Victoria in Argentina

My story

For my studies I was allowed to do a 10-week internship abroad. Because I’m half Spanish, I really missed the warm weather, so I knew for sure I wanted to go somewhere sunny. I chose Argentina because I already spoke the language and felt I could really contribute something there.

From the start my goal was to support the new project in La Matanza by raising funds and setting up new partnerships. La Matanza is a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires where many people from vulnerable backgrounds live. It’s a place that help often doesn’t reach, or only with difficulty, partly because of poor roads and the distance from the city. My main tasks were approaching potential partners, sending emails and networking. By the end of my internship we had built strong contacts with several universities and arranged a bus to travel to the new location, about an hour away.

During my internship the organisation was also in the middle of a rebrand: the name changed to El Poder del Deporte because it was becoming part of the structure of The Power of Sports. This brought extra work with it, such as updating materials and creating visibility around the new name.

One of the best experiences was joining the volunteers on location. I helped out during training sessions and spent time with the children. It was confronting to see how little they have, while for them this is just normal life. Despite all the challenges they face, the children were incredibly grateful and cheerful. That was really impressive and moving.

Outside work I also thoroughly enjoyed my time in South America. Within the organisation it was easy to make friends. Everyone was super welcoming and close bonds formed quickly. By my second week I’d already planned a trip to Brazil with other volunteers. We went during Carnival, which was a truly unforgettable experience. We also visited Uruguay, just two hours from Buenos Aires, and later I went to the Iguazú Falls with family members. They were breathtaking, honestly impossible to put into words. There’s still so much to see and I definitely hope to go back one day.

I also got to know wonderful people from Buenos Aires, with whom I spent lovely weekends full of exploring the city and local activities.

All in all, this internship was an amazing experience, one I’d do all over again in a heartbeat.

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

Just do it! You’ll meet amazing people from all over the world.
If you get the chance, grab it. My 10 weeks flew by because there was so much to experience and discover.