Ambassador Ties Cake

As an ambassador of the Foundation Salek, I should like to introduce myself. My name is Biscuit Ties. I've been retired for a while. But I have geraniums have not looked at my retirement "to enjoy". I still enjoy working in a number of functions and the days fly by.

Born in East Groningen I moved with my family in 1950 to Heerde. Six years later, to Midwolda, where my father was the famous bell of the Fa. Gebr. Van Bergen took over. I went to high school in Winschoten.

After my military service I started working at the municipality Midwolda. After a few years I left the Kop van Noord-Holland where I've worked in Schoorl. In 1971 I became mayor of New Schans, back in East Groningen so. In 1980 I was appointed in Winschoten and finally in 1986 I started 18 years mayor of Rheden.

In all those years I have "over the border" look and contacts between people promoted. In my portfolio Sat invariably "international relations".

In Nieuweschans we went to a twinning with a German partner church. In that period was still very sensitive.

Winschoten also had a German partner city and was also the first United Nations community in the Netherlands. Make people aware of what's happening in the world. Interesting but also difficult.

In Rheden - seven villages in a municipality - I have my heart's content. In 1986 Rheden had a German partner town of Burgdorf (near Hannover). Started in 1971 - after the war - the relationships between Germans and Dutch to improve. There was a cautious contact with the "eighth" village of the municipality, the village of Bingo in Burkina Faso. There was also a joint project of several Dutch municipalities, including Rheden with Kimberley in South Africa. We participated in the struggle against apartheid and were also LOTA-municipality. LOTA is Local Government Against Apartheid. During the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1995 I was taking official observers.

The City Council in 1985 Rheden had the idea to do something to reduce international tension with each other through the contact of an American and a Russian church. That was too expensive. I was searching for an alternative. The GDR? That did not work. Meanwhile, the city Cheb in Czechoslovakia let you know to seek a partner in Western Europe and in 1989 came the first contact. In July 1989 we visited each other for the first time. Two very different worlds! Especially the young people we brought in contact. The School communities still visit each year, holiday traffic was going, the fire brigades, music groups etc. exchanged out.

In 1999, we discussed how to proceed with our international contacts. It was time for a new approach. We wanted to try a town in former Yugoslavia to help. I knew people of IKV and so it was the Bosnian municipality Fojnica in the picture. In 2000 I representatives of Burgdorf, Cheb and Rheden in Fojnica-eengebracht at its annual summer camp and consequent emergence of youth groups. Alternately in each of the cities. The youth has heard and learned much from each other. Successful meetings have meant a contribution to mutual understanding and the formation and training.

We have also contributed financially to various projects. We donated a fire engine is still very good and we are committed to a house of the youth in Fojnica. My parting gift in 2004 as mayor was even in the character of that youth. I can open it a year later!

I have always had great affinity with refugees and people who have a hard time. In the Netherlands but also abroad. Now I am still a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Refugee Middle Gelderland. I'm also involved with a foundation that deals with the needs - food, education, housing - especially children in the township of Kayamandi in Stellenbosch in South Africa. And now also involved in the Foundation Salek, roughly speaking active in the field of education and schools for children.

I hope that my experience and commitment to a further small contribution can make to improve the situation in Africa. Extent that we may come when we can offer children a future.

I think it's very rewarding to us for this to work!

Sincerely,

Ties Cake

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