Category: Story

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International Volunteer Day

Together We Make a Difference

Today, December 5th, we celebrate International Volunteer Day.

A day to honor the millions of people worldwide who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Volunteers are the silent force behind countless initiatives. They bring hope where it’s needed most, build bridges between communities, and share something priceless: love, care, and wisdom. Without them, our world would look very different.

Why are volunteers so important?

Volunteering is more than giving time. It’s an act of connection and compassion. It shows that we are stronger together and that change begins with people willing to do something for others—without expecting anything in return. In a world full of challenges, volunteers prove that solidarity is alive and thriving.

At BOOST The World, we are deeply grateful for our own volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who helps us create opportunities for children and young people in South Africa and the Netherlands to grow in leadership and sustainability. You make our mission possible. We proudly mention our heroes: Declan, Ellen, Etiënne, Ivo, Jula, Odilia, Robert, Rosanne, Siyenna en Tom—and many others working behind the scenes to make a difference. Your dedication is invaluable.

Looking ahead to 2026

We have big plans. In 2026, we aim to expand our impact, and for that, we need many volunteers—across every imaginable area. From communications and fundraising to education, events, and project support in the Netherlands and South Africa.

Do you have a talent you’d like to use to make the world a better place? Please tell us, and submit your email to info@boosttheworld.org with your personal contact data. Together, we make the difference.

Thank you to all volunteers—you are the engine of change.

#InternationalVolunteerDay #BOOSTTheWorld #Volunteering #Impact #SDGs #Love #Care #Wisdom

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Identity Shift

The power of becoming who you already are

A heart-centered exercise to change your reality

Most people try to change their lives by working harder, doing more, or trying harder. They think that when circumstances change, when they get better grades, have more money, feel less stress, they will finally be able to behave differently.

But real change works exactly the other way around. Your circumstances only change when you change. When you choose a new identity. When you decide who you are — and live as if that’s already true.

Not by putting pressure. Not by pushing yourself. But by choosing from your heart.

⊗  Your reality doesn’t change when you ‘re finally good enough .

 ♥   Your reality changes when you choose that you are already good enough.

Why identity determines everything

Your identity is the silent story you believe about yourself. It determines:

  • how you appear in public,
  • what choices you make,
  • that you dare to trust,
  • what you allow into your life.

And that identity always shows itself through your behavior.

Identity

I’m someone who always struggles

I am someone who grows  

I am someone who is valuable

Behavior

Procrastination, stress, self-criticism

Show up, ask for help

Setting boundaries, choices from calmness

Result

Even more struggle

Progress and opportunities

Respect and abundance

So you don’t have to wait for “evidence”. You just have to be the version you already are.

The Identity Shift Exercise

10 minutes a day from your heart

Grab pen and paper. Take a deep breath. Put your hand on your heart. Feel your body, feel your presence. Exhale slowly. Continue breathing – slowly and consciously.

Step 1. Recognize your old identity

Write down:

“What identity am I holding on to now that keeps me small?”

For example:

  • “I’m someone who is always behind”
  • “I’m someone who has to be perfect first”
  • “I am someone who needs luck to succeed”
  • “I’m someone who never has enough money”

Be honest, not harsh.

Step 2. Choose your new identity

Close your eyes and ask:

“Who do I want to be? Who am I deep down already?”

Write down one powerful identity statement – from love – for example:

  • “I am someone who grows and flourishes”
  • “I am someone who is supported and led”
  • “I am someone who attracts abundance”
  • “I am someone who lives present and self-aware”
  • “I am someone who creates opportunities by being who I am”

Choose one. Feel it. You don’t have to earn it – you can receive it.

Step 3. Behaviour from this new identity

Ask yourself:

“If I’m already this version, how do I behave from today onwards?”

Write down three concrete actions that fit your new identity. For example:

  • Take five minutes of breathing and start resting instead of stressing.
  • Talking to someone instead of waiting for someone to come to me.
  • Taking a small step towards my dream.
  • Don’t procrastinate, but start softly.
  • Saying yes to an opportunity that feels exciting.

One small action is enough to shift the timeline.

Step 4. Embodiment

Say softly or silently:

“I am this version – now – I choose me”

And feel what is changing in your body.

What’s happening now

When you live from a heart-centered identity, something magical happens:

  • You attract other opportunities and people
  • You feel more peace and confidence
  • You stop fighting and start receiving
  • Your reality moves with you.

Not because you work harder, but because you will show up differently. You don’t have to force anything. You just have to be.

Your assignment for today

Ask yourself three times a day: “Who am I now?” and perform one of the three actions that come with this new identity.

Let the rest follow naturally. Good luck!

by Rosanne van Zalingen
Founder of BOOST The World

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Manifesting from a Heart-Centered Identity

Why mainstream manifesting doesn’t work for students and what does work

You probably know it. Vision boards full of dreams. Pinterest quotes anywhere on your screen. Affirmations that you keep repeating. Diary pages in which you write until your wrist hurts. And yet it feels like nothing really changes.

We have come to believe that if we try, heal, work and wait hard enough… our lives shift by themselves.

But deep down you know: transformation does not come from forcing, but from choosing.

Manifesting is not about tricks, but about truth

Manifesting is not about rituals, schedules, techniques or proving yourself.

It’s about identity. About who you believe you are inside and what reality you create from that belief. Not by pushing harder. But by becoming softer. By choosing from love instead of fear.

You don’t manifest by writing something down 1000 times. You manifest by embodying the version of yourself that knows it is already safe to receive. Before the evidence is visible.

Heart-centered identity in practice

Everything starts with the question: “From what energy do I live today?”

From lack — or from trust?

Out of a sense of proof — or out of self-love?

Out of fear — or out of choice?

Here are practical examples for students, translated into heart-centered identities: 

Identity from Fear:

I have to perform, otherwise I’m not good enough

I’m afraid of making mistakes

I never have enough time/money/opportunities

I hope it works out

Identity from the Heart:

I am valuable just the way I am, and my growth can be gentle

I trust that every step makes me wiser

I live in abundance and open myself to possibilities

I know I’ve been carried 

This is what it looks like in everyday life

Exams

Heart-centered identity: “I’m someone who learns with peace and confidence, because I don’t have to prove myself.”

Behavior that goes with it:

  • Learning from care and structure, don’t panic
  • Taking Breaks Without Guilt
  • Breathing before you start
  • Remind yourself that you are more than a number.

Internship and future

Heart-centered identity: “I am someone who builds relationships from authenticity, not impression.”

Behavior that goes with it:

  • Real conversations, not perfect scripts
  • Show yourself as you are
  • Asking for help and showing gratitude
  • Creating opportunities through connection.

Money and abundance

Heart-centered identity: “I trust that there is always enough, and that I may receive without fighting.”

Behavior that goes with it:

  • Making decisions from calm, not fear
  • Being open to new ideas and ways of earning
  • Negotiating with dignity.

The real shift

Your reality doesn’t change when you’re finally perfect. Not when you’ve done enough. Not when someone else validates you.

Your reality changes when you decide who you are inside. When you choose from your heart, the world around you shifts by itself. That is heart-guided living. That is quantum thinking. That is not (yet) mainstream.

A question for you today

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.

And ask yourself, “Which version of me deserves space today?”

The version that is waiting? Or the version that feels like it’s already complete?

Freedom. Rest. Abundance. Softness.

Not later. Not ever. But now.

by Rosanne van Zalingen
Founder BOOST The World

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Children’s Rights, Wellbeing, and Dreams for a Sustainable World

🌍 Universal Children’s Day: Children’s Rights, Wellbeing, and Dreams for a Sustainable World

Today, November 20th, we celebrate Universal Children’s Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about children’s rights and wellbeing across the globe. At BOOST The World, this theme is close to our hearts. Children are not only the future; they reflect the values we live by today.

In Hoedspruit, South Africa, we work every day to create an environment where children have access to healthy food, education, and a safe space to play and learn. But our mission goes beyond physical resources. We believe every child has the right to love, care, and wisdom — universal values that form the foundation of a peaceful and sustainable society.

Children’s Rights Are Human Rights

The right to education, protection from violence, access to healthcare, and the right to dream – these are not privileges but fundamental rights. Yet, for millions of children worldwide, these rights remain out of reach. BOOST The World is committed to changing that, both locally and globally.

How Can We Contribute in the Netherlands?

We can make a difference here too. For example, by creating school projects focused on children’s rights and the power of dreams. Imagine children learning about their own rights and those of others, while exploring how they can help build a world where peace, sustainability, and equality are the norm.

We invite schools to collaborate with BOOST The World on creative projects where children express their dreams for the future — through art, stories, presentations, or community actions. Dreams of a world where love, care, and wisdom are shared by all people, regardless of origin, belief, or background.

📩 Would your school like to join? Contact us at info@boosttheworld.org and discover how we can make an impact together.

Building a Better World Together

Universal Children’s Day reminds us that we all play a role in the wellbeing of children. Whether you are a parent, teacher, volunteer, or simply someone who cares about the future — your involvement matters.

At BOOST The World, we continue to build a world where children can thrive. Will you join us? Send your email to info@boosttheworld.org.

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Back to Connection

A message to the youth

In the past fifteen years within the world of personal development, I have spoken, guided and observed thousands of people. One-on-one, in groups, in halls full, on stages. And through all those conversations, one insight came to the fore more and more: we have lost the connection with each other. Not only with each other, but especially with ourselves.

We live in a time when knowledge is infinitely available. We read “books, listen to podcasts, devour YouTube videos, scroll through Instagram and TikTok for hours looking for answers to questions like “Who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life?”

But the more we know, the less we seem to know.

The more prosperity we have, the emptier we feel.

The more connected we are online, the more we are alone offline.

We live in stories

We identify en masse with stories. Stories that were once invented or told by others through upbringing, religion, society, culture, marketing. We believe them, adopt them and live them as if they were absolute truth. We judge who thinks, believes differently or lives differently because we are so convinced that our way is the right one.

And in the meantime, an industry has emerged that teaches us how to be someone: successful, visible, perfect.

Social media is full of images of lives that are often not real. We compare ourselves to illusions and thus become even further removed from who we really are.

What do we teach our children?

We teach them:

  • perform according to the standards of others
  • meet expectations they never chose themselves
  • always be strong
  • avoid failure
  • and above all: to no longer feel.

But a person is not a brand. A human being is not a performance machine.

You are not what you own, you are not your followers, your numbers, your likes, your perfect photos.

You are human. With a story. With mistakes. With dreams. With feelings.

Where did we lose connection?

We have forgotten that we are part of something bigger. Whether you call it God, the universe, the cosmos, or energy—it doesn’t matter.

What matters is being connected. With the earth. With each other. With your own heart.

Look at people like the Dalai Lama, Jesus, Gandhi. Not because they were perfect — but because the stories we tell about them breathe hope and humanity. Stories that connect instead of divide.

A message for you – if you are between 8 and 21 years old

Maybe you feel lost in all expectations. In all the books, all the videos, all the advice, all the filters, all the voices that tell you who you should be.

You may think you’re failing. That you are not enough. That you are too late. That others are further along than you.

Then know this:

There is someone who sees you when you dare to feel.

There is someone who hears you when you dare to speak.

There is someone who stands next to you when you dare to be vulnerable.

You are allowed to fail. You can change. You can start over.

You can search. You can learn. You can cry. You can be human.

What we want to build

Boost The World Foundation believes in a world in which young people do not have to survive, but are allowed to live.

A world in which we do not judge each other, but understand each other.

A world in which we learn to feel instead of perform.

A world in which stories connect instead of divide.

We can’t change everything. But we can start.

With listening. With sharing. With loving. With being human.

“May we Boost the World” by returning to connection.

by Rosanne van Zalingen
Founder of BOOST The World Foundation

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Leadership from the Heart changes the World

We can endlessly talk about the past. About why something didn’t work. Why it was difficult. Why abundance or growth seemed to be ‘for others.’

But here is the truth that we live every day within BOOST The World: true change doesn’t start in your past but in your presence. It doesn’t matter how much you have struggled, how limited your start seemed, or how often you have fallen along the way.

Those are stories that have shaped you, but they don’t define who you are today.

Reality moves with who you now choose to be.
Not with your old wounds.
Not with the excuses your mind whispers.
Not with the patterns you are trying to heal.
Heart-centered leadership asks for something different: that you dare to be present with an open heart in the midst of chaos; that you choose to lead not from survival, but from connection, compassion, and truth.

At BOOST The World, we believe that leadership does not work in time. It works in frequency. In identity. In decision. Every time you choose love over fear, collaboration over control, service over status, you not only change your own life, but also the world around you.

So ask yourself today:
Who am I if I stop carrying old stories?
Who am I if I no longer have to justify my limitations?
Who am I if I truly believe that I can embody abundance, power, and freedom NOW, and that my choices have an impact on others?
Because that is heart-centered leadership. It is not a position. It is a choice. A choice to lead from your heart, and to impact the world through who you are.

From BOOST The World, we invite leaders to remember their hearts, live their truth, and make a difference from within. Join our movement. Not because you are perfect. But because you are willing to be present.

Be the change. Lead from love.

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Trusting Your Heart: Encounters That Change Your LIfe

Sometimes, when you follow your heart, things happen that you could never have planned. You meet exactly the people you need to make a real impact. I still remember clearly how, during a Young Leader Expedition, I took a moment to rest. For two nights, I had barely slept to ensure that all 18 volunteers arrived safely in Hoedspruit, South Africa. While they were on an excursion, I decided to take a break on the stone ground in front of the Reserve’s office.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw a friendly man standing there: the Reserve’s general manager. He laughed and asked why I was lying on the ground. I had to laugh quietly and I thought: “This must be meant to be“. We started talking. I told him about our plans to support the local community and our vision for the project’s future.

We got into a conversation. I told him about our plans to support the local community and our vision for the project’s future. To my surprise, he invited me to stay at his house for a while to sleep and rest.

During that conversation, he said something I never expected. He knew someone who had the same mission as we have. A person who would exactly help to make our plans a reality. Not knowing that this person was Barrie, now our Director of BOOST The World Africa and the key pillar of everything we do there. From the moment I met him, it became clear how essential he would be for our projects.

What this moment taught me is something I would like to share: when you are aligned with your heart and follow your spirit, you naturally meet the right people. Especially at moments when you least expect it, or don’t plan it. The universe, or whatever you want to call it, puts you on the path of those who can strengthen your mission.

Trusting your heart does not mean that it is always easy. It means that you dare to listen, to step into the unknown, and to be open to the people and opportunities that come your way. It takes you exactly where you need to be – often in ways you could never have imagined.

So my call to you: listen to your heart. Follow that calling, even if it feels scary or uncertain. Because when you do, something magical can happen: you connect with people who share your vision, you build impact, and you discover that you are never alone on your path.

With love,
Rosanne van Zalingen
Founder of BOOST The World Foundation

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When everything falls silent

We were in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. I still remember well how we stood there in South Africa. With 19 people. Waiting for hours in line to get a swab up our noses. Because without a test, we weren’t allowed to go back home.

It felt like the beginning of a lot of misery. Volunteers stopped helping. People were afraid to give money. The world was turned upside down. And everything seemed to come to a halt.

However deep down, Barrie and I knew: we must not stop. So we kept going, often working behind the scenes, managing our projects. We worked double hours. Worked extremely hard, also for our own family. While everyone around us switched to survival mode, we chose to keep pushing forward.

And believe me: it wasn’t easy. Following your heart doesn’t mean everything will work out on its own. It demands sacrifices. It demands perseverance. It requires trust, especially when everything around you is uncertain.

That’s the Power of the Heart. It whispers, sometimes almost inaudibly: “Don’t stop. You have to get through this“. And exactly at those moments when life feels heavy, when you think you can’t handle it anymore, that is the call of your heart. Then you discover that you can bear much more than you think. And yes, after that period of struggling and holding on, a turnaround came. Slowly we got into the right flow. We met exactly the right people, at exactly the right moment. Some call that coincidence. I call it synchronization.

The lesson from that time

What I learned during that period is that the heart always guides you, even through storms. Sometimes by making you persist when everything inside you is screaming to give up. Sometimes by opening doors that you would never have imagined yourself.

The path of the heart is not an easy path. But it is the only path on which you truly remain faithful to yourself. And that is also the reason why we help others to learn to hear the voice of their heart again. Because when you listen to your heart, not only does your life change, but also the lives of the people around you. So when life feels heavy, don’t just ask yourself: why is this happening? Instead ask: “What does my heart want to tell me now?“

With love,
Rosanne van Zalingen
BOOST The World Foundation

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The Way of the Heart

The way of the heart is not always easy. It requires courage. It requires trust. And often it asks you to step into the unknown, without certainty or a plan.

Years ago, when I first spoke my dream out loud—against my neighbor, no less—I truly had no idea what would come next. I told him that I felt called. A dream, an inner voice that kept returning.

A week later, I was in South Africa. Without experience. Without knowledge. Without my own network in that country where I did feel a deep calling. I did not know where to start. I did not know whom I could trust. And honestly? I did not know if I was “good enough” to make a difference. The only thing that kept me going was the voice of my heart. Some call it the spirit. That gentle whisper inside that does know what you are meant to do, even when your mind can think of a thousand reasons not to. That little voice says: “Go. Trust. Take that Step“.

And so my journey began. A journey that was anything but easy. Full of falling and getting back up. But that was precisely what was needed to learn that strength does not lie in perfect circumstances, but in daring to listen.

The Heart as the Temple of the Soul

The heart is more than an organ that pumps blood. It is the temple of the soul. It speaks. It feels. It guides. But the question is: do you listen?

We often live in a world of noise: the opinions of others, external expectations, the speed of life. And because of that, we forget the softest, yet most powerful sound: our own heart’s voice.

Why we do this work?

Through BOOST The World Foundation, we help people, especially young people and students, to reconnect with their hearts. Because I know from personal experience what can happen when you dare to follow that path. Your life changes. Your choices change. And the impact you make on the world becomes greater than you ever imagined.

It is not always the easiest path. But it is the truest one. And so today, I ask: “When did your heart speak last? And… did you listen?“

With love,
Rosanne van Zalingen
Founder of BOOST The World Foundation

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World Food Day 2025 – Building Sustainable Food Security in Hoedspruit

Today, October 16th, we celebrate World Food Day — a global moment to reflect on the importance of food security and sustainable agriculture. At BOOST The World in Hoedspruit, South Africa, this is not just a theme — it’s our daily mission.

From Vulnerability to Resilience

Hoedspruit is a region facing challenges like drought, poverty, and limited access to fresh produce. BOOST The World has established a nursery: an educational garden where fruits and vegetables are grown not only for consumption, but also as a learning space. Children and youth are taught about permaculture, regenerative farming, and the importance of biodiversity. This is how food security is cultivated from the ground up.

Sustainability at the Core

Our approach is built on three pillars:

  1. Local production: We grow seasonal crops such as tomatoes, spinach, papaya, and beans. This reduces dependence on external food sources and lowers the ecological footprint.
  2. Water management: In a region where water is scarce, we invest in sustainable solutions like drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and — soon — our own water source and tank. This enables farming even during dry spells.
  3. Education and empowerment: Young people learn how to grow their own food, care for the soil, and collaborate to build resilient communities. Food security becomes a shared responsibility.

Food as a Bridge to the Future

BOOST The World connects food security to broader themes like leadership, sustainability, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our garden is not just a place of growth, but also of dialogue — about climate change, inequality, and the power of local solutions.

Creating Impact Together

On World Food Day, we honor the strength of communities to become self-sufficient. BOOST The World shows that sustainable food security starts with education, collaboration, and respect for nature. Every child deserves access to nutritious food — today and tomorrow.

Support Sustainable Change

Would you like to contribute to food security in Hoedspruit? You can! With a small or large donation, you help fund water solutions, seeds, education, and the expansion of our nursery. Donate easily via our website or through the crowdfunding platform WhyDonate.