Meet The Volunteers- Ella Van Ginkel

Where are you from?

Hey, my name is Ella. I am 17 years old and I’m from the Netherlands.

What project did you sign up for?

I signed up for the project Kruger to Coast and I participated for 6 weeks. In Swaziland, I participated in the Childcare program at the NCP’S.

What do you do for a living?

Right now I have a gap year so i work a lot and travel. I plan on studying in September.

What does volunteering mean to you?

At first, volunteering did not mean so much to me. I knew that I wanted to travel and do some volunteering in my gap year. But the impact of volunteering was so much bigger than I expected. After my trip to Swaziland, I knew I wanted to do more volunteering because it is very important! There are so many people around the world who need help and now I have seen that with my own eyes. So after my trip, volunteering means a lot to me because I have seen what I can do and be effective in a short period of time.

Reason for choosing All Out Africa?

On the internet, there were so many organisations to choose from. I chose All Out Africa because it has more volunteering programs and travelling all in one. There were also a lot of good reviews so I knew would be safe. The staff was really kind and more of a friend than your guide.

Your experience as a volunteer, did it had any positive impact in your life?

Yes, it has. I am looking at things with another perspective now. I appreciate the little things I have in my life more and try to enjoy them. After this whole experience, I definitely want to do some more volunteering!