Hope Rikkelman has been connected to Pro Bono Connect since April 2020. Hope holds a master’s degree in International Public and EU law and specialized in international criminal law and human rights. She has five years of experience in legal project management and is co-founder of the Syria Legal Network-NL and the Yazidi Legal Network. Together with her colleague Loïs Vaars, Hope maintains contact with NGO’s and law firms and is responsible for coordinating all activities and projects of Pro Bono Connect. 

Loïs  Vaars has been working as a project coordinator at Pro Bono Connect since April 2020. Previously, she has worked for the Public Interest Litigation Project of the NJCM, the Peruvian NGO CHS Alternativo and social project agency Diversion. Here she gained both legal and project management experience. Loïs studied at the University of Amsterdam and the University of Cape Town and obtained her master’s degree in Public International Law. With her work at Pro Bono Connect she wants to initiate a movement in the Netherlands; a movement in which pro bono cases become a regular part of the activities within law firms. Together with her colleague Hope Rikkelman, she is responsible for coordinating all activities and projects of Pro Bono Connect and maintains contact with NGO’s and law firms.