What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory was volunteering for 6 months in a project in Mozambique. I was training to be a Development Instructor and worked alongside many Mozambicans, working hard to improve their living conditions.
It was an unforgettable experience, which has changed my life forever.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
It's hard to define just one factor, but I believe it is very important to have a clear mission and clear goals, accompanied with a leadership team that creates motivation and inspiration so other people working with the organization will stand for the mission and the goals as well.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
The change in me is hard to describe, as I have learned so much. I feel a completely different person, with much bigger capacities, leadership skills and ready to take on any responsibility that is needed to take. I have grown my confidence and my abilities to handle any situation, however difficult it may be.
What unique qualities does your company possess?
Compared to other organizations, I think the fact that we don't have a hierarchical model, but a decision making model that is based on consensus, cooperation and trust in each others capacities.
This creates a much bigger sense of responsibility and helps for everyone to be on the same page and work towards the same goals.
Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of your current team.
There are many moments, but I think what is most valuable is the moment of the last evaluations with our participants, where they and we can clearly conclude on how much they have learnt and how much they have grown as human beings during their time in our programs.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
There are many good stories, especially when we can see that our former students are making long-term commitments working together with the poor. One specific story is of a former student from Venezuela who ended up working in a big organization in Angola, improving the lives of many people.