Who is YUA?

The office of Young Urban Achievers is based in the center of Amsterdam and is occupied with 3 part-time employees that are occasionally supported by various volunteers. YUA travels to Sarajevo and Mitrovica on a frequent base, and occasionaly sends an employee there for a longer period.  YUA works in creative surroundings, sharing its partnership, networks, funding opportunities, expertise and ideas with other development organizations that aim at diverse social contributions. YUA’s staff is committed to finding different ways to obtain funds to support their projects abroad. YUA provides training to students, conducts numerous funding proposals and raises awareness of the project and connects cities through joint cultural events and exchanges.

Beside the art-house cinema project YUA also works in Mitrovica and is exploring areas of work in other countries. The YUA BKB Academy in Bosnia and Herzegovina is yet another example of how YUA contributes to building perspectives for young people. The academy consists of an interactive series of lectures by Dutch and Bosnian experts in the area of campaigning, networking, public speaking and international relations. 

All of YUA’s activities are focused on projects that enable young people to use their talents and skills to their fullest potential.

Board

David Hein - president of the board

David previously worked at the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He now works as a lawyer in Amsterdam.

Frederiek Biemans - secretary

Master of Arts in Modern History (University of Amsterdam). Former member of the board of Kriterion Amsterdam and free lance journalist. She now works at World Press Photo in Amsterdam.

Marc de Klerk - treasurer

Marc worked as a business consultant in Bosnia and Herzegovina for six years. He now works at Triodos Facet.

Martin van Broekhoven - member

Technical coördinator International Film Festival Rotterdam. Martin did the technical design Kusturica's film village Küstendorf, works on film festivals around the world and did the technical design of many cinemas.

Esther Gaarlandt - member

Esther previously worked at campaigning office BKB in Amsterdam. She is now head of communications at Fair Food.

Roos Boer - member

Master of Arts in International Relations (University of Amsterdam). During her studies she was president of the humanitarian student foundation Mara, and worked for War Child in Sudan. Roos now works at IKV Pax Christi.

Board of Recommendation

Piet Meerburg - leader of the Amsterdam Students Resistance group during WWII and founder of Kriterion Amsterdam (De Bilt, 1 september 1919 - Amsterdam, 11 april 2010)

Chris Keulemans - writer and journalist

Eddy Terstall - movie director, a.o. Simon

Willemijn Verloop - founder of War Child The Netherlands

Bill Carter - writer and documentary maker, a.o. When Fools Rush In

Working Group Kriterion Sarajevo

Frederiek Biemans
Master of Arts in Modern History (University of Amsterdam). Former member of the board of Kriterion Amsterdam and currently part of the advisory board. After graduating she worked as international campaigner at the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa (NIZA) and as a free lance journalist.

Roos Boer
Master of Arts in International Relations (University of Amsterdam). As an employee of War Child she has been stationed in Sudan several times. During her studies she was president of the student foundation Mara, a humanitarian relief organisation. Currently he is part time policy advisor at IKV Pax Christi.

Marc de Klerk
Master of arts in Economics. Marc has been working as a business consultant in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 6 years. Marc has been involved in social responsible projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past and has a thorough knowledge in this field. Marc now works for Triodos Facet in The Netherlands.

Working Group Kriterion Mitrovica

Carine Lacor

Marjolein Schaftenaar
Master of arts 

Master of Arts in Political Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in History (University of Amsterdam). Motivated and inspired by Kriterion experience within diverse projects during her studies, Marjolein is now working in the field of entrepreneurship. Within SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) she coaches students throughout the Netherlands to start social enterprises.

Anna Levie
Bachelor of Science in Cultural & Social Anthropology (University of Amsterdam) and currently finishing her Masters in Culture, Organisation and Management (Free University Amsterdam). One of the founders and former chair of 'Skek (Kriterions cafe/restaurant in Amsterdam).

Piet Meerburg
oprichter Kriterion Amsterdam

"We moesten het als studenten zelf doen, en dat hebben we gedaan. Ik vind het geweldig om te zien dat onze strijd van toen nu in Sarajevo navolging krijgt."

Eddy Terstall
filmmaker, o.a. Simon

"'Sarajevo blijkt ook cultureel midden in Europa te liggen. Alleen is er weinig cultureel aanbod uit andere Europese landen. Kriterion bouwt een culturele brug'."

Bezoeker
na vertoning van Simon in Sarajevo

“Sinds de oorlog ben ik niet meer naar de film geweest. Via mijn nichtje kreeg ik de aankondiging van Simon doorgestuurd. Ik heb gehuild.”