Ferdinand in Mauritius

My story

Three of us, three Dutch lads, travelled to Mauritius to give sports lessons to children at local primary schools. During our stay we delivered lessons in four different sports: football, basketball, volleyball and netball. Our job was to introduce the children to these sports or to develop their existing skills further.

As well as teaching at schools, we also coached a local football team. We held training three times a week: on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and on Saturday mornings. What struck me most was that as an outsider you’re still feeling your way at first, but you soon win the trust and respect of the children. The longer we were there, the more the pupils opened up, which made teaching not only more effective but also much more fun.

There was also plenty of time to explore the island. In our free time we did all kinds of amazing activities: we went diving in the clear Indian Ocean, went on a safari, hired scooters to travel around the island, and climbed the iconic ‘Le Morne’ mountain, an impressive experience. We also enjoyed the nature, the local culture and the delicious food. All in all, it was a unique combination of volunteering and adventure that I’d recommend to anyone!

What advice would you like to give future interns and volunteers?

Take plenty of suncream and be ready to learn a lot from different cultures!