Behind the scenes with Sarah

Every organisation is shaped by the people who dedicate their time, ideas and passion to making a difference. Sarah is one of those people. What started with sponsoring a child gradually turned into an important role within the UNDER Lea’s TRUST team. Today, she co leads our Update Team, supports our sponsorship programme, organises our annual letter campaign and coordinates the Health Day project.

In this interview, Sarah shares what inspired her to become a volunteer, the moments she will never forget and why Kenya now feels like a second home.

How long have you been volunteering with ULT and what motivates you?

I sponsored my first child when I was 16 and took on a second sponsorship a year later. After finishing school, I travelled to Kenya in October 2023 to meet my sponsored children and support our work on the ground. What was meant to be a three week stay turned into two unforgettable months.

I immediately fell in love with the children and was inspired by their strength, gratitude and positive outlook on life. When I returned home, I knew I wanted to become part of the team. I truly believe that many small acts of kindness can create meaningful change. Education is the key to a brighter future, and every child deserves the opportunity to complete their education.

Which projects or tasks are you currently working on, and which team are you part of?

Together with Samira, I co lead the Update Team and support our sponsorship programme. My work includes preparing updates for sponsors, communicating with our Kenyan team, coordinating new sponsorships and organising our annual letter campaign.

In 2023, I also organised our very first Health Day through a personal fundraising initiative. We are currently preparing our fifth Health Day, which will take place in August. It has become one of the projects closest to my heart, and I am already looking forward to being back in Kenya to help make it happen.

How has teamwork and collaboration with other volunteers developed over time, and what positive changes have you noticed?

Since joining UNDER Lea’s TRUST, our team has grown tremendously. I have met so many wonderful people, both in Germany and in Kenya, and many of those connections have grown into genuine friendships.

Because we all volunteer alongside our studies, jobs and personal lives, good organisation and open communication are incredibly important. I am especially grateful for Samira. She introduced me to the work of the Update Team in 2023, and today we work together seamlessly while supporting each other both within ULT and beyond.

What are the biggest challenges in your voluntary work, and how do you deal with them?

The biggest challenge is definitely balancing everything. Combining volunteering, university, my student job and my personal life is not always easy.

Fortunately, we have the flexibility to organise our work around our daily lives. We are also constantly improving our processes to make our work more efficient and sustainable.

What special highlights or successes have you experienced so far at ULT?

There have been so many unforgettable moments throughout my journey with UNDER Lea’s TRUST. Filming our documentary, celebrating two film premieres, organising four Health Days and enjoying our Pool Day are all memories I will always treasure.

My two greatest highlights, however, are seeing my first sponsored child, Neema, graduate from school and the special bond I have built with my second sponsored child, Angel. When we first met in 2023, we were both a little shy, but within just a few days we formed a close connection.

Over the course of my five trips to Kenya, we have shared countless beautiful moments filled with joy, love and gratitude. Every visit now feels like coming home. Watching Angel grow, supporting her journey through school and reminding her to keep believing in her dreams has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am already counting the days until we see each other again.

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