As a little girl she was already intrigued by stories about vulnerable people in distant countries. In her own words, Desirée van Kooten was given “an open view to the world” in her upbringing. “My father worked in shipping and travelled a lot,” she says. “He went to interesting countries, such as Yemen and Angola, and told fascinating stories. This sparked my interest in what is happening in the world.”
When she was eighteen, Desirée was allowed to travel herself. “Finally,” she recalls. “It was a dream come true.” In her summer vacation she went to Rwanda with missionary organization Youth with a Mission. “That trip painted a picture of the stories from my childhood. It made me aware of what is out there. That people really live lives than we do here. That all that luxury doesn’t necessarily have added value. It was one big eye-opener.”
