Meet Our Volunteers
The success Born In Africa has enjoyed so far is only possible thanks to our wonderful volunteers and the work that they are doing. As a volunteer in South Africa, you will be given the opportunity to help our children in the schools and offer administrative assistance in our office. Thanks to you, the BIA children will be given a better education, which will lead to better future opportunities.
I give permission to Born in Africa to use my personal details within the guidelines of the BIA Privacy Policy.
If you’re interested in contributing to our organisation or would like more information, please fill in the application form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Born in Africa would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers for their commitment (and time) in aiding the BIA team in South-Africa. Their support is an integral component of our organization!
Our volunteers of 2018
2018: Demi Mullie, Laurien Namotte, Justine Peten, Melissa Hauser, Pia Gackstatter, Lilianne Van Acker, Wouter Quintens, Julie Stroobants, Anna Vollmer, Janne Gebruers, Raïssa Van Peer, Freya Weverbergh, Robbin Huijers and Marie König
Julie Stroobants
Volunteer from Belgium, June till August 2018
My name is Julie, I am 25 years old and since two year I work as a project consultant for Trifinance. So far for the boring part!
“Life is more than only making money”, my boyfriend and I try to live by this quote! Since a while we wanted to give back to the world. To share our love and energy with those who needs it and to make a difference in someones life. Despite the fact that I don’t have a background in the social care, I felt and feel in every bone that I want to mean something for kids and that I want to stimulate themselves to be the best version of themselves.
Born in Africa is the ideal organization for this and because of all the stories and information I already received from this organization my boyfriend and I decided to say our daily life goodbye and start doing something for the kids in this program. So far this adventure has only been positive. The appreciation, respect and love you get from those kids for only the smallest things you do for them, is giving me so much energy. At this moment I am giving a First Aid course to the kids at Wittedrift Stofpad and the Crags Primary school. I teach them how they should handle little accidents and at the end of my project I will give them a certificate that states that they finished the course.
Wouter Quintens
Volunteer from Belgium, June till August 2018
Hello, my name is Wouter Quintens and I am 26 years old. After two years working as a youth worker I decided together with my girlfriend to stop our life in Belgium and to start an adventure! An adventure called volunteering for Born in Africa. During our stay in South-Africa I already made sure that the kids from the different townships had a nice and varied program during their school holiday. I especially work with the kids from the lower grades, making sure they can keep up with school. But often we try to motivate the stronger kids to do their best in class. After the school hours I work with the kids from the Born in Africa-program. During the playful yet educational sessions I teach the oldest kids First Aid. The younger kids learn to work with their hands to see if they have talents that still needs to be discovered. in a word, a blessed adventure! Instructive for the kids, but at least as instructive for me as youth worker and human.
Pia Gackstatter
Volunteer from Germany, March till June 2018
I’m Pia Gackstatter, 19 years old from Germany. After my A-levels I decided to take a gap year to gain diverse experiences; one of them includes being a volunteer at Born in Africa. Not only does Born in Africa give the children great opportunities and perspectives, but it provides a chance for us volunteers as well: experiencing new cultures, understanding different backgrounds and appreciating the joy of the children. I’m looking forward to upcoming experiences and I am happy to be part of such a valuable project.
Melissa Hauser
Volunteer from USA, February till July 2018
I am from San Francisco, California. I came to South Africa to travel and soon after my visit to a children’s shelter in Plettenberg Bay I decided to stay and volunteer. I soon discovered Born in Africa, where I tutor children in grades 4 & 5 that struggle with English at Kranshoek Primary. After my sessions at the primary school I teach life skills at the Educational Centre to grades 2-7. I also teach English at Plettenberg Bay Secondary to grades 11 & 12. While I am not teaching English and life skills I educate children in various townships on protective behaviours against child abuse. I love working with children and look forward to furthering a career in doing so.
Justine Peten
Intern from KDG, January till May 2018
My name is Justine Peten and I’m 21. I’m in my final year of studying ‘Early childhood education and care’. I chose this internship to step out of my comfort zone. I have never taken on an adventure like this! In the mornings I help at Kranshoek Primary school where I work with children in Gr1-3 improving their Mathematics, English and Life skills. In the afternoons I work with the Born in Africa kids at the Educational Centre with children from Gr2-7. Thanks to this unique experience, my view on the world has changed.
Laurien Namotte
Intern from PXL Hasselt, February till June 2018
I’m Laurien Namotte, 22 from Belgium. I study social work at PXL Hasselt. In the mornings, I give extra classes and in the afternoons, I organize projects that revolve around food, agriculture and personal growth. The most important thing for me is that the children want to come, learn something new and most of all have fun! I learn something new every day and I enjoy working with the children.
Demi Mullie
Intern from Howest January till May 2018
I study social cultural work in Howest in Kortrijk, with specification on social artistic work. Four days a week I am active in The Crags, where I give extra classes and homework classes to the children. The homework classes I organise are mostly to practise the children’s’ maths and Afrikaans reading. Besides that, I also give life skills classes which is to improve their motoric and cognitive skills. This is very extensive, from catching techniques to bicycle lessons and art lessons. I also run my own projects in the afternoons, which are mostly artistic activities because of my studies and personal interests.
