WHO WE ARE
“Animals have a right to be treated with respect and dignity, not as mere property or resources for human use.”
– Tom Regan –
BOARD MEMBERS
ULLA DEVENTER, Phd
Founder and Director
“I believe in the transformative power of compassion, holistic care, and safe, inclusive spaces.
Horses have been my mentors since childhood. They connect me to places and people with whom I naturally bond, eventually making me feel at home in Ghana since 2017, when I met Boga, who was love at first sight and played a significant role in founding The Six Freedoms.”
Ulla Deventer was born in Germany. She is a multimedia artist, researcher, and PhD. holder in Sculpture from Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
Her extensive experience collaborating with female survivors, sex workers, and horses globally has informed her artistic research on the intersection of domestic violence, animal abuse, mental health, and interspecies connections.
EDWARD OSEI YEBOAH
Operator Care and Rescue Team
Horse expert and Animal Communicator
As our care team operator, Edward oversees the daily care of our horses in Akim Asafo whilst giving guidance to our partner stables in Accra. He brings his expertise in horse grooming, first aid, nutrition, dental care, hoof maintenance, and animal communication. Trained by Eva Lydeking, Edward’s lifelong passion for horses began at age seven when he started working at the Burma Camp stables.
Growing up amidst horses, Edward spent his formative years honing his skills in handling temperamental horses while completing his high school education. In 2017, Edward joined forces with Eva Lydeking, managing her stables and collaborating on establishing a permaculture haven in Akim Asafo.
Today, he plays a vital role in our care team, nurturing rescued horses and animals.
EVA BIRGITTE LYDEKING
Advisor Medical Nutrition and Recovery
Permaculture farmer in Akim Asafo and Medical Nutritionist
Eva is passionate about sharing her knowledge and is dedicated to teaching and mentoring her team.
Eva Lydeking is a renowned Nutrition and Holistic Health expert with over thirty years of experience in research, practice, and education. Her work focuses on the interconnectedness of nutrition, lifestyle, and overall well-being. Born in Denmark, she expanded her research to include a broad international perspective.
Eva is compassionate and humble, approaching her work with curiosity, creativity, and coherence. As a reflective team worker, she is dedicated to supporting individuals and communities in achieving optimal health and well-being.
In 2018, Eva relocated to Ghana, West Africa, where she co-manages projects in Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya.
From 2018 to 2020, she worked as the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and Agriculture Manager at IPMC Ghana.
Eva’s efforts have had a transformative impact on the local community, empowering individuals and communities to embrace healthier lifestyles and sustainable agricultural practices.
She strives to empower individuals and communities worldwide to take responsibility for their health through her work. She nurtures a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between nutrition, lifestyle, and overall well-being.
With comprehensive Public Health training and advanced research methods at the PhD level, Eva has investigated the benefits of soy, phytoestrogens, and other nutrients for bone health, cancer prevention, and overall well-being.
Her research has been published in reputable scientific journals, including the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of Nutrition.
Eva’s holistic approach to health encompasses body psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, and anthroposophical homoeopathy. She has supported clients with various health challenges and provides personalised nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management guidance.
DR. VET.MED. ENOCH OBENG
Advisor and veterinarian for field work.
Lecturer in Veterinary Medicine, University of Accra,
currently researching antimicrobial resistance in equine pathogens and the zoonotic risks in selected stables in Ghana.
Dr. (Vet. Med.) Enoch Obeng played a significant role, together with T6F, in rescuing Mr. Key when his condition was deteriorating, and Ulla needed immediate assistance to rescue him after his accident had happened.
We closely collaborate on sampling for his current research
PATHOGENS AT THE GATE: ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN EQUINE PATHOGENS AND THE ZOONOTIC RISKS IN SELECTED STABLES IN GHANA
Enoch has 5 years of experience working on horses and has assisted in teaching and learning Equine Medicine in the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana, for the past 3 years.
He is very dedicated to horses and to teaching his students. Dr Obeng is keen on arousing students’ interest in horse health and welfare, providing an excellent ground for collaboration. The activities of the Horse Care Team will provide a platform for students’ practical sections, where they will have more hands-on experience before they graduate from the Vet School.
MIRIAM YENTUMI
Operator Care Team Beach horses Accra
Journalist and Rider
Miriam Yentumi has been riding horses since childhood. She has kept horses in Ghana and understands the challenges of urban horse welfare in Accra. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, she is a journalist by profession.
Eva Ippendorf
Osteopathy and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCM) for horses
Instructor for Natural Horsemanship
“Our greatest weakness as humans arises when we overlook the fact that horses do not show signs of pain.” vocally, and we begin to exploit this fact”
Eva Ippendorf, born in Munich, Germany, has lived and worked in Ghana since 2020. She began working with horses at a young age and, at 14, acquired her first horse, Key, who became her greatest teacher. By the age of 16, she started teaching children and, a few years later, adults. In 2011, she graduated successfully in Osteopathy and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCM), specialising in horses. Since 2009, her horse Samarina has been a significant part of her life, teaching her many valuable lessons.
Eva aims to raise awareness among people about the sensitivity of horses. Eva seeks to teach humans that horses are the perfect teachers regarding anger management, communication, body language, patience, and love. When understanding occurs from both sides, beauty and miracles come to life.
Moses Anum
Operator Care Team Beach horses Accra
“Every horse deserves its special treatment”
Moses is a rider and groom with broad expertise in first-aid wound care.
Moses is passionate about sharing his broad knowledge about horses. He runs his own riding school in Accra. He is an impressive self-taught expert who learned by experience and by living and sleeping closely with horses for decades.
Moses will become our primary instructor once we have our land!
TAWFIC IDDRISU
Treasurer
Tawfic brings his financial expertise to our organization, overseeing our finances and providing invaluable support in budget planning. A graduate of the University of Ghana with a degree in Administration (Accounting), Tawfic has also received training in Accounting Information System, Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Advantage and Social Responsibility and Ethics (Udemy, 2020).
In addition to his financial acumen, Tawfic is also involved in the permaculture farm at Akim Asafo, where he received training in sustainable agriculture from Eva Lydeking.
ADELAY QUAYE
Secretary & Educator for the Youth
Adelay serves as a vital bridge between animal welfare and community outreach, leveraging his passion for promoting social change, particularly among youth. With extensive experience working in both rural and urban communities, Adelay expertly addresses sensitive topics such as gender equality and social taboos.
Through his diverse and inclusive approach, Adelay fosters a deeper understanding of social issues, empowering young minds to learn, grow, and drive positive change.
“ADELAI NARTEI QUAYE, a 26-year-old with extensive experience in youth development, is dedicated to ensuring confidentiality and trust in study environments. He uses Ga, Twi, and English languages to communicate effectively, aiming to meet project objectives while fostering a learning environment.”
(Samuel Lamptey, founder of James Town Community Theatre)
ELIZABETH ABANGRE
Coordinator of children’s activities.
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OUR PARTNERS
Karen Menczer
Founder and Director of Animal Kind International
Karen and her team are encouraging and supporting with a whole heart since birth!
Based in the US, Karen visits the West African continent regularly. You see her holding or mare Sharone in Akim Asafo in 2023, when she was in her last state.
After living and working overseas since 1991, Karen started Animal-Kind International in 2007 to assist animal welfare organizations with which she worked in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. Karen has worked in international biodiversity conservation (with USAID) since 1991 and has been active in animal welfare both in the US and abroad for over 40 years. Since 1997, Karen has lived in Uganda, Botswana, Jamaica, Ghana, Namibia, and the Cayman Islands (and in Ecuador in the 1980s), and throughout her career, she has worked in over 50 countries.
ANNUSCHKA BAYER
Director of Horses for Heroes
”Mein Anliegen ist es, möglichst vielen Menschen mit Behinderung den Zugang zu Pferden zu ermöglichen”
Annuschka ist selbstständiger Business Coach, DOSB zertifizierte Trainerin Reiten, Vielseitigkeitsreiterin, Mutter von 2 Kindern.
Über Horses for Heroes: Unser Herzensanliegen ist es, möglichst vielen Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen die Chance zu geben, durch den Kontakt mit Pferden wertvolle und positive Erfahrungen zu machen. Dieses besondere „Geschenk der Pferde“ möchten wir jedoch nicht nur den Betroffenen selbst, sondern der gesamten Familie zukommen lassen. Aus diesem Grund beziehen wir bei unseren Coachings und dem Therapeutischen Reiten auch Eltern, Geschwister und Großeltern mit ein. Denn wenn ein Familienmitglied durch Krankheit oder einen Unfall beeinträchtigt ist, trägt oft die ganze Familie diese Last. Deshalb sind bei uns alle herzlich willkommen, um gemeinsam Kraft zu schöpfen und sich gegenseitig zu unterstützen.
Annuschkas Vision: auch unseren Pferden eine neue, würdevolle Aufgabe zu geben und Menschen zu heilen. Wir können es kaum erwarten, diese Initiative zu beginnen!
Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, PhD
“Ulla has been instrumental in referring survivors of domestic violence and abuse, including women and children, to our organisation for critical services such as counselling and shelter. Her dedication extends beyond referrals, as she has also facilitated connections with additional community resources to ensure the safety and well-being of those in need.”
Christian Selassy Gbeglo
Founder and Director of Friends in Need Foundation.
Christian Selassy Gbeglo is founder of Friend in Need Foundation and an independent social worker with over 30 years of experience with children on the streets.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation for homeless individuals, particularly those at Ecomog Accra, became dire. The collapse of their micro-enterprises left families, especially children and women, without a stable income. Amidst this crisis, THE SIX FREEDOMS, led by Director Ulla and Facilitator Elizabeth, provided critical relief to those in need. Their swift and collaborative intervention brought hope to the affected families, paving the way for our partnership.”
