This article is related to: "Volunteer Experience: Business Management & Administration Internship"
1) SOLS 24/7: You have a history of loving to do volunteer work and working with grassroot projects. What started your interest?
Juan: There are many people that accept this world for what it is and are able to find happiness amidst the suffering of others, through various distractions, comforts and material possessions. And there are the lone few that stand out like a sore thumb, they will never be satisfied until suffering and tyranny is brought to an end and are fighting everyday for a better future. I started volunteering when I realised that I wasn't a sheep anymore and had to try and do something meaningful with my life.
2) SOLS 24/7: To complete your internship for your university, why did you choose to work with a non profit, and not in the usual corporate environment?
Juan: I didn't get the hype of applying to big companies just to pimp out my CV or show off to my friends and family about how big and reputable my employer is. At the end of the day, most of those people are sitting around making photocopies and coffee. The kind of work you do in an NGO is usually very diverse, dynamic and interesting. You are able to work in different areas and interact with a lot of different people from different cultural backgrounds. It strongly develops your initiative and self-determination as you are working because you want to, not because you have to, and its really up to you how much you want to contribute.
3) SOLS 24/7: Could you give a brief outline of your previous volunteer work - in Tanzania, etc?Juan: I began doing voluntary work in Tanzania for a local NGO called 'Art in Tanzania'. They hooked me up with a role as a football coach in Kwetu High School. We played a few friendly matches with neighbouring schools and the attention we got from the children and the general public was incredible. This gave me the idea to create a football competition but on a much larger scale! The director of the NGO shared my vision so I was appointed sports project manager. I was to plan and coordinate a football tournament for secondary schoolsI planned and co-ordinated their first football tournament for local secondary schools aiming to promote 'Art in Tanzania' and HIV Awareness. I also managed a team of volunteers and medical interns to work as coaches, referees and medics on match days.
Other than sports I also taught Adult English Advanced Classes and initiated a class plan and study programs for local Tanzanians of all ages who had very low understanding of the English language. I took students out of the class for individual speaking practice and reading exercises. This greatly improved my cultural understanding and approach to working in Africa.
Juan believes in empowering others through education.
4) SOLS 24/7:Lastly, when a student wants to do an internship, what criteria or points should they take into consideration when choosing an organization to work for?
Juan:Do you want to ENJOY what you are doing.Do you want to LEARN while you are doing it.Do you want to EXPERIENCE something deeply rewarding.Do you want to CHANGE people's lives.
iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software
No comments:
Post a Comment