Kian in South Africa

Participant

Kian

Programme

Internship

Country

🇿🇦 South Africa

Duration

8 weeks

Short bio

Age: 19
Studies: CIOS Haarlem, college (level 4)
Work: Football coach at Jong HERA UNITED and the DSS under 12 (1st team), and I also work as a chef.
Hobbies: travelling, cooking, football, darts

How satisfied were you with the support from Holland?

I found the support from Holland really good. I met Ruben when he came to talk about The Power of Sports at our college, and from that moment I was pretty much excited straight away. After our first contact I quickly received the right details and everything went smoothly: together with Mick I booked our ticket and everything was well organised. Ruben always replied quickly, thought along with us and stayed involved during our time in South Africa too. He regularly asked how things were going and kept in touch, and he actually still does. That gave me a lot of confidence, both during the preparation and during the internship.

My story

“I went to South Africa to teach others something, but in the end I learnt at least as much myself about coaching, teamwork, flexibility and about myself. This internship has shaped me as a coach and as a person, and I’m grateful that I got to be part of it.”

Kian · internship in South Africa

During my two-month internship as a sports and football coach with The Power of Sports in Port Elizabeth, I went through a period that has really stayed with me. I arrived with healthy nerves: a new environment, a different culture, everything different from home. But as soon as I stepped onto the pitch and felt the energy of the children and young people, I knew this would be a special time. I mainly ran football training sessions and sometimes helped out with rugby. Not everything was perfect, sometimes there was little equipment and the pitches weren’t completely flat, but the enthusiasm made up for everything. That’s exactly how I learnt to improvise, to coach creatively and above all to look at what was possible. During the sessions I noticed that I wasn’t just a coach, but also someone the children felt safe with. Sometimes a chat or a laugh was more important than the drill itself, and that showed me how big a role sport plays there. Despite language differences, we understood each other on the pitch without many words: teamwork, respect and fun always came first. I went to South Africa to teach others something, but in the end I learnt at least as much myself about coaching, teamwork, flexibility and about myself. This internship has shaped me as a coach and as a person, and I’m grateful that I got to be part of it.

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

If you’re going to do an internship or volunteering placement with The Power of Sports in Port Elizabeth, above all go with an open mind. Not everything will go the way you’re used to; equipment, planning and circumstances can sometimes be different or unexpected, but that’s exactly where the biggest learning experience lies. Be flexible, dare to improvise and trust that with creativity and enthusiasm you can always create something great. Don’t just focus on the technical sporting side, but also on your connection with the children and young people: a conversation, a joke or a listening ear can sometimes mean more than a perfect training session. Let go of your expectations, be open to the culture and enjoy the little moments, because they’re what make this experience truly unforgettable.