Philipp Zerbe is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the founder and president of the Swiss Association and Esperanza Verde International. He first met the managers of Esperanza Verde in Ecuador, where they worked together at the rescue centre AmaZOOnico. With his extensive knowledge in wildlife care and medicine, he regularly advises the team in Peru on medical and broader topics, alongside his network of professionals. Under his leadership, EVI has grown into an international organization that partners with various NGOs, providing essential funding and expertise to support Esperanza Verde in Peru.

Puck is an enthusiastic volunteer who has visited Esperanza Verde three times. Since her first visit in 2018, she has remained actively involved with EVI. She organizes meet-ups and supports other volunteers in staying connected after their experiences. Puck also serves as the vice-president of EVI. Her absolute favourites at Esperanza Verde are crab eating raccoons, otters, and observing the monkeys. She loves cooking, dancing, and enjoying the beautiful waterfall. “Hope to meet you soon in Peru or at a meet-up in The Netherlands!”

Florian is the vice president of the Swiss association. After completing his master’s in veterinary medicine, he now works in a small animal practice in Switzerland. His journey with Esperanza Verde began during his studies when he helped transfer medical knowledge and supplies to Peru. Moved by the project’s warmth and dedication, he became more than just a donor. He took on the role of coordinating Swiss members and later expanded to managing international members of EVI. He enjoys teamwork and shares his responsibilities with dedicated former volunteer Corinne.

Carole is a founding member of the Swiss association and oversees finances. As a veterinarian specialized in internal medicine for small animals, she has always been passionate about wildlife and with her knowledge she advices the team at EV. Her time as a volunteer at Esperanza Verde in Peru was filled with adventure and learning, and she plans to return in the future. As treasurer, she is proud to witness how even small donations can create significant change and appreciates the progress Esperanza Verde has made for wildlife and local community education.

Corinne volunteered at Esperanza Verde and has since maintained a strong connection with the EVI team. Deeply moved by the dedication of the staff in the jungle and Europe, she is eager to continue her support. Currently working for an international NGO, Corinne dreams of returning to Peru to engage in hands-on conservation efforts. In the meantime, she assists Florian in managing EVI members from Switzerland to ensure their contributions well-coordinated are impactful.

Anne-Marie is the chairperson of the Dutch association and active member of Esperanza Verde International. She studied Animal Management in the Netherlands alongside managers Olivia and Douwe, visiting them during their time at Amazoonico in Ecuador and volunteering at Esperanza Verde. Along with her fellow board members, she helps secure funding for the organization in Peru.

Sven Groenen is co-founder of the Dutch Foundation and an active member of Esperanza Verde International. He studied Animal Management alongside the managers of Esperanza Verde and had the opportunity to volunteer with them in Ecuador many years ago. Sven has played a crucial role as Secretary for the Dutch foundation, using his expertise to support their mission.

Nico joined Esperanza Verde as a volunteer during its early days and has since become part of the EVI family. His passion for wildlife conservation and dedication to the mission have made him a valuable help in organizing the German association. With his wealth of experience and commitment, Nico continues to support our efforts in our mission to protect wildlife.

Juliane is the President of the German association Förderverein Esperanza Verde e.V.. She worked with the managers of Esperanza Verde, many years ago in Ecuador. Knowing their outstanding work and dedication, she wanted to stay involved and help them found their own wildlife rescue centre and conservation project, Esperanza Verde in Peru. She became the founding member of the German association Förderverein Esperanza Verde e.V. which provides financial aid and sources volunteers.

Lauren Young is the founder of the UK Charity and an active member of Esperanza Verde International. She began her journey with Esperanza Verde in Peru as a volunteer in 2014, later serving as assistant manager and communications manager for several years from Europe. With an MSc in Conservation and International Wildlife Trade, Lauren advises the team in Peru on conservation topics and helps coordinate EVI’s efforts in securing funding and promoting the project. In 2019, she ran the London Marathon (42 km) to raise funds for EV.

Noë is the webmaster for Esperanza Verde’s website. He began his journey as a volunteer in Peru in its early days and co-designed the EV logo. A design teacher in a French high school, he dedicates his free time to managing the EV website and is the go-to person for technical and artistic support, tirelessly aiding Esperanza Verde and its team.

Lukas is a close friend of our president, Philipp, and has leveraged his expertise to develop and maintain the EV International website, ensuring that our work reaches a wider audience. He became passionate about the project early on and finally had the opportunity to visit in 2022 alongside Philipp to see firsthand the impact of their efforts.

Carlotta has volunteered twice before returning as our permanent veterinarian our clinic, the SUSTOAH (Susy Utzinger Orphaned Animal Hospital) for the 2023-2024 period. Since joining the EVI family in 2017, she has been a dedicated advocate for wildlife care. In addition to her veterinary work, Carlotta manages the social media content for Esperanza Verde for the Susy Utzinger Foundation, helping to raise awareness and support for our mission. Her commitment and expertise make her an invaluable member of our team.

Alexandra began her journey as a young volunteer in 2016, traveling to Esperanza Verde and returning for a longer stay where she took on various responsibilities. In 2021, she came back to step into the role of assistant manager in Peru, dedicating two years to our mission. Now living in Switzerland, Alexandra continues to contribute by managing EV’s social media alongside Anna. Her commitment and experience have greatly enriched our community, helping to spread awareness about our work.

Anna co-manages the social media platforms for Esperanza Verde with Alexandra Fredblad. She initially joined the organization in 2017 and returned in 2022, equipped with her camera to capture the journey. Anna has created impactful content, including a volunteer video and several rescue videos, showcasing the organization’s work. To further contribute from home, she organizes volunteer meet-ups in the Netherlands, fostering community engagement while continuing her role in managing social media.

Manuel is an environmental engineer and the “water boy” of EV. He worked with the managers many years ago during their time in Ecuador, and since then, he has remained an invaluable part of the EVI family. He came to Peru when the volunteer house was still being built and set up our first water provision system. With his extensive knowledge of water management, conservation, and organization, he is advising us on various topics and helped secure the plantation named Finca Don Jorge, making Esperanza more self-sustainable.

Dylan is our veterinarian and has been involved with EV since the beginning, residing in Pucallpa. He first met the managers of Esperanza Verde at amaZOOnico in Ecuador, where he inspired them to settle in the Peruvian jungle and assisted with the startup of Esperanza Verde, sharing his knowledge of local practices. As EV’s veterinarian, he brings valuable expertise, especially in reptiles, to enhance our animal care and support our efforts.

Twyla has volunteered at Esperanza Verde twice and has since fallen in love with the project. She lends her expertise as a copywriter as the creative force behind our monthly newsletter, making it a delightful read for our supporters. Her passion for our mission shines through in her writing, engaging and inspiring our community.

Arthur began his journey at Esperanza Verde as a volunteer and returned in the spring of 2023 to take on the role of assistant manager. He is dedicated to the job, the animals and the people working at EV. He brings a lot of fun into the work while keeping all organisation under control. Additionally, he oversees all email communications with prospective volunteers, ensuring a smooth onboarding process.

Craig started at Esperanza Verde as a volunteer in 2018 and never really went back home. He made a home in the local village of Bello Horizonte and helps at EV wherever needed—whether being our daily cook, maintenance, construction, feeding and caring for the animals, or handling administration, newsletters, and volunteer coordination. He never says no to carrying heavy bags of sand or bananas! Wherever there’s music, you’ll find Craig.

Machico has been with Esperanza Verde since the beginning, helping Douwe explore the land and build the volunteer house, the first structure at EV. Having always lived in this area, he knows the forest inside and out, drawing on his experience as a former hunter and logger. Now serving as EV’s forest ranger, he oversees the reforestation project, caring for young seedlings and trees. He often conducts jungle tours to monitor the condition of the forest and is also one of the primary caretakers of the plantation “Finca Don Jorge.”

Geyler is the head of construction and maintenance and has been with us since 2014. He has worked alongside Douwe for many years, gaining expertise in building enclosures and structures. Dedicated to his work, he has a great heart for all the animals at Esperanza Verde and is skilled in handling them. Whenever there’s a problem of any kind, he’s the one to call.

Rolli oversees the cultivation of a variety of fruits and leaves at the plantation Don Jorge since its beginning, together with Machico. Committed to organic practices, the team aims to reintroduce a resilient banana species that thrives in adverse conditions. At Finca Don Jorge, you can find a diverse array of fruits, including mango, papaya, pineapple, and oranges, all flourishing under his care.

Estefany has been managing food preparation for all the animals at Esperanza Verde since 2023, ensuring the inventory is well-maintained. With her lively personality and love for animals, she also assists with animal tours when needed and helps with the organization of EV, bringing joy to her work.

Flor has been part of EV for many years. She started as a cook, took time off to raise her newborn, and now provides us with fruit for the animals. Recently, she returned to prepare delicious lunches, delighting everyone with her cooking. Her contributions to organizing the kitchen have quickly made her a beloved figure among the staff and volunteers.

Regner, a local resident, has been with us for several years, supporting Geyler in construction and maintenance tasks while learning more about building and animal care. He’s also available to assist with feeding the animals when needed. Each morning, he crosses the river to join the team at Esperanza Verde, demonstrating his commitment and dedication to our work.

As the wife of Machico, Yda Luz played a vital role at Esperanza Verde as the first cook, providing meals during the early days of building the volunteer house. After several years focusing on her own household, she has returned to assist her husband in caring for the plantation “Finca Don Jorge.”