Outgoing magazine Institute for Sport Studies Outgoing Magazine Work Document 2017 draft version | Page 42

Student Experiences
Mozambique (2014) - Jildou Doornenbal

“My adventure in the slums”
Early in my life I had the desire to do something in a third world country. This was achieved through
the Honours Programme, so I could find out whether development work suits me.
Through the organization Iris Global I arrived at a mission school in Mozambique. I have lived for
three months together with other international students in a community between the slums in the city
of Pemba. What a first impression I had.. A terrible stench and a lack of running water and electricity.
I thought: “What have I started?”
During my stay I helped in various projects such as building houses and giving food and attention to
6,000 children and widows. I got the feeling that I was immersed in a different culture. The environ-
ment had a huge impact on me. What stayed with me most is that the families and villages continued
to care for and take care of each other despite their poverty.
Of course, this expedition asked for the necessary preparation. The first step was to make a good
plan. I went to my slb’ers and honours coach to discuss the possibilities with them, my motivation
created enthusiasm. I made a planning to finish my first year, the propaedeutic phase, properly. My
plan was checked and approved by the examination board, so
I could leave a few weeks before the end of the school year to
Mozambique.
If you have a dream and ambition, it is worth trying to make
this come true. What I have noticed is that the school liked
to think with me and supported my dream. This project in the
honours programme has brought me closer to myself and
helped me gain a broader perspective on life.

“Making the most of it!”
Newcastle Upon Tyne (2014) - Jonathan Heuvelmans
Going abroad. A lot of people tell you to do it and in Germany it’s even sort of mandatory for getting
a job. I’m not trying to convince you but I want you to think about it, because it is one of the way’s to
make the most of it. For me going to Northumbria University was one of the greatest ways of getting
the most out of my time as a student. My name is Jonathan Heuvelmans and I’m doing an (interna-
tional) Erasmus semester in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
By doing an Erasmus semester you will learn so many different things. A couple of the things that
I think are most important are that it has a huge influence on your perspective of your culture and
personality, because you get to know so many different people and cultures. It will enlarge your ac-
ademic skills of your subject of interest, because you will learn the way another culture thinks about
it. It will increase your language skills massively. And last but definitely not least you will get to know
a lot of very interesting people.
It might look like a big thing to do but it actually isn’t that difficult. You can get a lot of help from the
international organisations within your school.
I think I can honestly say that this will be one of the greatest
semesters in my time at the Hanze University. Of course it’s
hard to be away from home, but it is definitely worth it. The
people you get to know, the parties you can go to, the all over
experience will be with you for the rest of your life. And it will
give that extra polish to your resume (CV). Make the most of
your short time as a student!
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