Author: Rosanne van Zalingen

Posted on by — Leave a comment

1st Update 8 weeks expedition Young Leaders South Africa 2022

Thank you for checking out our blog! This is a blog about our two month trip to South Africa and we are Willemijn (18 years old), Tijn (19 years old), Quinn (20 years old) and Declan (24 years old). Declan is the group’s facilitator.

All 4 of us were ready to go on Friday, October 14, 2022, but our flight was rescheduled 2 times by KLM unfortunately. After the second time, we decided to cancel the flight ourselves and booked a flight via Brussels.

So now almost a week later we all leave for Brussels by train. Everything went smoothly, it only was a long journey. We left home about 1:00 PM and arrived at our destination in Johannesburg South Africa at 10:00 AM the next day.

After doing some shopping that day, we recovered from the long journey and unpacked our suitcases. The next day we had an appointment with Barrie and Jacque, the supervisors and managers from South Africa. We had discussed how everything will go for the next 8 weeks and what we want to get out of our trip.

In the weekend we went to the Sterkfontein Caves close to where we are staying. These are caves created by nature itself, but also exploded by humans to extract raw materials and minerals from the caves. We have also been invited by other volunteers to go out for dinner to get to know them.

We have also oriented our accommodation well and got to know all the people here. We stay here in LIV village for orphans, who got a new family here. There is also a crèche and a baby home on our site, where children also come from a slum. The slum is not far from here and LIV supports this slum called Joslovo. LIV is a non-profit organization mainly focused on helping children. There is also a large garden on the property from which a lot of fruit and vegetables are obtained, which is also used to support the people in the area.

We are therefore here to help LIV and to volunteer. You can work in the garden, the crèche, maintenance team and in the office (administration).

After the weekend it was time to get to work on Monday. We immediately started our joint project. This project is inventing and making a meditation garden. We were immediately taken to a dream location where we could get inspiration from. Immediately our creativity started to work and the ideas started to come. When we came back from the dream location we immediately started our plan.

Willemijn has been in the crèche almost every day since Monday to help. In addition to working on the plan for the garden, Tijn and Declan also helped with the maintenance team. Among other things, they have a large place where all loose dead bamboo has been removed and given to people in the area who could use it. Quinn has only been concerned with the plan for the meditation garden.

Quinn’s experience this week

On Monday, the site-manager of LIV, Dan, took us on a small tour around the area. First, we started off with a place called Casa Linga. It’s a gorgeous place that doubles as both a garden and a wedding venue. It’s very spacious, and vibrant of countless colors. Think flowers, statues, trees, and all kinds of other decorations. We absorbed everything we saw, and boomed with inspiration for the meditation garden. Personally, it felt really good, feeling my brain do some work while brainstorming. After grabbing some ice-coffee, we got up and took a drive around the area, where Dan told us a lot about the country, similar gardens, and other places of interest. I found it pretty pleasant and relaxing. We were told there would be a variation of wildlife, but unfortunately, we didn’t get to see too much. We got back and took a look around our garden, and started planning.

We had a LOT of ideas, but realized that, unfortunately, we would have to stay for a couple more years to finish all of it, which felt really unfortunate, but I don’t think I have that time at my disposal. So we started thinking a little smaller, and focusing on one smaller part of the garden, in which we felt would have the most impact. We chose to choose this part (picture). Because it already looked nice, but was also easiest to access.

The biggest requirements were:

  • Build a peaceful place to sit down and get some rest
  • Increase the crop yield by 300%

So we started brainstorming, and I made some pictures around the place, and wrote down what we wanted to do with it. But then I was thinking, that it might be good to take some pictures from above. So we asked around, and turns out, we found someone that had a drone. We had to wait a while before we could actually do it, unfortunately. But it was the start of a great project, and something I was very looking forward to.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Opening Boikhutso creche South Africa 2019

Our foundation lectures at primary schools across the country. With this we achieve 2 goals: in 2 sessions we let children experience how powerful they are. And we tell something about it leadership, their talents and inspiration. Yes, also something about bullying, insecurities and its consequences for children. The second goal is that children from those primary schools collect money to pick up. To build new schools in Africa and Asia.

We stand for powerful children and young people. Our mission is to make children and young people happier in a world full of distractions by offering them the opportunity through movement to increase their self-awareness and self-confidence and thus empower them.

Klaar voor vertrek!

Wednesday evening 8 May 2019:

The day Rosanne, Sem, Bart and Babette left for South Africa to open Boost the World Foundation’s first Boost school!

The first day was all about the beautiful nature, WALKING through the bush! out of your comfort zone, super cool!

Saturday May 11:

Before the official opening, there was a lot of fun in the playground at the crèche!

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BOIKHUTSO CRÈCHE

Besides all the children, their parents, teachers and headmaster, the Chief (“mayor” of the village) was also present, which was very special.

Sunday May 12:

Day of rest!

Monday May 13:

Visit Nourish Eco Village

Nourish is the local foundation that built the school on our behalf. A great, sustainable foundation, who believe in fighting poaching through poverty reduction. And so all their projects are integrated, holistic (seeing everything as a whole) and sustainable, to develop a better future.

Monday May 13:

Visit Pfukani Creche with lecture by Rosanne to the teachers about leadership.

A workshop “making packaging toys” was given by Izingane, the foundation that brought us in contact with Nourish.

A Nourish employee will give a lecture about the nutritional supplements that are distributed at the crèches

Facts and figures Crèche Boikhutso

The total costs for the crèche were R 100,000 (being +/- 6,000 Euro)

These costs were spent on:

The building (purchase, transport, electricity and equipment)

R 48.000

Infrastructure (playground, storage, water tank, etc)

R 17.549

Nourish (administration, petrol, guidance costs, running costs until 31-12-2109)

R 26,000

Unforeseen costs

R 8,451

The board of Boost the World Foundation wants to offer continuity to the nursery, so the aim is to continue to support Nourish annually in the running costs of R 30,000 per year, which amounts to 1,800 Euro.

Rosanne van Zalingen

The founder of Boost the World Foundation

As a child Rosanne dreams of setting up schools and orphanages in the world. She believed back then that you can create a beautiful world by connecting worlds. At a very young age, Rosanne has been making mood boards with pictures of nature and paintings of orphanages in a beautiful world. The image of her ideals is rudely disturbed when she is faced with eating problems, a negative self-image, burnout and is a victim of bullying.

Sem Wernsen

Young Leader of Boost the World Foundation

13 years – From depression to purpose I suffered from depression from the age of 10 to 12. With the help of medication I got out of there but I still felt different and very insecure because the depression was always a bit present … Until Rosanne asked me to participate in Boost the World Foundation. While I was kickboxing every week with Bibi, I noticed that I was getting stronger physically and mentally. I discovered that I really enjoyed participating in a project that would make other children feel more empowered. In mid-May I went to South Africa with my mother and Rosanne to open a first school for underprivileged children there. Really cool and special to be able to do that. I hope my honest story (because I can’t really be proud of my depression 😜) makes it clear: Don’t worry about what others expect from you! Even though you may be different, feel or look different from the others around you, find what empowers you. I hope that with what I do I can make the world a little bit more beautiful. For myself and certainly also for other children!

Posted on by

Workshop for the lower primary school classes: “Play without stuff”

Education is primarily aimed at obtaining diplomas (preferably the highest diploma). BOOST The World Foundation focuses on intrinsic motivation. Our lectures and workshops are in line with the natural motivation of children to discover the world. During our sessions they don’t learn “for later,” but they learn what is later. In particular how they should deal with setbacks and an attack on their person through (online) bullying and demotivation through social peer pressure. We offer young people the foundation – with an emphasis on fun – for the most important step after their school life: a strong life in society.

During our lectures and workshops, children from 6 years up to and including 16 years of age receive lessons from enthusiastic professionals (volunteers) who enjoy their profession. On the one hand, the curriculum includes experts by experience of bullying and dealing with social peer pressure and, on the other hand, experienced coaches in this field. The interaction with these guest lecturers, from whom the young people can ask anything, is central. Boost The World Foundation is for children and young people of all school levels.

Our Young Leaders coaches give lectures and workshops to the lower classes to empower children. We see more and more that children become over-stimulated, are afraid of missing something, have trouble enjoying themselves without things and, above all, are busy comparing. Children in affluent countries experience more and more restlessness, less emotional connection, gratitude and equality. With a presentation and images about South Africa, we make the children aware of how good we are. We teach them in a playful way what it means to experience a lot of fun without any items.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Creche South Africa 2018

Our first project starts with a future offering for children aged 1 to 5 in South Africa. Children who have no money, no materials, as we do in the Netherlands. Building a creche for an average of 70 children also offers immediate prospects for an entire community. Teachers are trained, parents can bring their child to school. The environment is becoming much more livable and the quality of life is improving. So building a school has a major impact on society! In order to make an extra impact – also here in the Netherlands – we want to involve our own Dutch children in this project. We all work together to build a brighter future. Because we believe in connection, we want to help Dutch children between the ages of 4 and 21 to empower themselves by giving lectures and organizing various workshops. We believe in a holistic approach and that starts in our own country

Posted on by — Leave a comment

BOOST the vegetable garden

A vegetable garden is essential to create a self-sufficient environment and to allow the children to eat and drink healthy. Children learn to take care of the garden and so they are also more aware of nature. Nature is so important to these children because they do not learn from their parents how to deal with it. Among other things, we need to be able to grow the vegetable garden; water tanks, watering cans, gutters to collect water, garden tools and seeds.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

BOOST the playground

To help the children play and have fun, we also want to create cool playgrounds. What is a child without a playground? Every child has the right to play. But that is not self-evident for every child. Setting up a playground with a swing, wil, climbing frame and other attributes (balls, skipping rope, etc.) costs around 950 euros. Do you want these kids something cool? Donations are more than welcome.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

BOOST a creche

In general, the children are doing very well in the Netherlands. And how nice is it if we can share that with children who are less well off! In May 2019 was the opening of our first BOOST creche in South Africa, a fantastic project that we would like to share with children and young people in the Netherlands! Because are our children really aware of everything? How does the water come from the tap? Where does electricity come from? Is it normal that we can purchase electricity 24 hours a day? That we can drink from the tap? That we can normally go to the toilet? That we have English lessons?

We would like to ask your help to help the children between 1 and 5 years old in South Africa. The children in South Africa often have no money between 1 and 5 years old to go to school. And not going to school means; that they are mostly assured of a “poorer” future, street life, cannot speak English and therefore cannot go to “primary” and “secondary” school.

Because we think it is important to be transparent, all costs are neatly documented by us. Everything donated through companies, schools, children, youth and parents is directly invested in our projects. And the BOOST creche is our first project!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Together we support learning communities

BOOST The World is a non-profit organization and is committed, among other things, to supporting the construction of communities in developing areas. Today there are still daily problems, such as running water and electricity, finding work and having sanitary facilities, there is even a luxury. We work together with other organizations and we try to do something about it together.

To achieve this, we mainly focus on: education, sustainable agriculture, economic empowerment and personal empowerment. We want to create jobs by creating jobs; combat poverty and poaching. Because everything starts with a good education, we also want to give the children better education.

Among other things, we have built a platform of Young Leaders coaches who have contact with the teachers of the schools. And we provide English videos and information to children, young people and teachers through our platform.