• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

InterNations Blog

Inside InterNations

  • Home
  • The InterNations Team
    • InterNations Alumni
    • Job Profiles
    • Off Duty
  • Company Culture
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Perks of the Job
    • Success Stories
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Us

Ending Hunger with the InterNations Volunteer Groups

7 October 2015 · by Margit Grobbel

Chronic hunger affects around 805 million people worldwide. InterNations Volunteer Group Consuls Elisabeth, Jacken, Alejandra, Dianka and Susanna are doing their part in working towards the goal of World Food Day, which takes place on 16 October, to make food available for everyone.

Distributing Food and Helping Children Grow Up

Jacken Zheng, Beijing, Guangai School
“If you want to help the underprivileged, you should have a clear goal and focus and have a long-term vision.”

Beijing-Feeding Orphaned Children
Jacken Zheng is one of the Consuls of the Beijing Volunteer Group. Together with the members, he works to provide monthly food support to orphaned children. Volunteers have the opportunity to bring food to the school or help prepare meals there. That way, they don’t only make sure the children don’t go hungry, they also get to interact with them. “We cook together. We play together. We try to understand their stories, their thoughts about the future, their gift,” Jacken says.
Already, many more people have joined their efforts and they hope to help the children grow up, too. So far, 16 students have received funding to attend junior middle school.

Elisabeth Grimsø, Bangkok, Duang Prateep Foundation
“I think the best thing is to see happy children but also happy volunteers!”

Bangkok-Lunch With Children
InterNations members in Bangkok also support their local community. With the help of their Consul, Elisabeth Grimsø, they prepare and eat lunch with children at the Duang Prateep Foundation. “Together with the volunteers, we help serve the food and prepare the table. And obviously a big job is the ice-cream scooping after lunch! The children absolutely love this special little treat.”
But the group’s activities go far beyond ice-cream scooping. “We help finding sponsors for the children, so that they can stay in school after they ‘graduate’ from the Duang Prateep kindergarten.”

Eating Is a Basic Thing

Susanna Kukaj Rossi, Rome, Street Feeding
“To eat is a basic thing. It is difficult to do anything on an empty belly.”

Rome-Feeding the Homeless

Together with other members of her Volunteer Group and the help of an organization called Sant Egidio, Susanna started to take food for homeless people out onto the streets of Rome. The best thing for her, though, is not just the opportunity to feed the homeless but to offer them the opportunity to interact with the volunteers. “They are not just waiting for food but also have a chat,” Susanna explains. “The chat is just as important to them as the food.”

Dianka Elodie Songo, Brussels, Les Samaritains
„The feeling I get by helping others, and by seeing all those who want to join me and help too, makes me feel that I have achieved something.”

Brussels-Feeding The Homeless

The Volunteer Group in Brussels, led by their Consul Dianka Elodie Songo, is also serving food to the homeless. For her, it’s about drawing attention to those who are often overlooked and to give something back to the community. “I chose food distribution because it gives us volunteers the chance to get in contact with homeless people, listen and hear their stories,” Dianka says. “It is important to talk to them and understand the fact that they are first human, and then homeless.” The Brussels Volunteer Group supports the local organization Les Samaritains, which is often short on volunteers to help with the food distribution.

Alejandra Müller, Berlin, Berliner Tafel
“When I think about all the people that will enjoy a warm meal due to our work, it is a nice feeling that compensates for the hard work.“

Berlin-Sorting Food Donations

The Berlin Volunteer Group, on the other hand, works with the Berliner Tafel to collect unused food from local supermarkets and give it to people in need. Group Consul Alejandra Müller was impressed with the organization’s work from the beginning and was happy to support them. “For me this concept of collecting leftovers from supermarkets to repackage them was totally new and a very good idea!” The hard work of the InterNations volunteers seems to pay off. Not only do the group members enjoy the activity and are happy to lend a helping hand, but the thought of all the people who get to enjoy a warm meal because of them makes it worthwhile.
At the same time, they have developed a great relationship with the Berliner Tafel. The organization is happy to get in touch with Alejandra whenever they are short on volunteers.

Helping and Learning

Throughout their volunteer work in their communities, all Consuls have learned a thing or two about how to approach volunteer projects aimed at fighting chronic hunger. Jacken realized early on that “if you want to help the underprivileged, you should have a clear goal and focus, as well as a long-term vision.”

Elisabeth found out that it makes a lot of sense to involve the community and the foundation that the Bangkok Volunteer Group is partnered with directly. “They get a much better deal on food than we would, so we let them order the food and we pay for it. This also allows them to go to local vendors, which in turn helps the community.”

For our Brussels Consul Dianka, it is important to be well prepared from regular meetings, but all preparations aside, the most important thing is to “continue to enjoy it and know your limits.”
Susanna realized that it doesn’t need a big charity event to give something back. “I have learned that people can make a difference on a small scale. We don’t need 350 people or more to do something good.”

Image credit: 1) InterNations 2) Elisabeth Grimsø, 3) iStockphoto, 4) Dianka Elodie Songo, 5) Alejandra Müller

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: InterNations Changemakers' Groups, InterNations Volunteer Program, World Food Day

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. (Miss) Ellizabeth Dorothea Mawhinney says

    19 October 2015 at 20:31

    Please let me know how I can help out with world hunger.

    Reply
    • Margit says

      20 October 2015 at 09:10

      Hi Ellizabeth,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! To find out if there is a Volunteer Group in your InterNations Community, please check the Groups section on our website:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/

      If you’d like to start a new Volunteer Group yourself, please contact volunteerprogram@internations.org directly. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  2. Pura Blasco says

    19 October 2015 at 09:59

    Hello! I think this is a good initiative. I’d like to know if there is some similar thing in Valencia (Spain).
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:50

      Hi Pura,

      Thanks for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! Unfortunately, we don’t have a Volunteer Group in Valencia yet. However, if you should be interested in getting a group started yourself, please contact us directly via volunteerprogram@internations.org. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  3. Johanna Belsuzarri says

    19 October 2015 at 00:30

    How can I get involved and get others from the miami chapter involved? Do we have an ambassador here that offers volunteering? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:49

      Hi Johanna,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! Unfortunately, we don’t have a Volunteer Group in Miami yet. However, if you should be interested in getting a group started yourself, please contact us directly via volunteerprogram@internations.org. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  4. Pravisha Singh says

    18 October 2015 at 13:56

    I am a retired school teacher who would like to volunteer with the feeding scheme projects. I am in SA.
    Please contact me as I am available immediately and want to make a difference.

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:40

      Hi Pravisha,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! To find out if there is a Volunteer Group in your InterNations Community, please check the Groups section on our website:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/

      If you’d like to start a new Volunteer Group yourself, please contact volunteerprogram@internations.org directly. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  5. Rodney Overes says

    18 October 2015 at 08:42

    Would love to have news like this on planed events earlier, received this mail on 16-10-2015 on the day of event, and thus it leaves no time to plan and help.

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:33

      Hi Rodney,

      Thanks for your feedback! I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t have time to fit the event in question into your schedule – planning for that on the same day is indeed very short notice.

      However, please note that the general newsletter wasn’t intended as an event notification. This was just supposed to be an overview of various activities we have going on at the moment. If you’d like to learn more about upcoming events and activities in your InterNations Community, please have a look at the calendar in the Events section on our website.

      https://www.internations.org/calendar/

      Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  6. judith ayson says

    18 October 2015 at 04:53

    Greetings!

    I am an Internations member and would like to do a joint project with Internations on the World Food Day with that of the volunteers. I know World Food Day has passed but we can do this on a monthly or bi-annually in the Philippines.
    How can I get in touch with this group of ours in Internations? I am very interested as I am in the Rotary International that we are looking for partners for our projects for humanity. At this point in time, as I will be the President of our Rotary cllub come 2016, I would like to collaborate with other groups as early as now.

    More power to Internations!!

    Judith B. Ayson
    Vice President
    Rotary Club of Cosmopolitan Cubao
    District 3780

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:48

      Hi Judith,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! I have passed on your enquiry on behalf of Rotary International to my colleagues who coordinate our Volunteer Program. Hope that helps!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  7. Jenny says

    18 October 2015 at 00:25

    I would like to be a volunteer. How can I get in contact? Who do I need to talk to?

    Please advise
    Thanks

    Jenny

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:23

      Hi Jenny,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! To find out if there is a Volunteer Group in your InterNations Community, please check the Groups section on our website:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/

      If you’d like to start a new Volunteer Group yourself, please contact volunteerprogram@internations.org directly. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  8. Cecilia Barriga says

    17 October 2015 at 19:34

    If there’s a way to help whether in Lima Perú or Santiago de Chile. Please count on me.

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:29

      Hi Cecilia,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! Unfortunately, we don’t have a Volunteer Group in Lima yet, but there is one in Santiago de Chile. You can find more information here:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/6491

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  9. YASMIN FERNANDO says

    17 October 2015 at 13:52

    I would like to VOLUNTEER and help INTER NATIONS in Brussels for the children. I can also cook well. Let me know

    Best regards

    Yasmin

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:22

      Hi Yasmin,

      Thank you for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! We do indeed have a Volunteer Group in Brussels. You can find more information here:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/6570

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  10. Aisha says

    17 October 2015 at 11:27

    Kindly tell me whom to contact someone(inter nation) in Oman for distributing food to underprivileged . I also want to join a group doing this campaigns . Thanks

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:21

      Hi Aisha,

      Thanks for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! Unfortunately, we don’t have a Volunteer Group in Oman yet. However, if you should be interested in getting a group started yourself, please contact us directly via volunteerprogram@internations.org. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  11. William Beavers says

    17 October 2015 at 08:27

    Hello from William in Costa Rica, I get and appreciate your news letter.
    Do you have a volunteer food program in Costa Rica. Contact me via e-mail or telephone [redacted].

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:20

      Hi William,

      Thanks for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! Unfortunately, we don’t have a Volunteer Group in Costa Rica yet. However, if you should be interested in getting a group started yourself, please contact us directly via volunteerprogram@internations.org. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  12. Chikomeni Manda says

    17 October 2015 at 06:06

    keep up the good work of fighting hunger

    Reply
  13. Dr Vinay Kumar says

    17 October 2015 at 05:07

    Hi Pune Members of Internations!

    I loved the concept shared by volunteers from other cities in feeding the orphaned and underprivileged children.

    I believe we can forma group in Pune with similar purpose and get going!

    As of now, I am going to be in Pune soon after my relocation.

    Let us prepare a blueprint of the proposed project and make a start.

    My best wishes to everyone reading this message!

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:18

      Hi Vinay,

      Thanks for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! Unfortunately, we don’t have a Volunteer Group in Pune yet. However, if you should be interested in getting a group started yourself, please contact us directly via volunteerprogram@internations.org. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  14. Danilo L. Luat says

    17 October 2015 at 03:39

    It’s a great heart and loving care, expecting nothing in return from the recipients. It is a God given talent to those who owns the passion of giving and caring. Please kindly be advised plastic cups are not the best for the vegetable soup. I wish that I am wrong and wish that Susana’s cups are paper cups for the soup.

    With kind regards to all ,
    Danilo
    Health Safety and Environment Deputy head

    Reply
  15. Fizza Woods says

    17 October 2015 at 02:37

    Hi, I like what I’m reading and I would like to volunteer to be one of the team.

    Please let me know how I can contribute my time to this organisation.

    Regards
    Fizza

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:17

      Hi Fizza,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! To find out if there is a Volunteer Group in your InterNations Community, please check the Groups section on our website:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/

      If you’d like to start a new Volunteer Group yourself, please contact volunteerprogram@internations.org directly. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  16. Lia says

    16 October 2015 at 19:37

    Hello,

    Do this project exist in London? If it does I would love to be part it.
    Please let me know?
    Regards,
    Lia

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:10

      Hi Lia,

      Thank you for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! We do indeed have a Volunteer Group in London. You can find more information here:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/6570

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  17. Yasmin Ahmed says

    16 October 2015 at 19:08

    Hi
    I really want to be part of this volunteer group . I live in NYC and would like to join a group in the city . I am retired and have time to give . Please do contact me via email as I am travelling out of US till 10 Nov . Once back my phone will be operational again and the number is [redacted].
    Warm regards . Yasmin

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:09

      Hi Yasmin,

      Thank you for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! We do indeed have a Volunteer Group in New York. You can find more information here:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/1676

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  18. Veronica Holton says

    16 October 2015 at 18:47

    Hello,

    I’m interested in volunteering to end hunger. Please let me know how I may join here.

    I can be reached via e-mail at vh3@nyu.edu.

    thanks so very much.

    Veronica Holton

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:03

      Hi Veronica,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! To find out if there is a Volunteer Group in your InterNations Community, please check the Groups section on our website:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/

      If you’d like to start a new Volunteer Group yourself, please contact volunteerprogram@internations.org directly. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  19. Bette Drummond says

    16 October 2015 at 18:34

    I attend a small church in the eastern part of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, where we feed 70+ children several days a week–not through InterNations.

    Reply
  20. Bridget says

    16 October 2015 at 16:48

    Do u have an outreaxh progeam in the Paris region ?

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 10:00

      Hi Bridget,

      Thank you for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! We do indeed have a Volunteer Group in Paris. You can find more information here:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/6810

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply
  21. edwin says

    16 October 2015 at 16:08

    good day

    how do I join the volunteer team

    regards

    edwin

    Reply
    • Margit says

      19 October 2015 at 09:56

      Hi Edwin,

      Thanks a lot for your interest in the InterNations Volunteer Program! To find out if there is a Volunteer Group in your InterNations Community, please check the Groups section on our website:

      https://www.internations.org/activity-group/

      If you’d like to start a new Volunteer Group yourself, please contact volunteerprogram@internations.org directly. Thanks!

      Best,
      Margit

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Instagram Icon YouTube Icon LinkedIn Icon XING Icon

Recent Posts

  • Remote First: The InterNations Kickoff 2021
  • Changing Careers within the InterNations Team
  • Job Profile: What Does a Feel Good Manager Do All Day?
  • What a Year! What 2020 Was Like for InterNations

Further Reading

Global Mobility Insights
Global Talent Mobility Insights:
New thinking for global mobility and HR professionals.

InterNations Magazine
InterNations Magazine:
Perspectives on expat life.

Search

Copyright © 2021 · InterNations GmbH · Made in Munich with ♥ · Privacy Policy · Legal Details / Impressum