Karen Panum Thisted, our Programme Advisor in Denmark

By Karen Panum Thisted

Working as a Projects Abroad volunteer in 2005, first Mexico and then Peru for two months respectively, was a huge experience for me! I dare to day that anyone having volunteered abroad will agree with me that it is a unique experience to live and work in another culture. But not only was my experience with Projects Abroad amazing, it also encouraged me to expose this unique opportunity to other people. Thus, when I returned from my travels I was eager to pass Projects Abroad’s opportunities on to other people, young as well as old. I accidentally, but very fortunately, met the director of Projects Abroad, Peter Slowe, while volunteering in Mexico and I kept in touch with him. A few years later he contacted me and said that a new contact person for Denmark was needed. And here I am!

My first priority was translating the English web page into Danish, a process which began shortly after I started. It turned out to be more extensive that expected, a 120 hour long task – very interesting, but very tough and challenging as well! (You can see all of Karen’s hard work at www.projects-abroad.dk)

I also went to the United Kingdom to visit the Projects Abroad Headquarters and all our employees there. I met everyone at the office and I was introduced to our data system as well as many of our procedures.

Currently, my job consists of answering e-mails and calls from Danish prospects, updating the Danish web page and advertising campaigns – and generally staying updated of the changes in our organisation and projects.

I love working in an international environment and I like having the high degree of responsibility as I have for the Danish marketing. But most of all I love working for a concept that I believe in.
The best part is sending volunteers out in developing countries knowing that they will gain similar experiences as the ones I gained myself.

Pia with Dagmar and Pernille with her son Magne (she gave birth 22th July)

It was 1999 when I first met Pernille who was on our programme teaching in India when I was an assistant manager. On her return home to Denmark and my return to the UK she became our representative in Denmark for the last seven years. On a visit to Copenhagen I was introduced to Pia (Pernille’s cousin) who had been a volunteer in Thailand. As a fluent Thai speaker she fitted the bill for us as an assistant manager in Thailand before heading over to Ghana to work for us.

Pernille continues to work with our Danish volunteers although she took a short break to have a baby, Dagmar in July. Soon after her cousin Pia had a baby Magne.

Congratulations to Pia and Pernille!

Ian