Merel in Costa Rica

Participant

Merel

Programme

Volunteering

Country

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Duration

10 weeks

Short bio

Hi! I’m Merel, I’m 26, I studied Sport Studies and in my work I’d love to make a difference for sport and for everyone’s health. I do freerunning myself and I hope I can pass on my view to some people that it’s fun to learn to go over obstacles rather than bending around them and not taking them on.

How satisfied were you with the support from Holland?

Ruben is a real star! Super enthusiastic and driven. Great to work with.

My story

“The children are so enthusiastic when there’s sport on offer. It doesn’t matter where, as long as they can get moving with each other and the coaches.”

Merel · volunteering in Costa Rica

I went to Costa Rica to expand and continue the sports offer for the children, giving them something to do so that they’re hopefully less likely to end up in crime and drugs. Together with the interns and volunteers we took a step in the right direction, but there’s definitely room for more! The children are so enthusiastic when there’s sport on offer. It doesn’t matter where, as long as they can get moving with each other and the coaches. The children mainly love football because they don’t know much else. When they’re really driven to take up a sport, they can go to a sports club that I signed an agreement with. This means future volunteers and interns can join in there, learn how things work and maybe even give tips for improvements.

Besides this, I also did some volunteer work because I think it’s important to help others too. For example, I did construction work at the elderly care centre, helped bake bread, painted murals to make the area more attractive and gave PE and English lessons at schools and beyond.