Lourens de Jong studied so-called “geography of developing countries” at the universities of Groningen and Utrecht (Netherlands). During his studies, he moved to Berlin in 1983, where he completed a minor subject at the FU and soon became active in the so-called “Third World Education and Action Center” (BAZ) in Berlin, where he ran the so-called “Third World Bookshop” on a voluntary and full-time basis for many years. In addition, he led many international workcamps at the ijgd (International Youth Community Services) and was a member of the Ghana-AG, which cooperated with projects in Ghana, after having participated in various international workcamps in Ghana and Togo in 1981. In 1992 he got a permanent position at the ijgd as coordinator for international volunteer services in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He has set up and managed various programmes for many years: international workcamps (outgoing and incoming), medium-term “unregulated” volunteer services, accompanying language courses, weltwärts North-South with more than 100 volunteers annually and the weltwärts-South-North programme with up to 42 volunteers. He was on the advisory board since the beginning of the weltwärts program, later renamed PSA (program steering committee). In addition, he was the coordinator of integrative youth camps for children and young people with and without disabilities for another 10 years.
Since 1.3.2020 he has taken over the management of ventao. In addition to the administrative tasks of the association, he is especially responsible for advising the member organisations and representing ventao in the programme steering committee and is active in many working groups of the joint venture. In addition, he is in charge of the contacts at ventao for visa and security in Bolivia, Peru, Mozambique and South Africa.
Email: lourens.de.jong@ventao.org
Nathalie Bambalinkenga has been supporting the accounting of ventao since late 2014. Sie is originally from Rwanda, where she worked for the Minitry of Finance as a tax auditor. In 1996 she came as a refugee to Germany. Here Nathalie finished a vocational training as a management assistant in wholesale and foreign trade. She has been a volunteer with the German Red Cross for many years.
Nathalie has two adult children.
Email: nathalie.bambalinkenga@ventao.org
Carina Dürrschmied studied Democracy and Governance M.A. at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. Since her exchange year in the USA (2009-2010), she has volunteered in various capacities at Youth for Understanding e.V. and the umbrella organization European Educational Exchanges – Youth for Undestanding. From 2014 to 2021, she represented the umbrella organization in various formats (European Youth Forum, Structured Dialogue, Youth Work Recognition Network, Youth Work Convention, etc.) and on topics (advocacy, inclusion, youth work, intercultural exchange, etc.) at the European level. Due to her voluntary work, she has many years of experience in representing the interests of associations, consulting, networking and public relations. Having spent time abroad in the USA, South Africa and Peru, she has knowledge of the various regions.
In the past, she was employed by the development policy association and ventao member, South African German Network e.V. (SAGE Net). Since August 2024, she has taken over the position of Quality Development Officer at ventao. She is responsible for the quality management of advice and support for member organizations, the organization and implementation of ventao events and training courses, newsletters, knowledge management and management of the website and social media channels as well as IT infrastructure.