NABUUR’s history: how it started

Philipp Kauffmann

Philipp Kauffmann (1967) worked with Siegfried Woldhek in WWF’s Action Network, where they both realized that a new kind of brokerage was necessary to involve the large number of people who actively care about the fate of the planet and the many local places where more conservation work needs to be done. Their joint search converged on a web-based initiative where Local Communities are in the lead. With intellectual rigor and many contacts around the world, Philipp helped to develop the concepts, draft the foundation's statutes, and find the first board members. At the beginning of 2002, Philipp moved on to another job. He now is based in New York, working for the UNDP on new investment flows to environmental entreprises in developing countries.

George Hoogendoorn

George Hoogendoorn (1966) is trained in Economy and Marketing. He was one of the first NABUUR Facilitators and joined Siegfried Woldhek in 2003 to build up the organization. George systematically developed different aspects of the work, such as the online training of the Facilitators and the recruitment of new Neighbours and Facilitators. The development of the website was his main task. Being a web-based initiative, the NABUUR site is crucial. George oversaw and directed the major changes, from the fledgling site in 2003 to well developed state at the time of his departure in the summer of 2007.
George’s systematic approach, his ability to shift the focus of his activities when necessary, and his untiring optimism proved to be invaluable during the hectic formative years of NABUUR.