News New President

For more than ten years, Rutger-Jan Schoen was Niketan’s President. Under his guidance, it was decided that in addition to consolidating all existing projects, Niketan would also disseminate the knowledge gained, with the Shokkom knowledge platform as the ultimate achievement.

Connecting with local and national governments, but also with healthcare institutions, schools, pharmacists, businesses and especially people in the community. Connecting by becoming more visible, by organizing outdoor cinemas, for example. Connecting and sharing knowledge and experience as a strategy to ultimately bring responsibility for the care of our vulnerable children closer to them. After ten years, Rutger-Jan will hand over the reins to Mahamuda Rahman on January 1, 2025.

Mahamuda Rahman is 39 years old, of Bengali origin but living in the Netherlands. She worked as a communications consultant for Cordaid, Wetlands International and other organizations and now works for Mama Cash. Mahamuda will further guide us in making our projects more independent and sustainable. So that we can eventually hand them over completely to our partner organization or to the communities.

Rutger-Jan will not be leaving Niketan just yet. As a board member, he will continue to develop the knowledge platform. We would like to thank Rutger-Jan very much for all his time, energy and insights and for giving direction to Niketan. We warmly welcome Mahamuda as the new President.