I am a
graduate student of social work from the United States. I worked with Sports
Network and Cooperation to complete summer internship hours through my
University in Michigan. I lived in Madrid and worked in the organization’s
office in Alcobendas. My experience was unbelievable!
Working
with Sports Network and Cooperation I was able to put educational skills in
administration, program development, and program implementation into practice.
Although I had a background in Spanish, my vocabulary improved as I navigated
through the previously unfamiliar business and financial jargon.
 |
| Organizing activities for my project |
I worked in
financial reporting of prior sports projects employed in Africa. Working in
this, I was involved in the micro process of reviewing invoices and financial
statements but also gained a macro understanding of financial revenue for
non-profits in Spain and other areas in Europe.
The director Carlos involved me
in the development and reporting process of a project he was working on to implement
in Zambia. Through this I learned about program implementation in Africa as
well as the reporting process that took place in Spain.
As an
intern, I was also involved in project development and implementation.
Initially, I collaborated and worked with Sports Network and Cooperation
volunteers from the EU who implemented sports programs in the local immigration
centers in Madrid. This was a great experience and was the impetus for the
creation of my own project.
 |
| Part of the team at Sport and Cooperation Network! |
I worked on the project design and collaborated
with others in the organization to create “Girls and Boys on the Run,” which I
implemented in two immigration centers in Madrid. The project utilized
different sport games to teach a lesson on social awareness and responsibility.
It was so much fun working with the children ages 5 to 11 and playing sports
games with them.
I learned about the culture of Spain and the social culture of
immigration. At Sport Network I was given the freedom to be creative and design my own project but also
given the support and resources I needed for implementation. It was a successful
project!
The
most memorable experience I had at Sports Network and Cooperation was my trip
to Italy. I and another intern accompanied the directors Carlos and Maria to
Rome for a MIMOSA (Migrant Inclusion Model through Sports for All) conference.
At the conference I observed the different sports organizations from all over
the EU that came together to present on an array of issues. It was a great
experience that taught me about non-profit collaboration and allowed me to meet
individuals from all over Europe. I am grateful for this experience, and the many other great experiences I
had in Spain. Thanks!
Written by Laura Meeker, ex-intern at Sport and Cooperation Network
