About us
Africa Interactive was founded in 2006 by two Dutch journalists (Bas Vlugt, Peter Vlam) and an entrepreneur (Pim de Wit) with a passion for Africa. They felt that Africa was too often portrayed as a lost continent. They looked for ways to reveal Africa's great potential and to show the existing opportunities the continent has to offer. The founders are eager to give a more balanced view of the continent. To do so, they wanted African media talent to participate.
They were on a mission: why is this continent mostly portrayed as helpless, brutalised and war-torn. That wasn’t the Africa they knew: the fascinating, complex, dynamic continent as it is. The online magazine became a big success. In less than a year they created an enthusiastic community.
In the meantime Dutch publisher and Africa lover Pim de Wit read the newsletter and saw in it a business and a goal. The three started a company: Africa Interactive. An online publisher was formed. Today, Africa Interactive has become a specialist in Africa related communication projects.
In 2007 the company launched www.AfricaNews.com. In a span of several months the website has been able to attract a network that consists of 250 African media professionals spread across 32 African countries (end of April 2008). Two to five reporters register a day and their combined contribution can be seen on www.AfricaNews.com.
One important detail: the word Africa means nothing as such. We are aware of that. Let us quote journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski: “The continent is too vast to be described. It is a true ocean, a planet on its own, a rich and varied cosmos. For the sake of taste, we can simply say: Africa. In reality, Africa does not exist. It is only a geographic entity”.
Currently Africa Interactive maintains a network of 2000 local reporters in 50 countries.
Africa Interactive Team
Pieter van Twisk / Managing directorGraduated in philosophy, Pieter chose for a career in media. He was until recently self employed as a media consultant. Before that he was editor-in chief of Planet Internet and Manager Content Production at KPN Television and Media.
Favorite place in Africa: Being a passionate diver, I have spent my best experiences underwater in the spectacular Red Sea!
Bertil van Vugt / Content directorBertil studied journalism in Utrecht and International Relations at the University of Amsterdam. He lived six months in Cape Town, South Africa, where he worked for the Cape Times newspaper.
Favourite place in Africa: Lion's Head, the mountain on the right side of Table Mountain. From its top, you have a fantastic sight of the the city. From there you can also see Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent his years in jail.
Tchitula Teuns / Partnerships Manager After studying Development Studies (MA) and Account Management (BA), Tchitula has gained working experience regarding Africa at organisations like Unicef and NiZA. She is passionate about bridging the gap between the perception and reality of her beloved continent.
Favourite place in Africa: all places where random acts of kindness are practiced.
Emile Schmitz / Marketing manager
Emile earned his Master degree in International Management at Maastricht University. Emile worked with Philips and Vodafone and then decided to travel the world for 1.5 years and to work with NGO’s in Nepal and Uganda. Back home, Emile soon started working as a marketing consultant with Beagle and Relevance Group, creating relevant innovations and brands for Western markets, but increasingly for emerging markets (‘Base of the Pyramid’).
Favourite place in Africa: Fort Portal (Uganda), where I worked for 4 months.
Annamara Hamersma / Content manager
Annamara studied Journalism in Utrecht, worked as editor/ reporter for Dutch television (SBS6 Shownews). She lived in Shanghai for few months and worked for a Glossy Magazine.
After traveling, she studied Political Science/ International Relations in Amsterdam and researched issues such as Chinese oil companies working in Sudan and Angola.
Bernd Out / Content manager
After graduating in film studies Bernd has worked as a freelance filmmaker for mainly NGO's, fairtrade and development organisations. As an independent filmmaker he has worked worldwide on a variety of media productions including documentaries and commercial projects. Before starting at Africa Interactive he worked as a video editor on concept visualisations at innovation lab ULURU|Beagle.
Elsie Vermeer / Content manager
Elsie discovered her passion for video during her Journalism degree in Utrecht. She did an internship at Radio Noord-Holland and the Amsterdam television station AT5. During the course 'Ethnographic Filmmaking' at the University of Leiden she made her first documentary.
Favorite place in Africa: West Africa, on a journey through Senegal, I became fascinated by the music and people in this part of Africa.
Lucia Galindo Martinez / Video-editor
After completing her Sound Engineering studies at the SAE in Amsterdam Lucia worked in the media world in the capacity of sound technician/editor. During this time she went on to complete studies in Digital Film Postproduction and Documentary Film making at the International Film School in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. One of her favorite writers is the South African Nobel Prize novelist J.M. Coetzee.
Daniel Rodríguez Rodríguez /Video-editor
Daniel studied Audiovisual Media in the Málaga University, Spain and in Cologne, Germany. He worked as a cameraman and as a editor in german television, until he came back to Spain. In Valencia he worked for the news in different television channels and production companies, while he kept performing in his own social documentaries.Emile Schmitz / Marketing manager Emile earned his Master degree in International Management at Maastricht University. Emile worked with Philips and Vodafone and then decided to travel the world for 1.5 years and to work with NGO’s in Nepal and Uganda. Back home, Emile soon started working as a marketing consultant with Beagle and Relevance Group, creating relevant innovations and brands for Western markets, but increasingly for emerging markets (‘Base of the Pyramid’).
Favourite place in Africa: Fort Portal (Uganda), where I worked for 4 months.
Annamara Hamersma / Content manager Annamara studied Journalism in Utrecht, worked as editor/ reporter for Dutch television (SBS6 Shownews). She lived in Shanghai for few months and worked for a Glossy Magazine.
After traveling, she studied Political Science/ International Relations in Amsterdam and researched issues such as Chinese oil companies working in Sudan and Angola.
Bernd Out / Content managerAfter graduating in film studies Bernd has worked as a freelance filmmaker for mainly NGO's, fairtrade and development organisations. As an independent filmmaker he has worked worldwide on a variety of media productions including documentaries and commercial projects. Before starting at Africa Interactive he worked as a video editor on concept visualisations at innovation lab ULURU|Beagle.
Elsie Vermeer / Content managerElsie discovered her passion for video during her Journalism degree in Utrecht. She did an internship at Radio Noord-Holland and the Amsterdam television station AT5. During the course 'Ethnographic Filmmaking' at the University of Leiden she made her first documentary.
Favorite place in Africa: West Africa, on a journey through Senegal, I became fascinated by the music and people in this part of Africa.
Lucia Galindo Martinez / Video-editorAfter completing her Sound Engineering studies at the SAE in Amsterdam Lucia worked in the media world in the capacity of sound technician/editor. During this time she went on to complete studies in Digital Film Postproduction and Documentary Film making at the International Film School in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. One of her favorite writers is the South African Nobel Prize novelist J.M. Coetzee.
Daniel Rodríguez Rodríguez /Video-editor
Joseph Appiah-Dolphyne / Editor of AfricaNews.com and part of the editorial team in Ghana. Joseph's interest in journalism developed when he was young. He entered the Journalism school to study a two-year Diploma programme in Journalism. He has worked at many different Ghanaian media organisations.
Favourite place in Africa: Nzulezu, Ghana’s water village
Esme Atsyornu / Video-editor in Accra, GhanaEsme holds a BFA Degree in Editing, awarded by the University of Ghana, Legon. Esme has gained lots of work experience from several media houses and television stations in Ghana. She loves to read and watch films of all genre.
Kennedy Odhiambo Onyango/ Manager East Africa in Nairobi, KenyaKennedy was born and raised in Kenya. His passion for film grew more and more as he wondered how moving images could be trapped in a screen. He studied film and Tv production at European Film College in Denmark. He is specialised in documentary film production. He has worked with various international and local production houses. He has good knowledge in post production and always confident with his
camera.
Lily Sinei / Video-editor in Nairobi, KenyaLily holds a Diploma in Film/Video Production from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and I specialized in Editing. She has gained experience through working for Majengo Media Talent and Big Ideas Entertainment Company in Kenya. Lily enjoys watching thriller movies and documentary journals.
Ester van 't Hooft / Chief Financial Officer
Commenced her career 19 years ago with VNU (leading firm in market intelligence and publishing) and has since held several senior Finance positions within VNU (mainly Publishing), Newmonday, Claritas and Acxiom.
René Schoffelmeer / Bookkeeper
Marian Beringen/ AfrikaNieuws.nl
Marian has been working for Africa Interactive as Office and Sales Manager since March 2006. She is the publisher of Trade Channel magazine, which is also read in Africa. She has visited Northern Africa many times.
Michel Vink / Editor AfrikaNieuws.nl
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