Anouk in Saint Lucia
Name
Anouk
How long did you do your internship?
4 months
Short biography
I am 20 years old and live in The Hague. I am studying Lifestyle sports and exercise at Roc Mondriaan in Delft. I am in my final year of this study and after this I want to do the Pabo/Halo. At the beginning of the year I was allowed to choose which elective I wanted to follow and for me that was Internationalization which gave me such a great opportunity to go abroad.
In four months you build such strong bonds with the people there, which made it difficult to say goodbye
How satisfied were you with the guidance in your home country?
After I found this the Power of Sports, I was helped very well by Ruben. I quickly received an email for an informative conversation. During the call with Ruben and another intern (who later went in a different project), I got more clarity. Although I had three choices, I eventually chose Saint Lucia because of the English language there. From the moment I knew for sure that I was going to Saint Lucia, I had regular contact with Ruben via WhatsApp. This way I knew exactly what to expect. If I had any questions, I could always contact Ruben. When I look back on my entire internship period, I am very satisfied with the guidance.
My story
On February 2nd I left Schiphol for Saint Lucia. The long flight was worth it, because I was warmly welcomed upon arrival. My internship supervisor, Joël, was waiting with a sign that said ‘United Through Sport’, so I quickly found him. He introduced himself in a friendly manner, and we waited for the other volunteers. The drive from the airport to our accommodation took about one and a half to two hours, but we had a great time in the taxi.
Upon arrival at the house we were again warmly welcomed. The volunteers and staff members who were already there introduced themselves and offered us cold water and a beer – a great welcome! The first group of volunteers had little coaching experience, so we were given a training with example games for different school levels: preschool, primary school and secondary school.
My first session was at a secondary school, which was challenging because of the outspoken students. Fortunately, I received a lot of help and the exercises were demonstrated. Because I had already obtained my swimming instructor diploma in the Netherlands, I was able to swim well. I coached swimming and soccer, which I really enjoyed. The people were so friendly and appreciative, which made the job even more fun.
Every Friday we had an excursion to explore the island. My first excursion was ziplining in a beautiful setting for only $70 for 12 lines. Other excursions I did were the mud baths and waterfall, Pigeon Island and Petit Piton. The mud baths and waterfall are highly recommended, a must-see in Saint Lucia. Besides the sessions we also had a lot of fun with the other volunteers, which made it extra fun.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays there were karaoke nights, a great opportunity to show off your singing skills. There was also a nice little bar near the house with a pool table and music, perfect for relaxing and chatting. I also took a swimming course in the sea, which was very educational, although I never got to put it into practice. I also did netball for two weeks under the guidance of Catherine, a staff member, which was great fun.
Saint Lucia has a lot of days off, like the two week Easter Break. During this period some sports were cancelled, so I tried tennis for a week. Even though it wasn’t my sport, the kids and teachers were great fun. In four months you build such strong bonds with the people there, which made it hard to say goodbye.
The toddlers were always so cute, as were the kids at the swimming lessons, which made these sessions my favorites. The coaches were also great, always up for a joke but also serious when needed. Almost forgot, but within walking distance of the house there are two beaches, one of which is at a resort. In the house you share a bathroom with another bedroom, something to keep in mind. Every Friday there is a street party with a nice rum punch yes I’m already giving too much away haha just do it!!!
What advice would you give to future interns/volunteers?
I would 100% recommend this! Save up as much as possible in advance so you can fully enjoy all the fun activities. For the best experience I recommend four months; this way you get to know yourself better and develop yourself further.
If you have a passion for football, swimming, cricket, basketball or netball, and you want to have an adventure outside of Europe, this is the perfect destination! Be prepared for Dan Ross, an 80% alcohol spirit (not for shooting!), and bring a disposable camera to capture all your beautiful memories.
Thanks for reading and have fun as you embark on this adventure! <3
