INTERVIEW | Humans of 510: Stories Behind the Data

International Volunteer Day Special: Meet Linlin Luo!

At the Netherlands Red Cross’ data and digital team, 510, we believe that behind every innovation is someone whose skills and vision make humanitarian action faster, smarter, and more inclusive – and our volunteers are no exception. With diverse backgrounds, from software development to translation and from data analyst to designer, 52 enthusiastic volunteers powered our projects and brought fresh skills to 510 throughout 2025. This International Volunteer Day, we celebrate their impact with a special edition of our Humans of 510 series: featuring one of our dedicated volunteers, Linlin Luo, in conversation with our volunteer coordinator, Lise Michiels!

Lise: Welcome Linlin! Tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to volunteer with 510.

Linlin: I’m 22 years old, from China, and graduated in Communication Science last year. Soon after starting my first full time job, I joined the 510 team as a volunteer. Volunteering gives me a sense of fulfillment outside of work. 510 is a great place for this: I can use digital, innovative tools to make the world better while sharpening my technical skills. My latest assignment for 510 was to evaluate three customer relationship management (CRM) tools based on security, scalability, customizability, and ease of use, and then creating a decision matrix to help National Societies choose the right one for their purposes.

Lise: Very nice. Is there something that surprised you when you joined 510 as a volunteer?

Linlin: The vibe! Everyone is so kind and driven. I work in telecommunications and met a team member with the same background. She made the move to 510, because she wanted to do something good for humanity. Seeing people work hard on humanitarian projects from up-close, you really feel that they work out of compassion and a desire to help people and make this world a better place. In this era, AI and technology are not equally accessible to everyone. At 510, we help to close this gap which feels meaningful.

Lise: What have been the most rewarding and challenging parts about your most recent project?

Linlin: There were a lot of challenges. Evaluating the tools, I really needed to test each one in-depth which required a lot of technical know-how, and using my coding skills to build something we can use was tough but exciting. Spending a day at the office with the team to collaborate and share ideas through a dedicated hackathon was the highlight. I really liked the team and enjoyed learning from them, and feel that they appreciated my different, less technical perspective.

Lise: That’s impressive! You really embraced the challenge head-on and grew from it. Do you already see the benefits of your participation in this project for humanitarian actors around the world?

Linlin: For sure. This decision matrix is going to help humanitarian actors worldwide to easily compare and pick the tool that best suits their needs, making their work processes more efficient and helping them to help more people by using digital innovation for good. That feels amazing.

Lise: Indeed, it’s so important to not leave anybody behind in the digital revolution. Do you have any advice for future volunteers who want to make an impact through data and digital?

Linlin: You have nothing to lose from trying out new things and reaching out for volunteering opportunities. Just go for it and be brave, even if you come from a non-technical background!

Linlin’s journey shows that volunteering isn’t just about giving time. It’s about learning, connecting, and making a global difference. Her advice? Be courageous, try new things, and make an impact. An incredibly big shout-out to our stellar 510 volunteers! We hope to see many of you again in the new year. Happy holidays and see you in 2026! ❤

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