David jonsson

Founder/ceo

David is the founder of World Volunteer. His own upbringing in Laos in the 90’s shaped his interest and passion for international development, social enterprise, and experiential learning.

Outside of his job David likes playing badminton, golf, tennis, hanging out with his family and traveling. David also has extensive experience leading corporate team building activities, retreats, and workshops from groups across the world. David’s goal for any trip is to show an unpeeled, honest, and vulnerable version of himself in order to encourage and inspire participants in the program to show and share their inner self.

David poppe

operations manager

Born and raised in Connecticut (US) David received his BA from Moravian College in business management. It was during his university years and through travels, a semester abroad, and studies where his interest in community development and social entrepreneurship began.

He moved to Chiang Mai in 2009 where he set up his own non-profit which focused on improving the English skills and educational opportunities of rural Thai students and novice monks as well as off the beaten path travel. That non-profit later merged with a large UK charity where David became the country manager and continued to help grow the projects and local team.

David joined World Volunteer in 2017 and resides in Chiang Mai with his wife Nid.

THerese andren eggeborn

outreach & program manager (asia)

When an opportunity is given Therese takes it. After graduating high school her best friend asked her to come skiing in the Swedish mountains which ended up with four years in the cold and white landscape. After working in the tourism business she wanted to dig deeper into the importance of giving the right information to the right person at the right time and got a bachelor in information management in 2013.

In the following years, she worked as a project manager and at the same time did charity work as a study buddy because of the energy the students gave her. In 2018 she moved to Kuala Lumpur with her boyfriend. Thanks to the Swedish community she got in contact with the CEO of WV.
Therese is always ready to jump on a plane to meet schools that are interested in going on our trips.
Therese joined World Volunteer in 2018.

Julia hopkins

outreach & program manager (middle east)

Julia joined the World Volunteer team in 2018 as a trip leader and is currently the Outreach and Program Manager for the Middle East and Europe.

She holds an undergraduate degree in History and Politics and an MSc in International Relations from London, studying human rights. Originally from New England, she has worked around the globe over the past ten years, living in Europe, China, Australia and Southeast Asia, mainly working in outdoor education. She has led several international trips to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, China and Nepal. In addition to exploring new places, Julia loves being outdoors and is an avid rock climber and hiker.

Kor Vue

Laos program manager & coordinator

Kor (or Hard-Kor as he is known by many students) comes from a Hmong family living in the countryside in a village known as LongLao Mai, which also is one of the locations for our project site! He studied english and tourism at university in Luang Prabang and has worked as an english tour guide in both Thailand and Laos.

Kor has a passion for helping local people, especially local students. He loves, elephants, planting trees, especially banana and bamboo trees, and sharing his knowledge of local traditional medicine. Not only that, but one of his hidden talents is playing some of the local Laotian instruments!

He currently lives in Luang Prabang with his wife and 3 children and enjoys raising his cows, chickens and ducks! Kor has been working with World Volunteer since the very beginning, running trips for 10 years!

farah mustak

office manager

Friends would describe me as an easy going and friendly person. Well, I see myself as a music and tennis freak who loves nature and organic stuff more. I get these influences from my Dad. Living with him has taught me a lot of values in creating the world a better place. I used to follow him doing volunteering work giving out free dictionaries to schools, school uniforms, food and also did some hiking and learn a lot about the flora and faunas when we were in the Malaysian National Society club. Being close to nature has made a person I am today. No plastic & recycling things has been a fun thing to do as I grew up.

During my Uni time, I received a Bachelor in Accountancy which made me an account manager in WV. I used to represent the state for tennis, won several sportswoman awards and I love going to the local indie bands a lot too. As I get older, I hope that I can benefit the time and energy in assisting people with their needs so that all of us can live happily anywhere, anytime & I thank WV for giving me the chance to fulfill apart of my dream.

Tanner

Head trip leader

Tanner brings over ten years of young adult leadership and teaching experience to World Volunteer.

Throughout university and post-university, Tanner has worked firsthand with young adults developing their leadership capacity, cultural consideration and global perspectives. Tanner has an immense passion for education, cultural linking and historical awareness that has drove him to move and teach abroad in various countries including; Korea, Thailand, Laos, Morocco and Cambodia.

Through his unique cultural lens, Tanner has committed his life to the exchange of knowledge through cultural interaction and a communal perspective allowing him to bring an invaluable background to World Volunteer. Tanner graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a degree in Middle Eastern History and has an avid voice for the lost art of chivalry, politeness and gallantry.

Jesper Colding

Facilatator

Jesper is former food and beverage executive who recently transitioned from the traditional cooperate world to running his new venture core4you. He is a trained coach working with leaders in areas of growth for their careers and lives. Balancing a demanding carrier with being an involved and present family man is a struggle that most high achieving individuals experience at some point during their carriers. Jesper has the ability to unpack, reveal and get to the very source of our motivations and inner conflicts. Like the rest of the World Volunteer team he leads by example; sharing stories, struggles and victories from his own life.

Non Tiddin

Facilatator

Non is a community builder, yoga and meditation master, and a women’s right activist. She leads with her heart, always speaks the truth and lives her life according to deep-rooted values. Non is a source of inspiration. She has a unique ability to untangle some of the world’s most complex dilemmas by simplifying them down to clear messages which then have the chance to take root in other people’s hearts.