My inspiration to work as a volunteer for IBC was to experience once in a lifetime an engagement for a worldwide non-governmental development organisation. The fact that IBC, as a specialist on tackling alcohol and drug related social and development issues, gave me the opportunity to get in touch with a fascinating topic: health and education programmes in Africa and South America.

As a business economist, I was mainly involved in fundraising activities with churches, a field, that was not really worked on before. I assisted in donor reporting and sending out calls for donations. Besides that, I very much appreciated the warm contacts with church secretaries, pastors, consistories, etc. Another task I was strongly involved was the developing of the Bexio database for donor management. Further on, I assisted the team at writing texts on donor applications and reports and other IBC publications. I was proofreading in German and using consequently English and German as working languages. I also supported the secretary with translations, office mail, office materials etc.

The variety of challenging and meaningful activities, including having my own field of responsibility, fulfilled me with great satisfaction. Also, being integrated in a wonderful team, which I could rely on and which supported me, reinforced my motivation. Knowing that through my contribution I was participating in helping the most vulnerable people, giving them the chance of leading a more meaningful life with brighter expectations for their future, filled me with joy.

Adrian Steiner, Switzerland