Who We Are

Vice-President

Sasquia Antúnez Pineda

Sasquia’s journey with ASJ began in 2019 while completing her master’s degree in Theology and Community Development at the University of Toronto. Introduced to ASJ Honduras by her academic supervisor, she quickly connected with the organization’s mission. In 2022, she interned for four months in ASJ Honduras Juvenile Justice Unit and returned in 2023 to conduct her thesis research on youth offender social reintegration, deepening her bond with the team.

Those experiences sparked something lasting. In 2023, Sasquia joined ASJ-Canada Board and now serves as Vice-President, passionate about strengthening ties between Canada and Honduras to advance justice. In Canada, she works at the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE), advocating for ecological and social justice with the Canadian federal government. A former teacher with a background in psychology and education, Sasquia holds degrees from the National University of Honduras, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Toronto. She lives in Quebec with her husband and two daughters and loves running, tennis, travel, and visiting family in Honduras.

Secretary

Paul Verhoef

It was in 2011 when I first heard about the work of ASJ through a new friend, Karen. Together, we shaped a day-long “Festival of Faith and Justice” at the University of Calgary, and invited Dr. Kurt Verbeek from ASJ-Honduras to be one of the keynote speakers. The biblical justice advocated by Kurt and ASJ immediately drew both my wife and I in, ready to support it. My wife joined the ASJ-Canada board in 2011, and we both visited ASJ-Honduras in the next couple of years. I’m delighted to serve on the board now (since 2020) as ASJ-Canada learns from our sister organizations in both Honduras and the USA. Our board invites Canadians to join in forging pathways shaped by biblical justice in Canada.

Treasurer

John Paul

John Paul is the current board treasurer of ASJ-Canada and has been involved with this work since 2011. John and Joanne have four children, one of whom has spent a semester in Honduras, learning about ASJ-Honduras and the amazing work that is happening there. John and Joanne have been in Honduras twice for meetings together with the Canadian, US and Honduran ASJ boards. John is a soil scientist who specializes in recycling of organic matter and nutrients for a more healthy planet.

Board Member

Sarah Meza

Sarah first connected with ASJ-Honduras during a gap year in 2009, spending six months in Tegucigalpa on a learning and service trip. Moved by the courage and resilience of the ASJ team, she became a donor shortly after. Years later, Sarah and her husband returned to Honduras where they lived on and off for five years. That experience deepened her love for the country. In 2019, Sarah began volunteering with the ASJ board and officially joined as a member in 2023. She is passionate about supporting and uplifting the work of ASJ Honduras and believes true, lasting change comes from the dedication and leadership of the local people — the true stakeholders of the land. Sarah holds a degree in Peace & Conflict Studies and a diploma in Social Service Work. When not chasing after her daughters, she enjoys making cortados, gaming with her husband, and hiking her favourite trails.

Board Member

Mark Huyser-Wierenga

Mark is an Edmontonian, with over three decades experience in criminal law, first as a prosecutor and currently as a legal advisor for police. He and his wife, Debbie, have four children and four beautiful grandchildren. Mark and Debbie first met Kurt Ver Beek and Jo Ann Van Engen in 1985 while working at a summer camp for inner-city kids in Michigan. Debbie’s nephew, Abram Huyser-Honig, worked for ASJ in Honduras for a decade after spending a semester there as a student. Abram kept Mark informed about ASJ’s impactful work, and Mark has been involved with ASJ-Canada since its inception. The tragic story of Dionisio Diaz Garcia (assassinated in 2006 defending poor security guards and cleaning women against exploitative employers) particularly resonated with Mark, illustrating the bravery and commitment of ASJ staff and collaborators.

Board Member

Kayla Soetart

In Canada, Kayla currently works for a Homeless to Homes program, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness as they access stable housing and rebuild stability in their lives. Through both her professional and academic experiences, she has developed a deep commitment to poverty reduction and to understanding the systemic barriers that shape access to resources and opportunity.

Kayla holds a degree in Politics, History, and Economics, with an academic focus on international development and the broader systems that influence inequality and economic opportunity. She has also been part of a Honduras Water Project team, working to improve access to clean water and sanitation in rural communities through empowerment-based and community-led development.

During her visits to Honduras, Kayla had the opportunity to see the work of ASJ firsthand. Experiencing it in person deepened her understanding of the challenges communities face and reinforced that poverty cannot be addressed through single interventions; it is deeply systemic. What stands out to her about ASJ is its commitment to transparency, accountability, and structural reform, particularly in areas such as education and governance. She wants to be part of work that stands in partnership with others and supports efforts that empower communities and contribute to lasting change. As a Christian, her faith shapes her commitment to justice, dignity, and solidarity with our global neighbours.

Board Member

Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning

Jonathan first encountered the work of ASJ-Honduras while teaching a field course in development in Honduras in 2018, after many years of admiring their work from afar. He has been a fan and advocate for ASJ ever since.

Jonathan is a teacher, pastor, and advocate who currently serves as Program Director of the Micah Centre, The King’s University’s justice, poverty, and reconciliation education centre. Before joining the Micah Centre, Jonathan worked for several communities in Vancouver and Edmonton who supported those experiencing incarceration, poverty and homelessness. He is excited to support ASJ-Honduras’s faith-inspired work for justice through ASJ-Canada. Jonathan lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife Sarah and their three children.

Board Member

Saul Carcamo

Saul Cárcamo is a Lead Scientist and Bioinformatician at the Tisch Cancer Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he specializes in cancer epigenomics and computational genomics. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Mount Sinai. Originally from Honduras, Saul brings both a personal and professional commitment to the work of ASJ Canada. He understands firsthand the challenges facing Honduran communities and is passionate about supporting initiatives that advance justice, education, and human dignity in the country. His wife Judith is also deeply engaged in education leadership and directs a nonprofit supporting educational initiatives in Honduras, making this work a shared family calling. Saul lives in Surrey, BC with his wife and two daughters. Outside of his research, he is involved in his church community, enjoys cooking, reading, and playing chess.

Board Member

Kristen deRoo Vanderberg

Kristen first connected with ASJ when she was working with World Renew from 1999-2016. As one of World Renew’s partners in Honduras, ASJ consistently proved itself to be doing good work that created lasting changes for the people of Honduras. Today, Kristen works as the director of communications and donor engagement for Indwell, which provides affordable, supportive housing to people with mental health challenges, addictions, or disabilities. Kristen and her husband, Dave, live in Brampton, Ontario and have two university-aged children.