About — Dutch Civilian Action

Who we are

We are a civilian initiative that empowers local communities near the frontline by providing short and long term support with a human touch.

How we operate

We collect goods, distribute them ourselves, working alongside local volunteers in Ukraine, and engage with the people we're helping to understand their needs.

‘‘Thank you for every call you make from your country to say hello and ask how we are doing in this terrible time. It means so much to us.’’

— Sergey from Kherson

Where we operate

We operate in areas near the frontline, with a focus on liberated regions where communities rely entirely on humanitarian aid.

Meet the Team

Bas Spijker

FOUNDER
With an MScBA background, Bas left his previous job to fully commit to assisting Ukraine. As the founder of this foundation, he is eager to apply entrepreneurial spirit and readiness to address any essential tasks.
James Pawlak

MISSION LEADER
With MA in Cross-cultural Studies and twenty years of experience working in conflict-affected regions, in the former Soviet Union, James brings a deep understanding of local culture, fluency in languages, and unwavering dedication.
Lieke Heil

CONTENT MARKETER
As a documentary filmmaker, Lieke is motivated to showcase the impact of the ongoing war on the lives of civilians and the crucial work of Dutch Civilian Action, both through short videos for social media and documentaries like 'Present are the Absent,' which has been broadcast on national television in the Netherlands by VPRO.
Roel van Beem

BOARD MEMBER
CHAIRMAN

After completing his MSc in Marketing and collaborating with Bas in a self-organizing company, Roel is now committed to serving as the Chairman, leveraging his skills and dedication to make a meaningful impact with DCA and to help other companies become self-organizing as well, including Dutch Civilian Action.
Jeroen Martinot

BOARD MEMBER
TREASURER

As a 'financial man,' Jeroen has been involved in numerous international projects and is happy to offer assistance, advice, and help establish a solid financial structure.
Aengus Havinga

BOARD MEMBER
SECRETARY
With a background as a technical coordinator and artist, Aengus has a passion for creating unique and well-organized experiences.
Natalia Mavignier

VOLUNTEER

As an existential therapist and professional copywriter who believes in harnessing the power of communication to generate good in the world, Natalia is proud to be a part of DCA and to play a small role in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Maarten Vleugels

VOLUNTEER
MECHANIC & ENGINEER
René Vullings

VOLUNTEER
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tobias Braam

VOLUNTEER
As marketer, Tobias supports companies with his growth marketing agency Swell. With a solid background in Growth Marketing at eBay and Amazon, he is happy to dedicate time for worthwhile causes which make this planet a better place to live on.
Kateryna Surkova

VOLUNTEER

As a Ukrainian who moved to the Netherlands due to the war, Kateryna still wants to be useful to her country. With a background in communication and content creation, Kateryna joined DCA to showcase the work of the DCA team on social media.
Tomas Bakker

VOLUNTEER
FINANCE SUPPORT