Gina Penninger

Name: Gina Penninger

Location: Tokyo, India, Austria, worldwide

Role with World Unite!: Marketing, Administration, Online Content Creator

Nationality: German

Languages: German, English

Gina is working in Marketing and Online Content Creation. She is the presenter of our explainer and preparation videos in German language.

What did you do before starting your work at World Unite!?

I was working in the hotel industry in Austria. Aside from that, I was making many internships abroad in the field of Business Management in Japan and in Ayurveda Medicine in India.

What do you enjoy most about working at World Unite!?

It’s amazing to work together with an international team and to meet participants who are coming from all over the world.

What place in Japan do you find most enjoyable to spend your leisure time at?

I like the Rikugien Garden of Tokyo very much. It is a very beautiful place, you are surrounded by nature and get the possibility to relax in this calm atmosphere.

What is your favorite local food, and where can it be found?

The most delicious food which I would recommend is Shahi Paneer from the north of India. It’s an amazing dish which consists of homemade cheese in a creamy tomato sauce with exotic spices

served with rice.

What should participants coming to Japan make sure not to miss?

I would recommend everyone to get a deep insight of the culture of Japan, and the best way to get it is to talk as much as possible with locals, enjoy the delicious Japanese food, and listen to local music.

What is the most memorable episode that you have experienced with a World Unite! participant?

I appreciate every day to work for World Unite!, because when I am talking with the participants it reminds me of my first and unforgettable trip to India when I was also a participant of World Unite!. So, it is my joy to help them as good as I can!

Juan-Pablo Mena

Name: Juan-Pablo Mena

Location: Tokyo

Role with World Unite!: Manager Technology, Developer

Nationality: Chilenisch

Languages: Spanish, English

Since 2019, Juan-Pablo is member of our new, in-house technology team. Before he joined World Unite!, he worked as an E-Commerce Developer for Latin America's largest retail company. Juan-Pablo is working on various web projects for World Unite! and is providing technical solutions to improve the preparation and support of our participants.

Christina Orina

Name: Christina Orina

Location: Copenhagen/Denmark and worldwide

Role with World Unite!: Social Media Marketing

Nationality: Danish

Languages: English, Danish, Swahili (and understanding a lot of Norwegian, Swedish and German)

Christina first was a World Unite! participant in Zanzibar and then did an internship at our Tokyo office. Now she is working with our team in Social Media Marketing. She also attends highschool and university events in Denmark and Scandinavia, representing World Unite!. She holds a BA Degree in Global Nutrition and Health and is currently doing her Masters Degree in Copenhagen.

What did you do before starting your work at World Unite!?

I was a student focusing on my BA thesis, which I wrote about Cholera Prevention in Zanzibar. I collected data for my thesis in Zanzibar. During my study I also interned in Kenya at an orphanage, but my base has always been in Denmark. I liked the concept and team of World Unite! and asked whether I can do an internship directly with World Unite!. I was offered to do an internship at the Tokyo office where I spent 3 months. Afterwards I was offered a part-time job to assist the team with Social Media Marketing that I am now doing while completing my Master degree studies.

What do you enjoy most about working at World Unite!?

I like that I meet so many different people with different nationalities and backgrounds. It is a way for me to broaden my view of the world, as well as getting a big network of friends and work contacts all over the world.

What place at your localization do you find most enjoyable to spend your leisure time at?

In Tokyo, the share house has a rooftop, which I find really nice to spend time at. Also, there is a beautiful park nearby, where I enjoy running. In Zanzibar, one of my favourite places is Nungwi! The beach is lovely and there is such a happy atmosphere.

What is your favourite local food, and where can it be found?

In Zanzibar, it is with no doubt Chapati – I can eat it every day, even just with a cup of chai!

What should participants coming to Tokyo make sure not to miss?

They should not miss the clear air after heavy rains. The sun comes out, and the whole city seems to be so calm and clean.

Do you have any hobbies of special interest, and where can you do your hobbies in Tokyo?

I run, do fitness training, and play piano. Running can be done wherever one feels like running – the parks are very nice, but if running around town is the preference, then it can be done too. So far I have been to one fitness centre, which was an interesting and different experience, but definitely something I will do again. I have not been able to find a piano yet, but I do not mind taking a break from playing!

Lucia Lacava

Name: Lucia Lacava

Location: Tokyo,worldwide

Role with World Unite!: Project Management

Nationality: Argentinian

Language: Spanish, English, Italian, French, Swahili

Lucia holds an MBA with specialization in Corporate Socia Responsibility, a Master in Project Management and a BA in International Relations. She has worked as a consultant and project manager for NGOs and companies in Argentina, Spain, Chile, Colombia and Mexico since 2010, and has been Incoming Exchange Director for another cultural exchange organization in Buenos Aires.

In 2018 she was a World Unite! volunteer in Zanzibar and afterwards applied for a job with us.

Lucia is currently managing part of our Working Holiday Program in Tokyo for one year, and afterwards is likely to become Program Manager in South Africa. She is also in charge of our new ecotourism platform zanzibar.eco.

What did you do before starting your work at World Unite!?

I used to work in different NGOs related to Intercultural exchanges, social services, humanitarian assistance, among others. I also worked managing IT projects for different countries in Latin America.

What do you enjoy most about working at World Unite!?

The diversity and multicultural work environment. Also, the possibility of creating a positive impact in society by giving people the chance to get to know other countries and cultures. I believe travelling makes people more flexible and open minded and teaches about respect for what is different. I feel satisfied to contribute with that.

What place in Japan do you find most enjoyable to spend your leisure time at?

Parks and every place related to animals and nature! For example, in late March and early April in Japan is Sakura time, so it's really beautiful to go to the parks to watch this unique scene.

What is your favorite local food, and where can it be found?

Definitely chapati, you can get it in local shops in the streets of Stone Town, Zanzibar, or in local restaurants such as Lukmaan or Ma Shaa Allah.

What should participants coming to Japan make sure not to miss?

If you come to Japan don't miss cat cafes, cat temples or any other place where you can see how they admire animals in this country.

Do you have any hobbies or special interest, and where can you do your hobbies in Japan?

I like adventures and new experiences, so it's always good to go walking, do some sightseeing during the weekends specially in a place which is totally different for me, as it is Japan!

What is the most memorable episode that you have experienced with a World Unite! participant?

Last New Year’s Eve we went with a participant from Poland to a shrine before midnight. It was full of local people and it was really nice to be immersed in a local tradition as it is drinking the sake of the gods, making the countdown before midnight, listening to the ringing bells and even witnessing the burning of traditional Japanese objects.

Anne-Marie Nielsen

Name: Anne-Marie Nielsen

Location: worldwide

Role with World Unite!: Development of Mental Health Programs, Psychology Internship Supervisor

Nationality: Danish

Languages: English, Danish, French, Swahili

Anne-Marie holds a MSc degree in Mental Health Studies from King's College London and a BSc in Psychology with Neuroscience from the University of Sussex.

She is from Denmark, but grew up in Luxembourg.

Before joining the World Unite! team Anne-Marie worked as a psychologist in the UK, and before that was a World Unite! volunteer for one year at organizations for substance addicts (Sober Houses) in Zanzibar. It is a personal concern to her to raise the standards of how Mental Health is provided at the so-called developing countries.

Since 2018, Anne-Marie has been developing our mental health programs around the world and is an external supervisor for psychology internships arranged by World Unite!.

What did you do before starting your work at World Unite!?

I volunteered for 1 year in the Psychiatric Hospital and Sober Houses (Substance misuse rehabilitation centres) in

Zanzibar, Tanzania, before starting my MSc. After completing the MSc., I worked in London with people with complex mental health needs, such as Schizophrenia and co-occurring personality disorders and substance misuse.

What is your role at World Unite!?

At World Unite! I supervise interns and volunteers in Psychiatric Hospitals and Sober Houses in Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, as well as worldwide. I also develop the organisation’s psychology programmes.

What do you enjoy the most about working at World Unite!?

I enjoy seeing participants become inspired by the work they do through our placements and growing through their experiences. I especially value seeing local patients and staff benefiting from the work we/you do.

What place in Zanzibar do you find most enjoyable to spend your leisure time at?

I like spending time with friends at the night market in Forodhani in Stone Town, and going to different cafés around or outside of town. I also enjoy discovering new places around the island.

What is your favourite local food, and where can it be found?

One of my favourite local foods is probably spinach cooked in a coconut sauce with rice, served at Lukmaan restaurant in Stone Town.

What should participants coming to Zanzibar make sure not to miss?

There are a lot of places in Zanzibar that participants should visit. I would recommend going to the North of the island, as well as different locations on the East Coast, the South and of course Stone Town. The night market and Darajani market both have very special atmospheres and shouldn’t be missed. Watching the sun set over Stone Town is always magical and can be enjoyed from the beach or a roof top bar. The North and East coasts have incredibly beautiful beaches to explore as well.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests, and where can you do these in Zanzibar?

I practice kickboxing at a local gym just outside of Stone Town and sometimes join yoga classes at the music academy.