
OUR TEAM
Keep Them Warm
The daily board of Keep Them Warm consists of seven enthusiastic students. Together we arrange the rides, maintain contact with volunteers, set up actions and collect donations.

Chair
Jans van der Kolk
Hi! Ik ben Nova, voorzitter van Keep Them Warm. Tijdens mijn studie Public International Law groeide mijn passie voor het oorlogsrecht, waar één principe onbetwistbaar is: burgers mogen nooit het slachtoffer worden van oorlog.
Toch zien we dagelijks de hartverscheurende realiteit van onschuldige mensen die lijden onder een conflict waar ze niet voor kozen. Stilzitten was geen optie. Met Keep Them Warm vond ik een manier om niet alleen toeschouwer te zijn, maar echt iets te betekenen voor hen die dit onrecht dagelijks ervaren.
We blijven aandacht vragen voor het conflict in Oekraïne en de mensen die er nog elke dag dag de gevolgen van voelen. Want hoe ver weg het ook lijkt, daar is oorlog nog steeds de werkelijkheid. Zolang dat zo is, blijven wij ons inzetten om hen warm te houden - letterlijk én figuurlijk.

Vice chair & External affairs
Femke Schmeink
Hi! My name is Femke, and this year I'm the vice-chair and will be responsible for Keep Them Warm's external relations. Based on my Security Studies degree, I've been involved with international security and the impact of war for years. When the war broke out in Ukraine, my studies and the stories and images shared on social media inspired a strong need to do more than just watch. I realized that even though we can't change everything, every gesture can make a difference. This year, I'm committed to expanding Keep Them Warm's reach, with the goal of reaching more people who help transport essential goods to victims in the war zone in Ukraine.

Treasurer
Niels Esveld
Hello! My name is Niels, I'm currently studying International Business, and I'm the treasurer for Keep Them Warm. As treasurer, I'm responsible for budgeting donations and managing the financial statements for the rides we organize. When I saw the Keep Them Warm call, I knew immediately that I wanted to sign up; I've always been interested in war and peace and contributing to the safety of others. Furthermore, meeting Ukrainian friends and becoming personally aware of the situation there has made me very motivated to help.

Media & Socials
Jasmijn Terpstra
Hi! I'm Jasmijn, and this year I'll be working on media and socials for Keep Them Warm. As a student of Russian Studies and International Relations and Organizations, the war in Ukraine is something that still haunts me daily. However, I wanted to get involved in a way other than just textbooks and news articles, and Keep Them Warm aligns well with what I find important: helping people who have been wrongly victimized by war. I hope to expand our reach even further with our social media and website, so keep an eye on them!

Trip coördinator
Adriaan Elzas
Hi! My name is Adriaan. Together with Yasmine, I coordinate the trips that our organization takes to the Ukrainian border. At the end of last year, I learned about Keep Them Warm because a friend was going on a trip. I thought this was a wonderful initiative to contribute, so a few months later, I drove to the border with a friend to deliver goods and bring refugees back. This trip showed me that I can make a huge impact on the situation. And when I saw that Keep Them Warm was looking for a new board, there was no hesitation. I hope that with this organization, we can make a real difference for the people in Ukraine and motivate them to take their own trips, offering a platform that can support the trip and make it run as smoothly as possible.

Trip coördinator
Yasmine Martinez
Hi, I'm Yasmine, and together with Adriaan, I coordinate the trips to the Polish-Ukrainian border for Keep Them Warm. We ensure that these trips run as smoothly as possible and are the point of contact for all volunteers and contacts. I found Keep Them Warm through a friend. She told me about the initiative, and I was immediately enthusiastic and motivated. As a volunteer, you immediately see the impact of your efforts. With just one trip, vital goods can be delivered, and you have the opportunity to help refugees from unsafe situations. I hope that many more trips will be made to provide assistance to those who truly need it.

Activities coördinator
Puck van der Salm
Hi! My name is Puck, and I'm the activities coordinator at Keep Them Warm, along with Julia.
I'm a law student and have always had a strong interest in foreign relations. I've been actively following the news about the war in Ukraine from the very beginning; it's heartbreaking to see how ordinary people are affected by a political conflict—and that's precisely why I want to actively contribute.
As an activities coordinator, I organize campaigns to find drivers for rides and to raise money. The role is varied, and there's a lot of room for creativity in devising campaigns. I hope that this year we can inspire even more people to take rides and donate money so we can help as many Ukrainian refugees as possible.
The best thing about Keep Them Warm is that you immediately see the impact one ride can have. Every little bit helps—and together we can truly make a difference.

Activities coördinator
Julia van Lith
Hi! I'm Julia, and together with Puck, I organize the activities for Keep Them Warm. Our goal? To raise awareness, raise donations, and inspire as many people as possible to take a ride.
I discovered this wonderful initiative through its Instagram page. I was immediately impressed by its impact and knew: I want to contribute. In a world where the news often only shows misery, it feels good to contribute something positive.
I'm looking forward to making the most of this year. Do you have a fun idea for an activity? Feel free to send me a message!
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On My Way UA
Keep Them Warm is an initiative of the On My Way UA foundation. The foundation's board consists of the four founders of Keep Them Warm.

Founder Keep Them Warm & board of On My Way UA
Godert Ponsen
As co-founder of Keep Them Warm, I have been involved in the initiative since its inception. Outside of my work at Keep Them Warm, I am studying for a Master's degree in Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Amsterdam.
As a board member of the foundation, I help shape the long-term strategy and ensure continuity within the foundation and its activities. I focus on establishing new contacts and exploring opportunities, for example for projects in Ukraine or for financial possibilities.

Founder Keep Them Warm & board of On My Way UA
Magalie van Exel
My name is Magalie and I am one of the co-founders of Stichting Keep Them Warm. My family and I used to live in Poland and when the war in Ukraine broke out, I came into contact with a Polish-Dutch aid worker who helped us with a destination and goal for the very first ride in 2022. After many enthusiastic responses from peers, we founded Keep Them Warm, to facilitate that as many students as possible could also contribute. After transferring the daily management, I remained involved as a general board member and am now chairman of the foundation board of Keep Them Warm. In this role, I ensure that there is close contact between the daily committee and the board and that we can contribute to the continuity and a long-term vision of the foundation.

Founder Keep Them Warm & board of On My Way UA
Max Bogaard
When Russia invaded Ukraine on a large scale, I went to the Polish-Ukrainian border as a journalist. There I saw tens of thousands of people crossing the border every day – exhausted, without a plan, fleeing a pointless war of aggression. The helplessness I felt never left me. Fortunately, with Keep Them Warm we can do something about it.

Founder Keep Them Warm & board of On My Way UA
Oekje van Asten
Hi, my name is Oekje and I am involved with the Keep Them Warm Foundation. At the end of 2022, I went on a trip to Przemyśl for the first time. The situation at the border, the visit to the reception centers there, and especially the stories of the refugees in our car, led to the establishment of Keep Them Warm - so that other students can also get involved. Unfortunately, that effort is still very much needed, but it is nice to see that many students are still willing to do their bit. If you have any questions, you can always contact us!

Board of On My Way UA
Pelle Evers
My name is Pelle. At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, I heard about Keep Them Warm through friends. The foundation's mission immediately resonated with me, and I didn't hesitate before hopping in the car with friends for my first ride. More soon followed, because anyone who takes a ride on behalf of Keep Them Warm experiences firsthand the impact they can have on the lives of others.
After a year of working as a ride coordinator for Keep Them Warm, I'm proud to continue to support this cause—now through the board of On My Way UA.