Joël Voordewind
Encyclopedia
Joël Stephanus Voordewind (born July 9, 1965 in Sleen
, Drenthe
) is a Dutch
politician
and former development aid
worker. As a member of the ChristianUnion
(ChristenUnie) he has been an MP since November 30, 2006. He focuses on matters of foreign affairs
, defense
, development aid
, youth
and family
.
) at VU University Amsterdam, started working as an assistant for the Dutch Labour
parliamentary party. He began in 1991 and left the party in 1994. After this he worked for the European Union
, the United Nations
and an international Christian aid organisation named Dorcas Aid. For some time he was committed as a spokesman to the Dutch Secretary of Defence.
After some time Voordewind came to the conclusion that because of his Christian
convictions, it would be better if he switched to a Christian party. He made this decision in 1999 and began to work for the parliamentary group of the ChristianUnion. In 2001 he became their campaign leader for the Dutch general election in 2002
. He also led the campaign towards the general election in 2003
. In 2003 he was a member of the States-Provincial
of North Holland
. Until 2006 he was head of the public relations
division of the party. He was chairman of the local ChristianUnion in the Dutch capital Amsterdam
for which in 2002 and 2006 he stood for the local council, but both times the CU gained no seats.
Voordewind was elected into the Dutch Parliament in 2006. He was the fourth name on the candidate list of the ChristianUnion, which doubled its amount of seats from three to six. For this party he is the spokesman for all issues concerning the health system, welfare and sports, defence and European Affairs.
He is married and the father of two children. He lives in Amsterdam and is a member of a Dutch Vineyard-church
.
Sleen
Sleen is a village in Drenthe, Netherlands of about 2500 people. Sleen has been inhabited for centuries. Much ancient history can be found in the area, particularly in the forests . At birth and during the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden...
, Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former development aid
Development aid
Development aid or development cooperation is aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social and political development of developing countries.It is distinguished...
worker. As a member of the ChristianUnion
ChristianUnion
The ChristianUnion , abbreviated to CU, is a Dutch Christian democratic political party. A centrist party, the CU's policies combine social conservatism and soft euroscepticism with more centre-left positions on economic, immigration, and environmental issues.Founded in 2000 as a merger of the...
(ChristenUnie) he has been an MP since November 30, 2006. He focuses on matters of foreign affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
, defense
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
, development aid
Development aid
Development aid or development cooperation is aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social and political development of developing countries.It is distinguished...
, youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
and family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
.
Biography
Voordewind, after receiving a degree in political sciences (with a specialization in international relationsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
) at VU University Amsterdam, started working as an assistant for the Dutch Labour
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
parliamentary party. He began in 1991 and left the party in 1994. After this he worked for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and an international Christian aid organisation named Dorcas Aid. For some time he was committed as a spokesman to the Dutch Secretary of Defence.
After some time Voordewind came to the conclusion that because of his Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
convictions, it would be better if he switched to a Christian party. He made this decision in 1999 and began to work for the parliamentary group of the ChristianUnion. In 2001 he became their campaign leader for the Dutch general election in 2002
Dutch general election, 2002
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 15, 2002....
. He also led the campaign towards the general election in 2003
Dutch general election, 2003
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on January 22, 2003.-Background:...
. In 2003 he was a member of the States-Provincial
States-Provincial
The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance...
of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. Until 2006 he was head of the public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
division of the party. He was chairman of the local ChristianUnion in the Dutch capital Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
for which in 2002 and 2006 he stood for the local council, but both times the CU gained no seats.
Voordewind was elected into the Dutch Parliament in 2006. He was the fourth name on the candidate list of the ChristianUnion, which doubled its amount of seats from three to six. For this party he is the spokesman for all issues concerning the health system, welfare and sports, defence and European Affairs.
He is married and the father of two children. He lives in Amsterdam and is a member of a Dutch Vineyard-church
Association of Vineyard Churches
The Association of Vineyard Churches, also known as the Vineyard Movement, is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian denomination with over 1,500 affiliated churches worldwide....
.