Jannes Ritskes was born on April 22, 1948 in Smilde, Netherland. In 1951, her family immigrated to Canada, and she spent her elementary and high school years in Brockville Ontario, although she never finished grade 12. Jannes worked in the business field until 1975, after which she went to Calvin College in 1976. In 1980, she finished her baccalaureate degree in psychology and sociology with latin honors, Cum Laude.

Janne Ritskes has over 40 years of international experience with integrated community development programs. Her work has focused on the poorest of the poor in the slums of the US, Kenya, East Africa, the Philippines, and Cambodia. She stayed in the Philippines from 1980-1988, 1988-1991 in Kenya East Africa, and from 1992 until present in Cambodia for her CRWRC Development work. She developed two NGOs—Tabitha Foundation Cambodia and Nokor Tep Women’s Hospital (Foundation).

Janne Ritskes resides in both Cambodia and Canada.