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.