Tess is a 20-something traveler and perpetual student currently based in Lille, France. She loves delving into new places via favorite local eats, learning fun new expressions in French, and pretending she has a great depth of knowledge about wine.
What is your favorite travel memory?
It's so hard to choose...I have so many cherished memories from my travels - that's why I keep doing it!
I think I would have to talk about my most valuable learning experience. When I was 18, I had a really special trip to Italy with my family. On our last morning in Venice, I woke up just before dawn and went out into the city to get a coffee and do some exploring before the tourists started filling the streets. Seeing the city as it woke up in such an authentic, quiet state redefined travel for me. I learned in that morning what it means to see a place - really see it - outside of the tourist lens, and I carry that lesson with me still. I always try to wander a bit off the beaten path and love asking locals for recommendations.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
At the beginning of my work with NGO Taxi, I was feeling a little cynical about the state of the world; it's hard to feel positive in the face of all the bad news we see every day. But, in the past few months, I have been able to see firsthand just how many people are passionate about caring for endangered animals, the environment, and other people.
Knowing that there are many, many volunteers out there who are trying to create positive change has given me a renewed sense of hope, and I feel motivated to see what so many passionate people can accomplish.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
Definitely the Surf & Help Camp in Ecuador.
I have always wanted to learn how to surf, and I'm very interested in marine wildlife protection and rehabilitation (if only I lived closer to the beach!).
I would love to do my part to protect our oceans in a meaningful way...and what better setting than the sunny South American coast?
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
We are an internationally-based team - it's so interesting to work with people from a range of different countries, and I think it's cool that we can all speak at least two languages (I'm pretty jealous of those who can speak 4-5).
Honestly, I am proud of our team every day. The work we do is very fast-paced and always changing, and it's definitely not always easy to manage work across several time zones. But, somehow, all the moving pieces fall into place and everything is kept running smoothly. It's really quite impressive!
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Commitment to values.
I really appreciate that NGO Taxi has committed to programs that provide long-term, sustainable solutions like micro-financing initiatives and education workshops. Our programs do not provide a quick and easy bandage over deep-rooted problems; NGO Taxi does the hard work of creating programs that have sustainable outcomes and truly accomplish the mission of helping the communities we work within.
