A DI is a person with surplus, ambitions and dreams on behalf of humanity, and with the will to invest him/herself in pursuing this into a reality. It is a person who realizes that standing alone might not lead to the most satisfactory results, whereas being well organized and acting in a collective effort can have a larger effect. It is a person, driven by a burning desire to influence matters in this world - on grass root level - from people to people.
August 2010 Team
Rebecca Jorquera from Spain
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new end"
I am a Spanish/Aussie that started in the August 2010 team . I started this programme because I was really sick and tired of my life and the materialistic and inmoral society that I was sorrounded by. I came to a point where I really needed to make a big change, a huge u-turn in my life as It wasn´t going the way that I wanted it to and really had no purpose. I came upon the DI programme and thought that it would be perfect for me and decided to join.
Now after 2 months I can say that I made the right
decision; working with the kids at Juelsminde is really rewarding and a great experience and most importantly the oportunity of being able to do development work in Africa for a whole year is totally mindbreaking and breathtaking.
Ana Nadal from Cartagena, Spain
"Be the change that you want to see in the world"
Guauuu... a month and a half has already gone in this 24 months Development Instructor Program. Amazing!!!
I'm one of the nine crazy friends (now) in this 2010 Aug Team. I have dreamt about growing as a volunteer for the last six years after doing volunteer work during my holidays in different continents (Europe, Central America, South America, Asia..)... Now the chance is in AFRICA... Even though I have experience in volunteering what has made me join as a DI is the opportunity of learning, working, having a daily life, teaching, enjoying and getting to know not only Africa, which is my main goal, but also Denmark.
What I feel after my 36 years of life experiences is that I am one of the luckiest people that has been born on the rich side of the planet and what makes me feel great is to bring all that I have learnt and am to the other side in order to find the inner balance and purpose of my life.
February 2011 Team
Jessica Francombe from Wimborne, England
February 2011 Team
Jessica Francombe from Wimborne, England
Hey Folks,
I’m Jess, 26, from London.
I’ve always felt that the circumstances into which you were born are sheer luck. Being brought up in a middle class family in England I have never wanted for basics. I have always found discomfort in the relative luxury that surrounded me; knowing that others elsewhere were not experiencing such comforts.
Eventually I decided I couldn’t ignore niggling feeling any longer- it was time to do something.
When I read about this programme it seemed to make perfect sense. So often “charity projects” seems to involve the volunteer raising large amounts of money to travel to a glamorous location to build a wall (which the locals were perfectly capably of doing) only to return a few weeks later with a sense of not really having given enough, minimal new skills, and an overdraft the size of Kazakhstan.
This programme is different: You spend a year preparing yourself emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially for the demands of Africa so that when you get there your skills are honed and your usefulness is maximised. You also communicate a great deal with the DI’s already at your project and to those who replace you so that projects are sustained for years as opposed to weeks.
I’m looking forward to learning again (it’s been a while since uni!), to living with new cultures, to a frozen Baltic sea and to making a difference in Africa. Bring on the next two years!
Natalie Baker from Poole, England
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
My background is in studying Politics and Development Studies at SOAS in London. Following my studies I tried to find a job in a charity in London, but the jobs market is saturated and all I could find were admin roles as a starting point for a 'career in development', which left me thinking, how can you contribute to a better world stuck doing admin in an office, and how is this even going to give me the skills to help anyone? I knew for a long time that I wanted to contribute to positive action in the world that did not buy into the mainstream of mass consumer culture and indeed work to provide an alternative, but I found it difficult to find a path in the 'development' world that did not need friends in high places or a large upfront fee, as well finding an organisation that is about long term practical and creative sustainable development. I think I have now found all that I was hoping for and more in this program.
Now I have the chance in Denmark to be able to develop social, emotional and practical skills that I can offer wherever I go. This, for me, is what development is about. It is about development inside as much as out; to be able to offer creative and proactive solutions to problems wherever you go. So far, a month and a bit into the program, I feel that I have already learnt alot. The program is challenging in the ways that you need it to be, and instead of just focussing on the theory of doing good things in the world I am actively participating in the development of marginalised Danish teenagers as well as myself. I am looking forward to experiencing many things on the program, such as the building weekend and working in the garden (something which I am very passionate about) and am thoroughly enjoying my days. At the moment, amongst many other things, we are working on a school production of Billy Elliot. It is great fun as well as challenging and rewarding to be able to be involved in working on so many different activities, as well as have my own personal development and study tasks that I can guide myself through.
In now 11 months I will be putting what I have learnt to the test in one of Humanas Projects in Africa. I am excited to be on whatever is thrown at me, be it child aid, farmers club or HIV and AIDS awareness and action. Sustainable development needs a crossover between many aspects of society to work together so I know that I will find a place to be able to do some good. I know already that I have to be motivated, flexible and creative, and I can see how activities in Denmark will be helpful for being a positive force in the community. I look forward now to seeing what tomorrow brings!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
My background is in studying Politics and Development Studies at SOAS in London. Following my studies I tried to find a job in a charity in London, but the jobs market is saturated and all I could find were admin roles as a starting point for a 'career in development', which left me thinking, how can you contribute to a better world stuck doing admin in an office, and how is this even going to give me the skills to help anyone? I knew for a long time that I wanted to contribute to positive action in the world that did not buy into the mainstream of mass consumer culture and indeed work to provide an alternative, but I found it difficult to find a path in the 'development' world that did not need friends in high places or a large upfront fee, as well finding an organisation that is about long term practical and creative sustainable development. I think I have now found all that I was hoping for and more in this program.
Now I have the chance in Denmark to be able to develop social, emotional and practical skills that I can offer wherever I go. This, for me, is what development is about. It is about development inside as much as out; to be able to offer creative and proactive solutions to problems wherever you go. So far, a month and a bit into the program, I feel that I have already learnt alot. The program is challenging in the ways that you need it to be, and instead of just focussing on the theory of doing good things in the world I am actively participating in the development of marginalised Danish teenagers as well as myself. I am looking forward to experiencing many things on the program, such as the building weekend and working in the garden (something which I am very passionate about) and am thoroughly enjoying my days. At the moment, amongst many other things, we are working on a school production of Billy Elliot. It is great fun as well as challenging and rewarding to be able to be involved in working on so many different activities, as well as have my own personal development and study tasks that I can guide myself through.
In now 11 months I will be putting what I have learnt to the test in one of Humanas Projects in Africa. I am excited to be on whatever is thrown at me, be it child aid, farmers club or HIV and AIDS awareness and action. Sustainable development needs a crossover between many aspects of society to work together so I know that I will find a place to be able to do some good. I know already that I have to be motivated, flexible and creative, and I can see how activities in Denmark will be helpful for being a positive force in the community. I look forward now to seeing what tomorrow brings!
