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
Dr. ULLA DEVENTER
Founder and Director
“Horses have been my mentors since childhood. They connect me to places and people with whom I naturally bond, and since 2017 they have made me feel at home in Ghana—starting with the stallion Boga, who played a pivotal role in founding The Six Freedoms. When Boga and other stallions faced life-threatening health issues, I reached out to Animal-Kind International for support. Thanks to their grant and ongoing partnership since 2019, we were able to rescue more than 20 horses and regularly monitor over 80 across the greater Accra area, expanding our network and impact.”
Born in Germany, Ulla Deventer is a multimedia artist, researcher, and holds a PhD in Sculpture from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana. Her extensive work with female survivors, sex workers, and horses worldwide has deeply shaped her artistic research at the intersection of domestic violence, animal abuse, mental health, and interspecies relationships.
As founder of The Six Freedoms, Ulla envisions establishing a sustainable teaching facility grounded in the One Health approach and interdisciplinary research. This center aims to foster healing and education by connecting human, animal, and environmental well-being, advancing holistic understanding and compassionate care.
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.
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Abangre was born in 1984 in Northern Ghana. After losing her father at an early age, her mother struggled with financial hardship and could no longer afford to pay Lizzy’s school fees. Eventually, Lizzy left her village to seek work in Accra. While working as a housemaid for expat families, she experienced abuse and decided to leave that environment.
Later, she became a mother of two sons. Without support from the father, Lizzy made the courageous decision to earn a living independently on the streets in order to care for her children. Most recently, she has returned to working as a nanny and has become increasingly dedicated to engaging with and supporting children.
Lizzy now leads field workshops in collaboration with The Six Freedoms, helping to connect horses with other civil society organizations (CSOs). She works particularly closely with the Friends in Need Foundation and the Ark Foundation. Lizzy and Ulla Deventer have been working together since 2017. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they co-founded a temporary art and care space for children living on the streets, offering daily meals throughout the lockdown. Since then, they have continued organizing regular events for vulnerable children, and—whenever donations allow—combine these activities with horse encounters to raise awareness about animal care and empathy.
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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
“I want to ensure that people with disabilities have meaningful access to horses and the positive experiences they offer.”
Annuschka is a self-employed business coach, a certified equestrian trainer (DOSB), an eventing rider, and a mother of two.
Her vision is to offer our rescued horses a new, meaningful role—by creating healing opportunities for people through their connection with them.
She is eager to collaborate with The Six Freedoms to make this vision a reality.
About Horses for Heroes:
Our heartfelt mission is to give people with disabilities the chance to experience the unique and powerful bond between humans and horses. This special “gift of the horse” is meant not only for the individuals directly affected but also for their entire families.
Dr. ANGELA DWAMENA-ABOAGYE
Founder and Executive Director of the Ark Foundation
“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.”
Dr. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye is a Ghanaian lawyer, theologian, licensed professional counsellor, and a leading advocate for women’s rights and child protection. In 1999, she founded The Ark Foundation, Ghana’s first shelter for battered women, providing integrated legal, psychosocial, and crisis support services for survivors of gender-based violence.
Dr. Dwamena-Aboagye holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Ghana, an LL.M from Georgetown University Law Center, and a PhD in Theology from the Akrofi-Christaller Institute. She has served as an adjunct lecturer in gender and law at the University of Ghana and consults on gender policy, sexual harassment prevention, and women’s leadership development.
Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the 2025 MTN Heroes of Change Award, the Millennium Excellence Award for Women’s Empowerment, and the U.S. Embassy’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice.
Dr. Dwamena-Aboagye continues to champion justice and dignity for women and children across Ghana and beyond.
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.”
