Landmines Youth Symposium Speakers
Maria van Santen
Author, Vanna's Dance
Maria van Santen graduated from Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario with a BA Honours in Psychology. A Canadian national, she spent 12 years abroad, which included seven years with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Having lived in 6 different countries, Maria has gained a wealth of experience in dealing with all sorts of situations and has thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.
Maria wrote the children’s story, Vanna’s Dance, while living in Geneva. The story was inspired by the true story of a 5 year old girl in Cambodia who lost her right leg when she stepped on a landmine. In 2001, the story was posted on the website of the UK Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM).
In 2002, Maria returned to Canada. Wanting to do something more with ‘Vanna’s Dance’, she co-organized a contest with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (Waterloo Region, Ontario) to have students provide the illustrations. The book was then turned into a fund-raising project for AAM. Profits are donated to AAM, through the Canadian Landmine Foundation, and to a private fund for Vanna.
Vanna’s Dance is also available in French as La danse de Vanna.
Maria has had numerous speaking engagements on the issue of landmines in schools, churches and other organizations such as Rotary Clubs and Kiwanis. She also speaks on the topic of self-publishing/publishing and promoting your work.
Maria is also co-author with her husband, Onno van Santen, of the book From A Virtual Fling To The Real Thing: Diary Of An Internet Relationship. They reside in Kitchener, Ontario where Maria works as a Publicist and continues her writing projects.
Email: vannasdance@yahoo.ca