Interview with Former Cape Town Intern Hugh Blaney

Former Connect-123 intern Hugh Blaney spent some time getting caught up with us three years after completing his Cape Town education internship.

You were an intern on our Cape Town program back in June, 2009. Why did you decide to intern in Cape Town?

Africa was always a continent that intrigued me. When I got a year off from my Law firm I decided that rather than follow the well-travelled track to Australia I would make a left field decision and visit Africa. I chose to go to Cape Town for a few months working as a volunteer. Cape Town ticked all the boxes. It was a beautiful city on the beach with a vibrant culture. It also provided the safety and security that I needed to keep my protective father happy as well as giving me the base to experience as much of what Africa had to offer as possible. I can truly say Cape Town did not disappoint in any regard. It’s a beautiful city with so much to offer.

Tell us a bit about what your Connect-123 internship was like.

My internship was with an amazing foundation in Cape Town which uses sports to inspire disadvantaged children in and around Cape Town to build a positive future for themselves, their families and their communities. I worked with the Rugby programme and my individual task was to organise and implement an anti-bullying programme in 10 schools in the Bonteheuwel Township with the view to expanding it across the communities that this organization works in. I was also heavily involved in underage coaching in rugby for kids aged 7 through 18. It was the best 4 months of my life. No two days were the same and I can’t speak highly enough of the people involved in the programme from the programme co-ordinator through the teachers and especially the people of Bonteheuwel. They welcomed me with open arms and I am still in touch with a number of the people I met. This was no part time internship. It was real work and it was hugely fulfilling. I didn’t come for a holiday and Connect did a great job in finding an internship that catered to my needs. I am pleased to say that the programme I implement is still in operation and plays a key role in the organization’s Rugby progamme. In 2009 alone over 4000 kids took part in the anti-bullying campaign and is now endorsed by Childline SA and a couple of Professional Rugby players in South Africa.

Do you think your Connect-123 internship helped prepare you for where you are today?

I went to Cape Town as a commercial lawyer who enjoyed working with kids in my time off. I came from a huge family and saw working with kids as a bit of fun rather than a career. When I returned from Cape Town I re-evaluated my outlook on life and decided I was in the wrong profession. Seeing the difference the foundation had made in these kid’s lives inspired me to not waste my gift for dealing with young people. I decided to go back to school for a year and become a high school teacher. Without this experience I would be sitting in an office right now bored with my life and working 50 hours weeks. Instead I am working in a job that I love which inspires me every day. I am still involved in coaching rugby and I am in the process of getting the anti-bullying programme up and running in my school. Connect-123 made all this possible. They placed me in a programme that brought out a side of me I had forgotten about and made me a better person.

What are some of the personal skills and/or professional lessons you learned from your internship?

I learned so much in my time in Cape Town that helped me both personally and professionally. Coming from a small country like Ireland I was very sheltered. We don’t see too much of the outside world apart from what we see on TV. In Cape Town I met people of all shapes and sizes, colours and creeds which gave me a better understanding of our modern global society. I now have friends from all over the world in all lines of work. Professionally I learned so much that helps me on a daily basis. When I was interviewing for my first post as a teacher the Principle asked me if I was ready to deal with a classroom of highly strung kids. I said that if I can handle a class of 50 screaming girls in a township a class of 25 suburban boys and girls would be a cake walk. I learned how to deal with many of the problems that face the youth of today and how to connect with children.

Any advice for our readers?

Dive in and don’t hold back. Your time will be limited so make the most of it. Don’t turn down an opportunity to get involved as part of the reason you go to places like Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Dublin is to experience the culture. Connect-123 will provide you with the opportunities and the companions to make the most of your stay but they can’t force you to get involved. You will only get out of the experience what you put in. My advice would be work hard, play harder and most importantly have fun.

Experiences like this are once in a lifetime so enjoy the ride.