InterNations Global Awards: Consul Winners

Our groups feature is a service for our Albatross Members, who are able to meet over their shared interest — whether its hiking the outdoors, a passion to hit the dance floor, a craving for brunching or a desire to network, InterNations has a group for even the most niche activities!

There are currently over 5,400 Consuls across the globe, who regularly organize a variety of exciting activities to make sure that their groups stay active and offer something fun for everyone.

With approximately 6,000 activities taking place each month in our InterNations Communities around the world, our Consuls really are the driving force behind the scenes who plan and host such get-togethers, to make sure all goes according to plan and that their group members are left with fun memories and new InterNations friends.  

The InterNations Global Awards were created in 2017, to honor both our Ambassadors and Consuls worldwide for their astonishing achievements in event and activity planning and the continued growth in their communities. With these awards, we recognize such outstanding Consuls and Ambassadors for their continued dedication and support in representing the very best InterNations has to offer.

The Global Awards have once again returned, and we wish to commemorate and reflect on the dedicated Consuls who set the bar especially high in 2018. Now, we can finally announce the winners of each category.

2018’s Global Awards Consul Categories

• Changemakers of the Year
• Best Locations
• Innovation Awards
• Teamwork Circle of Excellence
• Best Host
• Breakout Consul
• Members’ Choice Awards
• Communication Awards
• International Host
• Community of One

Congratulations to the 2018 winners and honorable mentions, as well as to all of our hard-working Consuls who bring the InterNations experience to life!

Winner: Yolanda Lacey — Doha

Honorable Mention: Caroline Schalinski — Rio de Janeiro

Why They Won

Yolanda was nominated for this award for her organizational abilities, personal values and her drive to make the world a better place. She is someone who really does go that extra mile, connecting with local causes and recognizes that members of InterNations Changemakers Groups all share common values and want to achieve a common goal. 

A large part of what Yolanda does so well is organize members to work towards achieving this goal, and the Doha Changemakers Group has been able to make a huge difference in their community, bringing positive change to the lives of lowly paid migrant workers, runaway maids, and also abandoned animals. 

Yolanda really has rallied the support of InterNations members to those most disadvantaged in society, showing them the InterNations spirit — nobody stands alone!

What motivated you to become a Changemakers Consul?

It is my life mission to help those who are less fortunate than me, and to be the voice of the voiceless. I believe strongly that together, we are stronger, louder, and more discernible. To change the community and the world, we need to reach out to those who are THE community, those who make up THE world. With that in mind, there is no better place to start than the InterNations Changemakers. Every single member of the group is there for one simple reason: to help make a difference in whatever capacity they can. With such a powerful common goal, we are so much more coherent and effective in what we attempt to do.

What do you do at your activities to get members excited about your initiative and make it a memorable experience? 

It is the members’ empathy that gets them passionate about the initiatives. I aim to be the conduit, bridging the gap directly between those who are in need, and those who are able to provide them with what they need. I give as much background information about the activities as I can, so even before the event, members can feel proximity to the reality of the suffering and pain of those we try to help. 

What are you most proud of when it comes to your group and the difference you are making in the world?

I am most proud of knowing members who genuinely care about alleviating suffering and pain, regardless of religion, race, gender, or species. Because of the members’ involvement, we have made a difference in many lives: lowly paid migrant workers, runaway maids, as well as abandoned animals. When they were in distress, feeling anxious and uncertain, our members rallied to their support, showing them that they were not forgotten.

Congratulations to Yolanda Lacey in Doha, as well as our honorable mention, Caroline Schalinski in Rio de Janeiro, for impressing all of us with your fun initiatives and ideas to host new activities!

About the winner: 

Yolanda Lacey is a very dedicated Consul in our Doha Community. She is originally from Hong Kong and moved to Doha in 2018. Keeping up with her upbeat nature and friendly attitude, she loves meeting other global minds and making a difference in her city as a Changemakers Consul.

Winner: Claire Wood & Jenny Fearnside — Rome  

Honorable Mention: Carolina Ortega Gutiérrez — Paris

Why They Won

The 2018 winners for Best Locations are Claire Wood and Jenny Fearnside, the Consuls of the unique Rome Unearthed Group. This group is for the adventures of heart, taking its members back to the history of Rome. Activities range from touring Pompei, the Vatican, war time bunkers, and even underwater ancient cities. 

When asked how they choose their locations, Claire and Jenny said, “We are lucky to be in Rome, where there is definitely no shortage of unique and interesting locations. Whenever we get a whiff of something a bit ‘different’, we go for it!”

As for top tips for their fellow Consuls: it’s important to choose a season-appropriate activity that stands out. “We always look for something a bit ‘different’, that people are unlikely to discover on their own,” Jenny says, “or that may require more organization. The Roman classics with a twist are always popular.”

And Claire mentions, “We try to avoid places that are easy to visit alone. As a group, we can get access to places which aren’t usually open, or where guides are only available in Italian.”

When it comes to highlights, both agree that it had to be the visit to the Necropolis under St. Peter’s. Although difficult to arrange and closed to the public for some time, it was extremely special and a truly memorable experience. Another top activity was the “Archaeologist for a Day” event. Jenny shares, “It was very quirky and truly original, in a place most people didn’t even know existed, including ourselves…!”

Hats off to these two Consuls, for whom the sky might not even be the limit!

Congratulations to Claire Wood and Jenny Fearnside in Rome, as well as our honorable mention, Carolina Ortega Gutiérrez in Paris, for impressing all of us with your ability to think outside the box and choose such unique and inspiring locations to host activities. We look forward to seeing what new ideas you come up with in the future!

About the winners:

Claire Wood and Jenny Fearnside are especially active Consuls in our Rome Community. Claire was born in the UK and moved to Rome back in July 2015. Jenny is also from the UK and relocated to the Rome area in December of 2016. Keeping with their international mindset and desire to bring together like-minded expats, we can really see how much they enjoy selecting such historical sites for their interesting and thought-provoking activities. 

2018 Winner: Kentaro Yoneda in Berlin

2018 Honorable Mention: Science & Technology Group, in Tokyo (Nozomi Seki, Andrew Edie)

Why They Won

When making their selection, the Global Awards Jury considered Consuls who think “outside the box” when planning and implementing their activities.

One of our newest Consuls kick-started his brand-new Group with such enthusiasm and energy that there was no question about his nomination. Since the opening of the Berlin Taste Asia Group in November 2018, Kentaro has organized 18 activities and almost 400 members joined him to explore different Japanese, and other Asian locations.

Kentaro is always looking for some unique and interesting get-together with his members.

Besides finding the best Asian food, interesting locations, and best things to do with the members, Kentaro creates a special dress code for the group as well and motivates member in his creative humorous way:

“Make sure you wear your old school gangster attire — we always go in style! Lateness, or failure of showing up, will result in your exclusion from the family. The Ramen Mafia will be hitting joints all over the city until we find the best Ramen in Berlin.”

Where do you get all your wonderful ideas?

I moved to Berlin in 2016. I am a Japanese, yet I did not have any recommendations to introduce my friends to good Japanese food. I checked different restaurants and got to know a few good places, but I did not have time to take my friends there one by one. So, I thought that I could bring everyone together at the same time.

How do you overcome the challenges in coming up with fresh ideas for your group members? What motivates you in general to stay active?

Every morning, lunchtime, and evening, I am hungry. Motivation never disappears. The biggest challenge is that you never know how many people come to your activity.

Do you have any tips for Consuls on how to entice members to sign up?

When I make an event, I tried to use keywords such as “Free”, “Ramen”, “Sushi” or “BBQ”. This attracts people!

After creating events, I check the participants list and send emails to everyone. This is a little bit of work but if you have communicated before, most of the people show up for the event.

Congratulations to Kentaro Yoneda in Berlin, 2018’s winners of the Innovation Award, as well as our honorable mention, the Tokyo Science & Technology Group, for impressing all of us with your incredibly unique activities and themes!

About the winner:

Kentaro Yoneda is one of our newest Consuls in Berlin. He is originally from Hiroshima, Japan and moved to Germany two years ago because of work. Keeping his traditions, finding the best Asian food in Berlin, and spreading his culture motivates him every day.  

Winner: Alexandra Craciun, Rod Mupambirei, and Caoimhin Mac Dhiomasaigh — Bristol

Honorable Mention: Maryam Haeri, Sushrut Modak, and Michael Rubel — Orange County

Why They Won

For over a year now, the Bristol Community has been enjoying the many different types of activities offered and hosted by the Bristol Beer, Cider, and … More! Group. Always having an activity in mind that suits everyone’s taste, the amazing team of Consuls has contributed to the growth of the Bristol Community in the best way possible.

They are a group of three Consuls and each of them represents a different part of the world: Caoimhin is from Ireland, Rod from South Africa, and Alexandra from Romania. Their different backgrounds complement each other and add to their success as Consuls.

Their way of organizing the activities is rather spontaneous: ‘’If one of us hears about an exciting event or venue, we grab the opportunity and quickly post an activity. Often, not all of us can attend but we try to be there when possible.

Every now and then, we also meet and discuss activities, especially when we want to try to come up with a new type of event. We like to have as much of a variety in our group activities as possible, and we appreciate the fact that each of us always brings very different ideas to the table. The internationality of our group is great, since we have so much to learn from each other!’’

Their advice to our other Consul Teams who organize and host activities together each month is to have fun and enjoy the journey! Beginnings are always difficult, but it becomes a lot easier with time. If you believe in your vision and follow your heart, you cannot go wrong!

The group of Consuls believe that the key ingredient of being a good team is mutual understanding and embracing the differences in the group. What is more, it is important that everyone is committed to a common goal, which, in their case, is making the Bristol Community stronger and more welcoming for new people. This generates the basis of their wonderful group, which they hope to see growing even more in the future.

Congratulations to Alexandra Craciun, Rod Mupambirei, and Caoimhin Mac Dhiomasaigh in Bristol, as well as our honorable mentions, Maryam Haeri, Sushrut Modak, and Michael Rubel in Orange County, for impressing all of us with your ability to remain upbeat and inspire other Consuls to work together as a team! 

About the winners:

Alexandra Craciun, Rod Mupambirei, and Caoimhin Mac Dhiomasaigh are especially active Consuls in our Bristol Community. They have enjoyed relocating abroad and love to meet new people in a foreign place. They truly embody the InterNations spirit of connecting global minds and show to other members how to go about working in a motivated and dynamic team as Consuls.

Winner: Sarfras Nawas — Doha

Honorable Mention: Gerardo Amato — Rome

Why They Won

Here at InterNations, we recognize that all our Consuls make a huge effort to welcome and include members at activities, and the winner of our Best Host 2018 award really does take this to another level.

Saf started off hosting activities for the Doha Jazz Lovers Group, and vividly remembers greeting all 40+ attendees at the door before “dancing all night long”. He has now gone on to take Consul roles in a further three groups, and last year he became an InterNations Ambassador in Doha.

No matter what the activity or event plan, Saf strides to secure the very best for members in terms of food, drinks, music, and deals. Of course, a great host has to also set a good example. So, in addition to continuing to welcome all members to his activities where they are likely to get a warm hug, members who attend one of his party activities are likely to have witnessed Saf always being the first one on the dance floor!

Saf always has a strong focus on the members of his community. When he was informed about winning this award he wrote: “I would like to thank my fellow Consuls and InterNations members who indeed helped me win this award. Their willingness to adapt to new ideas, venues, and themes have made all my activities a big success.”

Why do you think we chose you as 2018’s best host?

The members of the InterNations Doha Community — without their support or participation, I would have never received this recognition.

My life at InterNations started as an Albatross Member, and I quite liked the idea of meeting new people, getting to know various cultures, and getting into various prestigious venues with absolutely no cost or membership (without InterNations I wouldn’t have seen any of these premium venues in town).

Later on, I thought about hosting an activity with the Doha Jazz Lovers Group, as there were no Group Consuls at that time; the previous Consul had to leave the country for his employment, and the group was inactive for a while. I still remember my first activity where almost 40 people showed up — I met and greeted everyone at the door and spent some time with everyone who attended. We did dance all night long!

You truly embody the InterNations motto: “Nobody stands alone!” Do you have any advice for other Consuls hoping to strengthen their presence at activities?

I am sure all the InterNations Consuls across the globe are very capable and they very much know what they are required to do. If they didn’t know what they were doing, I don’t think they would be volunteering for this role. So, as of now I am not qualified to advise anyone.

But what I can share with you, is what I normally do at my activities and events:
1) I meet and greet every attendant at the gates/doors.
2) If I already know them, I give them a warm hug.
3) I am the first one to dance (if its a dance night) and also invite other members to dance and enjoy themselves.
4) I negotiate bargains with the venue for the best deal and make sure our members are happy with that.
5) Usually, I stay until the last member leaves the venue safe and sound.

Even though I am way too friendly, sometimes we have to be harsh on members who disrespect the rules and regulations (both InterNations and venue rules) and undermine our efforts to get them a good deal and a good time.

At the moment, nobody stands alone in the Doha Community, or I would say our very special members don’t like to stand alone or if they decide to stand alone, my fellow Doha Ambassadors and my amazing fellow Consuls don’t let them stand alone and watch. Day by day our little Doha Community keeps growing.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely members in Doha and InterNations, especially Laura and Ben for their support.

Congratulations to Sarfras Nawas in Doha, as well as our honorable mention, Gerardo Amato in Rome, for impressing all of us with your bright smiles and motivation to host fun activities for our members!

 About the winner:

Sarfras Nawas is an especially active Consul in our Doha Community. He is originally from India and moved to Doha back in 2013. He has also lived abroad in the U.K. in the past and enjoys mingling with global minds all around the world. Keeping his friendly attitude to make new friends, he loves organizing welcoming activities as a Consul, that truly embody a hospitable host.

Winner: Lucia Kim — São Paulo  

Honorable Mention: Eleanor Kemunto — Nairobi

Why They Won

Lucia Kim is doing exceptionally well as a Consul in São Paulo. Taking care of the City Explorers and Hang Outs Group, she has proven to be an extremely welcoming and friendly host.

Her enthusiasm and passion are evident, but apparently is part of her mindset. She believes that one can’t get it wrong when doing ‘’what you love… with love!’’

She applied to become a Consul at first motivated by meeting people, learning about new cultures, and making friends. Making people feel at home in São Paulo has been her main intention, which she has successfully been able to do.

Lucia truly embodies InterNations “Nobody stands alone” value, and she was admired and acknowledged by InterNations team members in Munich HQ for that, too, during the Global Awards Ceremony. All of us here were surprised by her way of overcoming challenges in order to offer fellow members the best experience possible.

She has certainly continued to go the extra mile with her groups. When looking at her versatile activity landscape along with the location spots she comes up with to visit with her group members, one can truly see how passionate she is about discovering new places and opening others’ eyes to such exciting spots around their city.

The entire Groups Team here at InterNations, can certainly see why most of the feedback we receive revolving around Lucia refer to the considerable amount of time and effort she is putting into the activities and her continued dedication to her group members and the passion she continues to share about bringing global minds together.

Lucia always has kind words for the people she is meeting through the groups, who seem to be enjoying themselves as much as she is. In fact, she says that what she will treasure the most will be those “wonderful moments shared with wonderful people”.

Congratulations to Lucia Kim São Paulo, as well as our honorable mention, Eleanor Kemunto in Nairobi, for impressing all of us with their new initiatives and how much their groups have grown in such a short period of time. Without their support, it wouldn’t have been possible!

About the winner:

Lucia Kim is an especially active Consul in our São Paulo Community. She is originally from South Korea and moved to São Paulo last year. She has also lived abroad in the UK in the past and enjoys meeting people from all over the world. Keeping her upbeat attitude and ability to make others feel at home abroad, she really enjoys organizing unique activities as a Consul, that truly bring people together.

Winner: Mathias Morgenroth — Kuala Lumpur

Honorable Mention: Emel Kologlu — Stuttgart

Why They Won

When making their selection, the Global Awards Jury considered Consuls with a strong connection to our members. The Members’ Choice Award reflects how they meet a wide variety of unique expectations and needs based on their particular group and their community as a whole.

This year’s winner was Mathias, who is Consul in our Kuala Lumpur Community. We appreciate all of his continued dedication to not only the purpose of his group but to his members who show for themselves how happy and versatile his activities continue to be.

In your opinion, what do members seem to appreciate most about your group and activities?

With our Brunch & Breakfast Group, we have established a wonderful group of “friends” who like to meet each other and talk about random and current topics. At every event, we usually have a newcomer to our group, who is always most welcomed, and who normally also enjoys our relaxed and cozy get-togethers and our nice conversations. Nobody will be left behind, every attendee will be integrated into our conversations, not only by me, but also by our “core group” of regular attendees, who I can call my friends already. We always have fun together and make every single event unique. I also listen to the requests of our group members and try to realize their requests of improvements and/or places where they would like to meet next, no matter if it’s a new place or a well-known one. If it meets my requirements as a Consul, I’m happy to put a plan into action. Our members appreciate that a lot and show it by joining the events regularly.

What is some of the best feedback you’ve received from members?

Besides lovely feedback like “awesome food”, “great location” or “when is the next event?”, our members really appreciate to forget their stressful days for a few hours, and to meet with a great bunch of people who really value each other. But the very best feedback we have received is how much regular attendees like me and my fiancée as a couple. I always bring my fiancée and we always hear how marvelous we act together and how much they enjoy our company as an inspiring, invigorating, and entertaining couple.

How has using the new feedback feature helped you with planning future activities?

The new feedback feature helps me a lot to “listen” to my group and to find out what they like and what they dislike, so that I can plan ahead and avoid things or places which are not really appreciated by the majority of the group. As we like to say in Germany: “The customer is king”.

Congratulations to Mathias Morgenroth in Kuala Lumpur, as well as our honorable mention, Emel Kologlu in Stuttgart, for impressing all of us with your welcoming ways and eagerness to host new activities!

About the winner:

Mathias Morgenroth is an especially active Consul in our Kuala Lumpur Community. He is originally from Germany and moved to Malaysia last year. Keeping his friendly spirit and upbeat nature, he truly enjoys meeting new people and representing InterNations as a dedicated Consul.

Winner: Roberto Bayonet Robles — São Paulo  

Honorable Mention: Antje Schulke — Bochum

Why They Won

Roberto Bayonet Robles has been prized for his creativity, his friendly attitude, and for being inclusive in his community. He took on the Sampa Biking Group a few years ago, and ever since, he has been organizing fun and exciting activities for members all around São Paulo.

He keeps everyone engaged by making InterNations t-shirts for the rides (for which he got in touch with Munich HQ to ask for the logo), posting pictures of all his activities, sending videos of the routes they have taken, and highlighting some of the best moments of the ride. He even gets more creative by posting the videos he made of their epic bike rides on Youtube and encourages members to post their own videos to share tips and plan for the next adventure.

It goes without saying that Roberto is playing an important part both for expats and locals in São Paulo. He promotes healthy and fun activities and cares so much about all of his fellow members and how they are going to remember the activities.

Most importantly, when someone feels like taking a ride, they just say so and invite everyone by posting on the group’s wall. It truly shows how flexible Roberto is as a host and he often checks in on attendees’ feedback by sending private messages and encouraging others to provide their input to help plan the next cycling route.

Each individual activity usually has its own theme which is beneficial for members as well since they have the ability to contribute fresh ideas and ensure the group remains versatile. Roberto’s activities never feature the same area of São Paulo and often times it allows InterNations members to see new places in their city they never would have experienced without the Sampa Biking Group. 

Congratulations to Roberto Bayonet Robles in São Paulo, as well as our honorable mention, Antje Schulke in Bochum, for impressing all of us with your ability to communicate with members both online and offline. Your welcoming ways have inspired many other members to get involved!

About the winner:

Roberto Bayonet Robles is an especially active Consul in our São Paulo Community. He is originally from the Dominican Republic and moved to São Paulo in 2016. Keeping active and introducing other members to his passion of cycling, he loves to experience the outdoors, and welcome InterNations Members as a dedicated Consul.

Winner: Gerardo Amato — Rome

Honorable Mention: Carlo Foscarini — Milan

Why They Won

The winner of the category Best International Host 2018 is Gerardo Amato, Consul of the Musicando Day & Night Group, the Welcome! Group, and the Wine Tasting Group, as well as the Cuisine & Travel Dinner Group in London.

A member of InterNations since 2010 and Consul since 2015, Gerardo feels at home in the international environment of InterNations. “I immediately understood what a fantastic thing it was… I think in diversity we grow and InterNations is just the right place for that.”

Gerardo knows how difficult it can be to move somewhere new, without knowing anyone. Being a world traveler himself, his role as Consul in both Rome and London, has provided the opportunity to share his interests and connect people.

Organizing for four groups in two cities isn’t easy, but Gerardo still makes sure to maintain monthly activities. He manages all of his groups with the same principles of quality and hospitality. He knows how important these qualities are for the members, stating, “for me, even if the cities are different, people are the same.”

Both Rome and London offer amazing opportunities, and while London might have an exceptional food scene, Rome is Gerardo’s home: “Rome is a historic city where culture is present in every corner and it makes me happy to introduce Rome to the world.”

Both as an InterNations member and a Consul, he has had many memorable experiences. “I really like meeting people from all over the world, sharing our lives, even for those few hours.” Of course, the many pictures he takes also help with remembering his great activities.

From dinners to wine tastings, and from concerts to cultural visits (and more), members feel at home at Gerardo’s activities. Whether you’re on a ghost tour of the Eternal City in Rome or having a pint at a historical London pub, you’re guaranteed to make a fantastic memory. 

Congratulations to Gerardo Amato in Rome, as well as our honorable mention, Carlo Foscarini in Milan, for impressing all of us with your welcoming ways and eagerness to host new activities!

About the winner:

Gerardo Amato is an especially active Consul in our Rome Community. He is originally from Italy and has lived in other countries abroad, including South Africa, Canada, and the United Kingdom. With his outgoing attitude and his truly international mindset, he brings members together and represents InterNations as a dedicated Consul.