Stichting i-STEP-up, Zeewolde (2026)

14/10/2026

New student: Jacob Conteh, Medicine, Sierra Leone

"My name is Jacob Conteh, and I am a dedicated, hardworking, and ambitious individual from Sierra Leone with a strong passion for education, personal growth, and service to humanity. I believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and I am committed to continuously developing my knowledge and skills so that I can make a meaningful contribution to my community and my country.
I am currently a medical student studying Medicine at College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, where I am gaining the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional values required to
become a competent and compassionate doctor. Studying medicine has strengthened my discipline, resilience, and determination while reinforcing my desire to improve the lives of
others through quality healthcare. Alongside my academic studies, I actively seek opportunities such as training programs, workshops, and scholarships that will broaden my knowledge, enhance my leadership abilities, and equip me with additional skills beyond the classroom.
My long-term goal is to become an excellent medical doctor who is dedicated to providing high quality, patient-centred healthcare and improving health outcomes in Sierra Leone and beyond. This iSTEPup scholarship is more than financial support to me — it is an investment in my future. I am determined to make the most of this opportunity by working hard, completing the program successfully, and applying what I learn to help others and advance my career."

Buddy Erik: "I met Jacob through his father Amara. From 2019 till 2021 I worked in Masanga Hospital Sierra Leone where Amara and I were close colleagues. Back then Jacob was still a teenager focussing on his school work. Now a couple of years on he wants to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a health care professional. I am sure Jacob will become a fantastic doctor once he finishes medical school. I am proud to be the buddy of Jacob and support him in his efforts to pursue this goal. "

Jacobs's application was discussed in June 2026 during our application selection day. With the help of iSTEPup, Jacob can study Medicine in Sierra Leone!

Support Jacobs's education: www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/jacob-michael-mukeh-conteh/?lang=en

10/10/2026

Student update: Marietha Kokwongeza Angello, Clinical Officer, Tanzania - GRADUATED

"I want to say thank you for your giving heart in which you have helped me in one way another through your sponsorship in paying the school fees until I have finished my studies. Without your sponsor and support it could not be easy for me to complete with my studies. After I have completed my studies at padre Pio per now, I am not doing any activity due I am still dealing with my license so that I can apply for job vacancy."

www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/marietha-kokwongeza-angello/?lang=en

05/10/2026

New student: George Peter Mbwana, Medicine, Tanzania

"I have the ambition to become a doctor. This stems from a deeply personal event: my mother passed away while giving birth to me, partly due to a lack of professional healthcare at the time.
Currently, I am pursuing my Doctor of Medicine degree at the Saint Joseph College of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania. My long-term ambition is to serve my community as a dedicated physician.
However, I cannot achieve this dream without the crucial support of the iSTEPup foundation. I come from a humble background, and while my father is incredibly supportive as a sole parent, he cannot fully fund my tuition fees, living expenses, and study materials. With the help of the iSTEPup foundation and its donors I can continue my studies and pursue my dream to become a doctor. Thank you for your potential support – it will make a lasting impact on my life and the lives of many people I hope to help in the future!"

Buddies: Sywert Westerhof & Niels Dijk: "During a trip to Tanzania, Niels was captivated by the beautiful country but also harshly confronted with its immense poverty. He met George’s father, and they became close during Niels’s time there. They spoke about earlier life events, including the tragic loss of George’s mother.
One day, when Niels asked him why he seemed stressed, George’s father explained that he was afraid his son would have to drop out of medical school. Without financial help, his annual tuition had simply become unaffordable for him.
We want to help George because his personal story gives him a massive intrinsic motivation. Secondly, based on his academic results so far and his volunteer work, we believe he can become a highly successful doctor who will serve his community.
Together, we are committed to supporting George’s education so he can pursue his dream of becoming a doctor and make a vital difference in his community."

George's application was discussed in June 2026 during our application selection day. With the help of iSTEPup, George can continue his study in Medicine!

Support George's education: www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/george-peter-mbwana/?lang=en

27/09/2026

Student update: Jacklina Theonest, Nursing & Midwifery, Tanzania - GRADUATED

"I kindly take this time with respect to say thank you for your help in my school of nursing, that you helped me from the beginning.
I graduated last year on September 2025 for the level of diploma in nursing and midwifery. Now I am at Nyamira Hospital as volunteer in order to have more knowledge in practices. I am at the maternity ward.
Now I recently received my certificates and licenses for health practice. Thank you and God bless you.

Yours Sincerely, Jacklina Theonest"

www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/jacklina-theonest/?lang=en

23/09/2026

New student: Kelfala Keita, Nursing, Sierra Leone

"For me, nursing has never been just a job. I genuinely love caring for people and serving my community. Over the years, by showing up and working hard, I’ve built solid experience and earned the respect of the people I work with. Right now I’m the in-charge of my department , it’s a big responsibility and I don’t take it lightly. Leading the team has taught me a lot about leadership and pushed me to make sure we give the best care we can, together.
I’ve come far, but I still find it hard to move forward in my career. My long-term goal is to become a nursing educator. I don’t just want to practice nursing , I want to teach and mentor the nurses coming after me so they can serve our communities too.
With the right support, I know I can keep growing and make a real difference in nursing here. I would really appreciate the chance to benefit from the support from the iSTEPup Foundation."

Buddy Sachin De Stone: "During my time working at Masanga Teaching Hospital in Sierra Leone, I had the privilege of working closely with Mr. Kelfala Keita. From the outset, Keita stood out as a committed, thoughtful, and highly capable nurse who consistently demonstrated both clinical competence and a genuine compassion for patients.
I strongly believe that supporting Keita to undertake a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education will have a lasting impact not only on his own professional development, but also on the many nurses and patients who will benefit from his teaching in the future. Individuals like Keita are essential to strengthening healthcare systems from within, particularly in rural areas such as Tonkolili District. I am very pleased to support his application to the iSTEPup programme and am confident that he will make excellent use of this opportunity."

Kelfala's application was discussed in 2025 during our application selection day. With the help of iSTEPup, Kelfala can start his study in Nursing!

Read more about Kelfala Keita: www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/kelfala-keita/?lang=en

Support Kelfala's education: https://goodshift.nl/actie/1287

21/09/2026

Samenwerking Stichting i-STEP-up & Goodshift

We zijn blij om te kunnen delen dat Stichting iSTEPup for Health sinds kort is aangesloten bij Goodshift! Goodshift is een Nederlands non-profit donatieplatform dat is opgericht door en voor goede doelen.
Goodshift maakt het mogelijk om bijvoorbeeld via een GoodShift Giftcard zelf een goed doel te kiezen dat je wilt steunen. Zo kun je een cadeau of gift een betekenisvolle bestemming geven. Én 100% van de donatie gaat naar het gekozen doel.

Krijg je binnenkort een GoodShift Giftcard? Dan kun je vanaf nu dus ook kiezen voor iSTEPup en bijdragen aan de toekomst van een jonge zorgprofessional. Met jouw bijdrage help je talentvolle jongeren in ontwikkelingslanden die zelf onvoldoende financiële middelen hebben om een opleiding in de gezondheidszorg te volgen. Onze studenten worden onder andere verpleegkundige, verloskundige, clinical officer, apotheker of arts. Na hun opleiding kunnen zij in hun eigen land bijdragen aan de lokale gezondheidszorg.

We zijn daarom heel blij dat iSTEPup via Goodshift meer mensen kan bereiken die onze missie willen steunen!

Meer weten over Goodshift? Kijk dan op: www.goodshift.nl/actie/together-we-step-up-for-health

Wil je meer weten over wat jouw bijdrage kan betekenen voor iSTEPup? Kijk op onze website: www.i-step-up.com/

13/09/2026

Student update: Moses Ben Machaka, Clinical Officer, Malawi - GRADUATED

"I sincerely thank iSTEPup for the love and support you have shown me throughout my studies. I would not have reached this far without you. I am deeply grateful for your care, because of your support, I have gained the knowledge and skills needed to save lives and strengthen healthcare services from primary to tertiary level in my community. I will always remember and appreciate iSTEPup. Thank you for investing in my future."

www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/moses-ben-machaka/?lang=en

11/09/2026

New student: Fatmata Balu Kamara, Nursing, Sierra Leone

"Nursing has always been my dream. I genuinely care about people and I want to serve my country. Over time, through hard work and showing up every day, I’ve built good experience and earned the respect of my colleagues at work.
I’ve learned a lot, but I still struggle to move forward in my career. My long-term goal is to become a nursing educator I don’t just want to practice nursing, I want to teach and mentor the nurses coming after me so they can serve our country too.
With the right support, I know I can grow and make a real difference in nursing here. I’d be truly grateful for the chance to benefit from the iSTEPup Foundation’s support."

Buddy Suzanne Tween: "During my time working at Masanga Teaching Hospital in Sierra Leone, I had the pleasure of working closely with Fatmata Balu Kamara. From the beginning, Fatmata stood out as a dedicated and compassionate nurse who consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to patient care and professional growth.
Over time, I also saw her leadership abilities develop. Her promotion to head of shift on the surgical ward reflects the trust that the hospital team places in her judgement and work ethic. She is someone who naturally supports her colleagues and takes pride in helping others learn.
Fatmata has expressed a strong ambition to become a nurse tutor, motivated by the desire to train future generations of nurses and improve the standard of healthcare in Sierra Leone.
I am very pleased to support Fatmata’s application to the iSTEPup programme. With further education and support, I am confident she will make a meaningful contribution to nursing education and healthcare in Sierra Leone."

Fatmata's application was discussed in 2025 during our application selection day. With the help of iSTEPup, Fatmata can start her study in Nursing!

Read more about Fatmata: www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/fatmata-balu-kamara/?lang=en

Support Fatmata's education: https://goodshift.nl/actie/1286

01/09/2026

iSTEPup Student Overview

The iSTEPup Foundation supports students with a scholarship, which enables them to realise their dream of becoming a healthcare professional. In 11 different countries in Africa and South America, we support:

- 29 nurses and midwifes
- 9 clinical officers
- 6 medical doctors in training
- 2 pharmacists

And, 36 iSTEPup students have already completed their studies and are now working as healthcare professionals in their own countries!

This semester, 10 new students will start their studies. Their applications were reviewed during our selection day in June 2026. We will introduce our new students in the coming weeks on our website and social media, so stay tuned!

Want to know more about our students and follow their journeys? You can find their personal pages and updates here: www.i-step-up.com/what-we-do/students/?lang=en

Would you like to support the next generation of healthcare professionals?

You can support our students through our fundraising campaign:
www.goodshift.nl/actie/together-we-step-up-for-health

Or donate directly through our website:
www.i-step-up.com/supportistepup/donate/?lang=en

Stichting i-STEP-up

14/10/2026

10/10/2026

05/10/2026

27/09/2026

23/09/2026

21/09/2026

13/09/2026

11/09/2026

01/09/2026

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