Tom in Curaçao
Name:
Tom
How long was your internship?
10 weeks
Short Biography
Hey there! My name is Tom, and I’m 22 years old. For my Sport Management (Sportkunde) studies at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, I completed an internship with De Kracht van Sport in Curaçao. Outside of my studies, I’m passionate about football and fitness.
My advice? Don’t stress about anything—it’s the time of your life as long as you make the most of it!
How satisfied were you with the support in your home country?
I was very satisfied with the support. My contact person was Ruben, and we had several meetings before my internship where he provided clear guidance on what to expect. During my stay, I kept in touch with Ruben weekly, which I found very helpful. He was always clear and reliable in keeping his promises.
I arrived in Curaçao on April 20th with a classmate. At first, we got to relax and take in the beauty of the island. On May 3rd, my internship officially started. Each week, we gave lessons such as PE classes, after-school activities, and football training.
I also found myself living in a student house with around 14 people. Despite the mess, I really enjoyed it and had a great time with everyone. There were a lot of different personalities in the house, but as long as you stay easygoing, everything works out fine. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
One of the highlights for me was coaching the U15 and U17 football teams. As a football coach myself, I found this incredibly fun and rewarding. The youngest kids at the schools were also absolutely adorable. Communicating with them often felt like using sign language, but that made it even more enjoyable.
The kids loved everything we did, and their smiles made it all so worthwhile. It’s a memory I’ll never forget.
What advice would you give to future interns/volunteers?
Bring more money than you think you’ll need, as Curaçao can be an expensive island—especially when it comes to going out. Also, don’t stress about anything; it’s the time of your life as long as you make the most of it!
