About Us
Our project locations
GRO West Africa is currently implementing projects in Sierra Leone and Nigeria (see map). We support local initiatives such as agricultural programs, educational programs, library development, and the distribution of relief supplies. We are open to expanding our operations to other English-speaking countries in the region, including Ghana, Liberia, and Gambia.
Our source of inspiration
Inspired by Faith, Driven by Compassion
We are inspired by the Bible. The following texts encourage us to stand up for the poor, the sick, orphans, and people in need:
Psalm 82:3–4: "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Matthew 25:40: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me."
Proverbs 19:17: "Whoever lends to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for his deed."
Romans 12:8: "And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly''
By helping underprivileged children and adults, we give meaning to these words and are motivated from deep within to offer them new opportunities, enabling them to improve their living conditions now and for the future.
Our team
Arjé Willemze, Founder / Chairman
Arjé Willemze is an experienced organizer. After completing his Educational Technology degree at the University of Twente in 1998, he gained extensive experience in various IT management roles, ranging from process manager and team manager to service manager and product manager. For the past 13 years, he has worked in the library sector, where he is currently Product Manager for the IT systems supporting the Business Administration processes of KB, the National Library of the Netherlands.
Other board position(s): none
Joseph Saffa, Secretary General
Joseph Saffa is a researcher, development practitioner, and diaspora leader based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Born in Bo, Sierra Leone, where he attended Christ the King College, his academic journey began with studying Philosophy in Ghana before relocating to Portugal in 2004 to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees in International Relations, complemented by European academic exchanges.
Professionally, Joseph has built a diverse career across Europe and Africa. In the Netherlands, he worked as a Research Assistant for Amnesty International and with Rijkswaterstaat on policy implementation research. From 2013, he spent over six years in Sierra Leone as a Research Officer for the Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food (SiLNoRF), focusing on food rights, governance, and responsible investment. He has also worked as a consultant in monitoring and corporate accountability related to Africa and currently serves as a Specialist in Logistics Delivery for an American company in Amsterdam.
In addition to his professional career, Joseph is heavily involved in diaspora leadership. He serves as the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Central Union (SLCU) in the Netherlands, contributing to organizational governance and community development. Furthermore, he acts as the Research and Development Officer for the Sierra Leone Diaspora Advisory Council (SLDAC), established by the Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Benelux Countries, Greece, and the Vatican. Driven by a passion for human rights, good governance, and community empowerment, Joseph focuses on building practical connections between Sierra Leone, Africa, Europe, and the global diaspora.
Other board position(s):
Sierra Leone Central Union (NL) - Secretary General
Lucas Willemze, Treasurer
Other board position(s): none
Hamida Willemze, Projectmanager / Volunteer, Community Nurse
Hamida Willemze is our dynamic Project Leader and the founder of Midaze Agrobusiness Integrated Limited, our key partner in Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Originally from Sierra Leone, Hamida came to the Netherlands in 1996 as a refugee during the civil war. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Freetown, as well as a BSc Honours in Nursing from the UK. Currently she is a BSc registered nurse in the Dutch BIG-registered.
Hamida skillfully merges her professional discipline in healthcare with a deep passion for sustainable agriculture and initiatives that deliver tangible social impact. She serves as the ideal link between our Dutch expertise and local execution in West Africa.
Jesse Willemze, Volunteer
Als student International Land and Water Management aan Wageningen University heeft Jesse Willemze een duidelijke ambitie: zich inzetten voor duurzame ontwikkeling op het snijvlak van landbouw, water en bestuur. De raakvlakken tussen zijn studie en de projecten van GRO West-Afrika motiveren hem om zijn kennis verder te verdiepen, zodat hij in de toekomst vanuit een sterke inhoudelijke basis kan bijdragen aan zinvolle verandering.
Michael Zilo, Volunteer