ABOUT US

#ENOUGHISENOUGH #REFUGEESAREHUMANSTOO

ShowerPower is a private initiative of Dinne van der Vlis (chairman), Pieter Wittenberg (treasurer) and Liesbeth Bloemendal (co-founder). All three of them have helped refugees on Lesbos. The board of ShowerPower consists of Dinne, Pieter and secretary Frederik van Lookeren Campagne.

Policy plan ShowerPower:

‘The foundation aims at supporting refugees, migrants and victims of persecution, regardless of their origin, race, religious conviction or sexual preferences or inclination, all in the broadest sense of the word, and helping them to recover their damaged self-image in order to regain their human dignity.’

We find the situation in camp Moria disgraceful and have decided to found the ShowerPower Foundation. Everyone who helps ShowerPower or works with us does so without being paid and voluntarily. Team leaders can be eligible for a compensation of travelling expenses. ShowerPower wants to give a sense of dignity to people on the run. That’s why we have established a house to give refugees a safe place where they can take a warm shower. ShowerPower ended these activities in March 2020 because of the violence against volunteers and refugees and due to COVID-19. However, ShowerPower doesn’t abandon the mission! That’s why we start a judicial process to get to the root of the problem. How we are doing this exactly? You can read that here! 

POLICY PLAN, STATUTES, ANNUAL REPORTS

*For further information download our annual report, policy plan or a copy of the charter and statutes here.

POLICY OF REWARDS

Article 3 section 5 of the statutes:
The board members are not paid for their activities. They are entitled to a compensation of the costs made in the exercise of their duties.

THE BOARD

Dinne

“No one can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody!”

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Liesbeth

“Every human being is entitled to a good and dignified existence.”

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Pieter

“What happens at a stone’s throw in this world moves me.”

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Frederik

“With ShowerPower we want to make their daily lives somewhat easier.”

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Dinne van der Vlis

Co-founder and board member

There are hinge points in everybody’s life. Birth and death of course and, in between: relationships, having children and possibly loss, disease or other trauma. All my life I’ve always loved being close to people that are at such a hinge point, being stripped of all their frills. Because that’s where you really meet, on the cutting edge. Because, according to me, that’s where the essence of life becomes tangible and because it opens my heart. Connecting with someone else at such a moment is a huge present for me. Although it may look like mere giving, it enriches me as well. Connecting makes me really feel my humanity.
People on the run are exactly at such a hinge point, through no fault of their own. They are fleeing from war, poverty or other insecurity. They are no different from you and me, they’ve ‘just’ had the bad luck to have been born at a bad place to stay. To my mind we were all born to lead a humane life.
I have a good life. Fortunately I was born in this corner of the world. I’ve got plenty of time. I’ve got a big heart.
So, I count my blessings and take action because “No one can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody!”

Liesbeth Bloemendaal

Co-founder

Living life to the fullest means living from the heart, being aware of all the beautiful and all the sad things in my life and in other people’s lives. Completely aware of all the beauty and all the misery in the world. There are such extremely big differences at the moment. In my opinion we were all born as small and loving souls. Every living creature is unique and a result of the miracle of creation. What is this creation? A great and unimaginable mystery. Deep inside I know that we all originate from this mystery and that we are equal. Every human being is entitled to a good and dignified existence. No exceptions! That’s why I really wanted to be involved in the founding of ShowerPower.

Pieter Wittenberg

Co-founder and board member
‘THEY CAN COUNT ON ME’

May 2017, a horrible stench, no wonder, because I am at a huge refuse dump: camp Moria. People ‘live’ here, many people. One can’t imagine how many people have to live here on a few acres. I’m shocked once again, this time by the number and other conditions.

Two years later nothing has changed. Everything is much worse. In spite of all petitions, publicity and demonstrations there are five times as many people. Politicians in the EU Member States are playing deaf. So far nothing helps. We need a speedy change because the expiration date of the ticking time bomb called Moria expired a long time ago. What happens at a stone’s throw in this world moves me.
My father fled from the Nazis, that’s why I am one of the lucky ones that were born in the Netherlands. In turn, I want to be there for the refugees. They can count on me.

Frederik van Lookeren Campagne

Board member

Day-to-day refugees on the Greek islands are busy surviving in filthy and overcrowded camps. With ShowerPower we want to make their daily lives somewhat easier, preferably in a safe house with, literally and figuratively, warm showers and, if that’s impossible, with other relief organizations.

A deep bow for everyone who helps

ShowerPower wants to give back human dignity to the people from camp Moria on Lesbos in Greece by a warm shower and personal attention and is supported by many companies, organizations and private individuals.

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