Het Burgerweeshuis
Wiljo developed a method of communication (a.o. by visualisation in combination with simple sign language and imagery stories), thus extending the experiental world of the children thereby their possibility to relate to each other and the outside world increased.
They developed this family-home onward to a farm project including a labouring-/learning programm, resulting in a working place for a group of deaf and/or communicatively- and mentally disabled, in: a bakery, cheese producing facility, spinning-mill, weaving facility, horticulture, animal care and carpentry.
Meanwhile she works for many years as communication specialist at Effatha; her assignment is to improve communication of- and with inhabitants, in families and organisations for the mentally disabled.
Africa
After her husband passed away (1990) Wiljo renewed her first profound experienced meeting with Africa (1980) and this resulted in an intensive alliance with the West-African part of the continent. In the meantime, her ties with many people in Senegal, Mauritania and Rwanda, lead to sustainable projects in all sorts of domains, with a continuous focus on ‘the forgotten children’.
books
Wiljo has written several books. Een sluier van zand; a second novel, more deeply covering the culture (and its differences) whereas polygamy passes through the contents, appears in spring 2010.
Refer to Books for more information.