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 2019
2019: Olivia Martin, Dominik Geissler, Amelie Gensel, Sofie Segers, Hannah Van Caneghem, Femke Gerlo, Ulrike Vlemincx, Sina Rilling, Karen Poelman, Bodi Janssen, Nicole Catteeuw, Olivier Dhoore, Kristel Vandenschrieck, Robbin Huijers
Ulrike Vlemincx
Intern from KDG Hogeschool, January until May 2019
Hello, my name is Ulrike Vlemincx and I’m 22 years old. I’m in my final year ‘Early Childhood Education and care”. When I was little my dream was to go on an international internship. When my school informed me about Born in Africa, I was super excited. I’m glad to be here and help the children. I work in the schools of The Crags and Wittedrift Primary. I support the teachers by giving the children extra lessons in Mathematics, Afrikaans, English and Life skills. After school we work with the children from grade 2 till 7 and do lovely stuff with them! I've had a great and lovely time here with the children!
Karen Poelman
Intern from HoWest, February until May 2019
Hi, my name is Karen Poelman and I’m 23 years old. I’m a student in Applied Psychology and I’m doing my internship with Born in Africa. It has always been my dream to come to South Africa so this internship was the perfect opportunity to get to know the culture. Two days a week I work in Kranshoek and the other two days in Wittedrift Primary. In the mornings, I work with the kids from grade 1, 2 or 3 and in the afternoons, I organize activities for the BIA children with the other volunteers. This internship is definitely an unforgettable experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Sofie Segers
Belgian volunteer, January 2019 until May 2019
Hey there, I'm Sofie Segers and I'm 23 years old. I studied (school-)psychology at the KUL in Belgium and before I wanted to find a job I wanted to volunteer. It's always been my dream to come to Africa, and kids are my passion, so volunteering for Born in Africa is really a dream come true. I love working with the children individually before noon and doing the program in the afternoon with the BIA-kids. The crags primary really feels like home. I am really going to miss the kids when I have to go home again, but I'll be back for sure!
Femke Gerlo
Intern KDG College, January tot June 2019
Hi! My name is Femke and I'm 20 years old. I am in my final year in Socio-educational Care work and very grateful to be doing my internship here at Born in Africa for 5 months. It has always been my dream to intern abroad and now I finally got the opportunity to do so! It`s not always easy to be so far away from home, but it`s most definitely worth it! I have already learned so much and I really enjoy my time here. The Born in Africa team is very dedicated which makes me proud to be a part of it. I work at Kranshoek Primary school where I work with children from grade 1- 3 to help them with their Maths, English and Life skills. In the afternoon I organize my own projects. So far so good!
Sina Rilling
German volunteer, January until April 2019
Hello I am Sina. I have just finished high school in Germany and as part of my gap year I am in South Africa for 3 months. I really enjoy the time with Born in Africa – there’s always something exciting happening. In the week I am helping at two schools: Harkerville and Kranshoek. It is great that by the time the children remembered me and entrusted their stories to me. Especially during the camps and outings we got to know each other really good and I enjoy playing soccer with them. During the weekends we have a lot of time to explore the area around Plett and South Africa in general.
Amelie Gensel
German Volunteer, January until March 2019
I’m Amelie, 18 years old from Germany. I finished last summer my A-levels. To gain diverse experiences, I decided to take a gap year before I start studying. So I’m grateful that I could support Born in Africa for a few months. My stay started with handing out the school uniforms and ended with the outings for the children in the school holidays. I really enjoyed the varying work with the children.
Marie König
Intern from University Twente, October 2018 until February 2019
Hi everyone, I’m Marie König and I’ll be with Born in Africa for four months. I am pursuing a bachelor in Psychology at the University of Twente. I am doing an internship with Born in Africa and simultaneously writing my research about South Africa’s educational system. It’s tough to balance Born in Africa, university and my social life but I am passionate about all three which makes it worth it. It’s amazing to see what Born in Africa has already done for children in the area. Working here inspires me to do something meaningful of my own in the future. It’s admirable to see the hard work and dedication the Born in Africa team and I’m excited to help this positive initiative grow.
Robbin Huijers
Belgian volunteer, October 2018 until February 2019
Hi, my name is Robbin Huijers and I’m 24 years old. I finished my studies in Educational Sciences and Human Resource Management and after years of studying I felt the need to discover the world and do something. I’m working at Harkerville Primary School, a small but cosy school. I’m doing extra reading and maths with the children in our vibrant classroom, newly painted during the last school holidays. In the afternoon, I do homework classes with the Born in Africa children in the educational centre in Kranshoek. I’m really enjoying my time in the schools, and I’m so proud that I’m part of the Born in Africa family now.
Olivia Martin & Dominik Geißler
German volunteers, 7 Januari until 20 March 2019
Hey, we are Olivia Martin and Dominik Geissler, both 19 years old. We just finished school in Germany and now doing a voluntary year here in Plettenberg Bay. Actually we are here in South Africa with another German organisation that supports us, but we have been interested in the Born in Africa programme for a while, so we decided to just ask them if we can volunteer for them for a few months. They welcomed us very friendly and we volunteered the last three months for them at the Harkerville primary school. We only had time to work in the morning because we are also volunteering in other projects and we didn't stay with them, but it was absolutely no problem for Born in Africa. I really enjoyed the time in the school and I'm really thankful for the spontaneity and openness of the Born in Africa Team and their volunteers.
Nicole Catteeuw
Belgian volunteer, April until August 2019
Hello, I’m Nicole Catteeuw, a maths teacher for grades 9 and 10 in Belgium. It has been my lifelong dream to do voluntary work abroad, where children’s lives are more challenging than in Belgium. I decided to put my teaching on hold and a colleague of mine introduced me to Born in Africa in South Africa. Working in a school environment here is perfect for me! In the mornings I support the teachers of grade 3, 5 and 7 in both Kranshoek and Harkerville primary, helping students in their mathematics. In the afternoons, I work at the BIA educational centre in Kranshoek where I aid the BIA children with their homework and mathematics. Time just flies here and I’m absolutely loving it. It’s an adventure, a life experience and I’m grateful to be taking part in this project!
Olivier Dhoore
Belgian volunteer, April until July 2019
Hey, my name is Olivier Dhoore but everyone knows me here as Ollie, 22 y/o student Business studies with specialisation in Finance at Cass Business School London. I decided to take a gap year between my bachelor and master’s degree to give myself some time to apply for master programs abroad. I love travelling but I’d be crazy not to grasp the opportunity Born in Africa offers as this is a totally different kind of adventure. I work at both the Crags and Harkerville primary school where I teach the grade 3 kids Afrikaans and mathematics. Since my expertise lies within mathematics I try to help the older grades with their mathematics after school hours. The kids’ smiling faces and appreciation are what makes it worthwhile getting up early every single morning… This eyeopener of an experience is one never to be forgotten thanks to BIA, baie dankie!
Kristel Vandenschrieck
Belgian Volunteer, July 2019
Hello! My name is Kristel Vandenschrieck, I’m from Rijmenam, Belgium. When Born in Africa was founded in 2003, my parents became godparents, so I have known Born in Africa for a long time already! This year I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer, together with my friend Nicole. It’s an amazing feeling to know that everybody at BIA works towards the same goal: to give the children better chances and opportunities in life. Because I'm a mathematics teacher by profession, I love to help the children here with their 'syferkunde' (algebra). The smile on their faces, makes it all worth while! Working for BIA, doesn't really feel like working.
Robbin Huijers
Belgian volunteer, July till August 2019
Hi there, my name is Robbin and I already was a volunteer at BIA from September '18 till February '19! I couldn't stay away for too long, so here I am again! As soon as I had the opportunity to come back, I took it. Ans how good it feels to be back! Back with the awesome BIA team, at the schools and with the lovely kids! It's fascinating to see how BIA is improving constantly, even in the short time I was gone, a lot has changed. There are computer classes in more school now, blackboards have been put up and class rooms are nicely equipped with educational materials. I feel extremely proud to be part of this amazing project!
