Doing an internship abroad
Argentina, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, Saint Lucia or South Africa. You’ll undertake a placement lasting several months within an existing sports programme, playing a full part in its running. During school hours, you’ll deliver sports lessons at school alongside the teacher. After school, you’ll work on our community projects, where children can take part without any barriers to entry.
You’ll prepare lessons, coach regular groups and tailor your programme to the age, ability and resources available. You’ll work alongside teachers, local coaches and our on-site coordinator, keep track of attendance and hand over your work at the end of your placement. What you build up will continue even after you’ve returned home.
Suitable for vocational and higher vocational education programmes in sport, events, culture and the social sector. We will tailor the content of your internship assignment to your course and your own learning objectives.
You will always work alongside the local coach or teacher, who remains responsible for the lesson. Trainees never replace paid local staff at our organisation. For every sport and age group, lesson manuals containing detailed lesson plans are available for you to use.
You must be at least 18 years old. If you are 17, you may still be welcome following an intake interview. In that case, your parents or carers must register you and give their consent, as set out in our terms and conditions.
What you’ll be doing
We use sport to help children and young people develop, both on and off the pitch. They don’t receive any regular sports lessons anywhere else – neither at school nor at a club. You’ll be delivering those lessons in the sports that are popular there.
An internship is different from voluntary work. You’ll be given your own tasks and work more closely with the permanent staff. Exactly what you do will depend on your course of study, your knowledge and what you’re good at.
You’re never alone
Once you’ve decided which project appeals to you, sign up and we’ll arrange a no-obligation chat. Whilst you’re still in the UK, we’ll put you in touch with other interns and volunteers who are heading to the same country, so you can organise your trip together.
You can also speak to someone who has already been there, or to your coordinator on site, beforehand. You can also apply for an Erasmus grant for your placement abroad. We’ll explain how that works during the interview.
From the first enquiry to your return home
Four conversations – and throughout, you’re never just a number.
Everyone starts with an initial interview, and you won’t be able to join us without one. The interview is free of charge and there’s no obligation. We’ll tell you everything about the country, the project and the accommodation, and we’ll take an honest look together to see if it’s right for you.
You’ll then be given the contact details of the internship supervisor at the organisation and of an intern who is currently there or has just returned. That way, you’ll hear first-hand whether your requirements are feasible. Would you prefer to ring a former participant first? We can arrange that too.
If you’re sure, we’ll walk you through all the next steps: the flight, the visa, insurance and even what type of plug they use there. Your dashboard contains your welcome pack and the course manuals to help you prepare for your training sessions. You’ll set off fully prepared.
Once you’re back home, we’ll review your trip during a video call and you’ll write a report on your experience. We’ll discuss what you’ve shared with our local partner, so that the project and the support we provide can keep improving. We’ll publish your report on the website for the next intern.
Choose from eight countries
Each country has its own page detailing the project, the accommodation and the costs.
Why ‘The Power of Sports’
- We design our programmes ourselves, using a methodology that works.
- Affordable internships, with no enrolment fee or deposit.
- The only British organisation that focuses entirely on becoming a sports coach abroad.
- Everyone is required to attend an initial consultation first; this is free of charge and without obligation.
- We tell it like it is, even when things don’t go to plan.
- Our programmes are run responsibly and have a proven positive impact.
- All our staff are familiar with the programmes abroad from their own experience.
- Personal support, both in the UK and on site, and a debriefing upon your return.
- A child protection policy in line with the international ‘Keeping Children Safe’ guidelines.
- Over ten years’ experience.
- Independently assessed by Volunteer Aware.
Read about our interns’ experiences
What we do
The children and young people in our programmes do not have access to regular sports lessons – neither at school nor through a sports club. We do, however, provide these lessons in the sports that are popular in that country.
The aim is to make the most of people’s talents, develop social skills, improve health, encourage open discussion of difficult topics and bring the neighbourhood a little closer together. Interns play an indispensable role in this. We also support the projects with funding, clothing and sports equipment.
It all starts with a conversation
You never sign up for the placement straight away. The first step is always an introductory meeting, during which we’ll tell you all about the country, the project and the accommodation. Only then will you decide whether to go.
