On March 17, 2019, our treasurer Hans Kramer past at the age of 70 after being ill for around four months.
Hans was intensively involved with our foundation as treasurer for over 30 years, was responsible for majority of fundraising. His network of sponsors (individuals, churches, monasteries, foundations and other organizations) was large and he maintained contact with almost all. In that context, he also compiled the extensive annual report, which meticulously described all the activities of the foundation and therefore had an enthusiastic effect.
Hans was a great support for our chairman, with whom he also had close contact, especially when he was on Fogo and worked on the projects there.
He was also very personally involved with the people of Cape Verde specially Fogo. With his wife, Truus, he was the first to support students in secondary and then higher education. Occasionally this was a disappointment, but Hans remained optimistic and kept in contact, until the last months of his life. Then a Cape Verdean foster daughter with her family came from Spain to say goodbye. Later a Cape Verdean foster son from Lisbon followed. Hans continued to encourage people in the Netherlands to also support students.
He traveled several times with Truus to Cape Verde and learned Portuguese. He was present at the opening of the Community House in Campanas in 2017. Partly because of his work for the foundation, Hans Ridder was in the Order of Orange-Nassau and honorary citizen of Cape Verde. On January 11, 2019, the ambassador of Cape Verde in the Benelux presented him with the Medalho Merito Altruista o Exmo as a token of great appreciation for his efforts. We will miss Hans very much.
A large hall in the Community House in Campanas was named the Hans Kramer and Baukje Boonstra hall at the opening in 2017. For example, both of their names will be permanently visible in Cape Verde and will remind the people there of the two board members who have worked hard for the foundation and for Fogo.