reading books. Spending a relaxing day at the beach is definitely one of my favorite activities, too. I don’t really notice any limitations when doing these things. The only time I use a walking stick is when hiking in nature, to help me gauge the depth of the terrain.
Is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers?
To ensure the club’s continued existence, we need to roll up our sleeves. Let’s work together to keep this wonderful gathering place going! I’d like to call on everyone who cares about the club to see where you can do your part!
