oUR Team
"I am the proud mother of four children; Lyssa, Geordy and twins Yinthe and Yoëll. Geordy and Yoëll both have albinism.
If you are born here in the Netherlands with albinism you can lead a "normal" life. You are accepted here as you are. Adjustments are made where necessary and you get help from the state. I realize how lucky we are to live here and here in a western country to have brought these children into the world. But unfortunately not everyone is so lucky....
I can't imagine what it's like when your child is hunted down and threatened because they have albinism. Unfortunately, this happens often in East Africa. I decided that as a mother of two children with this gene defect called albinism, I needed to take action."
"I got in touch with Inside The Same because I was able to make connections between different cosmetics brands that provide us with sunscreens and the foundation. Because of this I also went, initially as a volunteer, to Tanzania in 2015 and have been very closely involved ever since. Becoming a board member was therefore a logical step for me.
Highlight: Because we had enough donations we were able to transfer Faustine and Joyce from the distressed camp Buhangija to The Salvation Army in March 2016 where they now have a beautiful life with good education. All the more special when you know that Faustine was the reason Gabrielle started the foundation after she saw him at an RTL news item."
"I am a campaigner for inclusion of people with albinism and a strong believer for equality. I grew up as a Tanzanian youth from Bariadi, a small town in the 'Lake district' and I have witnessed the stigma against people with albinism.
I have always wanted to be a seed of change in the perception towards albinism. In 2012, I became president of the student's organisation in college and I pointed Martha, a fellow student with albinism, to be the prime minister and she was a top leader! I was stunned.
Ever since, I have dedicated my life to advocating for the mainstreaming and social inclusion of people with albinism. Despite our differences, we are INSIDE THE SAME!"
Mireille meijers
Pilot
Board of Advisory
Project coördinator Wings Of Support (KLM)
"As a scriptwriter and director of films, I like to give people a stage: a voice so they can be heard. From being heard comes understanding and from there connection. This often means a lot to people who do not feel fully part of society: homosexuals, victims of sexual violence, people involved in domestic violence. This is especially true for people whose appearance alone places them far outside the group. They cannot hide the fact from anyone that they belong to a specific group. That makes them vulnerable. With a lot of love I want to tell the story of special individuals: people who are so much more than 'that one label'. There is only one of each person and we must be careful of that."
amber schoonen
Board member
"As a Integral Safety Expert, I understand how important both physical and social safety are. Knowing that children with albinism face challenges growing up in a safe environment, and the injustices they experience every day, truly touches my heart.
Since 2019, I have been active as a volunteer, and for the past year, I have served as a general board member. I am grateful to be able to contribute in this way and make a difference."
nancy Masaki
Advocacy & Campaigner Tanzania
"My name is Nancy Masaki, I live in Tanzania, and I was born with albinism.
Living with albinism in my country is complicated. It’s not just about having sensitive skin or needing to wear sunscreen every day. It’s about being misunderstood. In many places, people still believe dangerous myths about us—some think we bring bad luck, others believe our body parts hold magical powers. These beliefs are not just hurtful—they’re deadly.
Growing up, I often felt invisible. Or worse: feared. I was told to stay out of the sun, stay out of sight, stay small. But I’ve never wanted to live in the shadows.
In 2015 I met Désirée from Inside The Same, I was a teenager and since that day we keep in contact.
In December 2024, after Désirée ask me to climb, I took a step—actually, thousands of them—toward something bigger. I joined climbing Africa’s highest mountain with a group of incredible people from around the world. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The cold, the altitude, the physical exhaustion. But none of that compared to the emotional weight I carried—the stories of others like me who never got the chance to be seen.
This climb was more than a personal challenge. It was a statement: we are here, we are strong, and we deserve to live with dignity. Every step to the summit was a step toward visibility and justice for people with albinism.
I didn’t do it alone. The organization Inside The Same made this journey possible. Their work is about much more than awareness. They bring practical support—like healthcare, education, sunscreen, and safe spaces—but also something deeper: they bring connection. They remind people like me that we are not alone.
Inside The Same creates platforms for our voices. Through their projects, I’ve been able to speak up, to share my truth, and to be part of something meaningful. They don’t see us as victims. They see us as people—full of potential, resilience, and light.
Albinism is not a curse. It’s not something to fear. It’s simply a genetic condition. And people like me? We want what every human wants: to be respected, to be safe, to be given the chance to dream.
My journey isn’t over. The mountain was just the beginning. I want to keep climbing—for myself, and for the future of every child with albinism. Because we all deserve to live in the light."
Frank Bron
Boardmember
“After completing my degree in International Relations, I was fortunate to gain extensive international living and working experience. I now support people with their integration in the Netherlands. Along the way, a fascinating project crossed my path, focused on people with albinism in Tanzania. That’s how I came into contact with the warm and dedicated team of Inside The Same. So when they asked me to join the board, it didn’t take long for me to say yes — I had already seen firsthand that we are all the same at our core and that sometimes we simply need a helping hand. I am therefore delighted to contribute to Inside The Same and to many of those helping hands.”
Contact
Stichting Inside The Same
Tel: 06 54 20 75 86
info@insidethesame.com
KvK 63434172
RSIN 85.52.34.933
Banknr.: NL46INGB0008335469
