When I decided to do my internship in Slovenia, I wanted to experience something different from what I was used to. As a social work student, I wanted to learn more about social work in another country, meet new people and see things from a different perspective. I also wanted to challenge myself, step outside my comfort zone and see what I could learn from being in a new environment. My internship at Moja Mavrica gave me the opportunity to take part in different projects, workshops and activities. During my time there, I got to explore a range of social issues and learn more about the work of an organization in a different country.

One of the things I appreciated about the internship was the variety of workshops and topics we explored. We discussed subjects such as compassion, violence, inclusion, climate change and housing issues. I found it interesting to learn about these topics and hear different perspectives, especially from people with a lot of knowledge and experience. The workshops gave me the opportunity to reflect on different social issues and learn from the people around me. I enjoyed being part of discussions where we could share thoughts, ask questions and explore topics together. I also worked on my own project, which focused on the housing crisis. This gave me the opportunity to explore an important social issue through research and interviews. Alongside my project, taking part in the different activities helped me learn more about how organizations can raise awareness and encourage people to get involved in social issues.

The people I met have been an important part of my internship. I have had the opportunity to meet people with different backgrounds, experiences and knowledge, and I have learned a lot from the conversations we have had. Something I particularly appreciated was that the people I worked with gradually became my friends, too. It has been fun to work in an environment where I could learn from the people around me while also enjoying spending time with them. The days were not only about tasks and projects, but also about conversations, shared lunches and getting to know each other. I think this made the experience more enjoyable and showed me how much the people around you can contribute to your time in a workplace. Being able to share ideas, ask questions and have fun together made me feel more connected to the group.

Looking back, my internship has given me the opportunity to step outside my usual environment and experience social work in a different context. I have learned about new topics, listened to different perspectives and gained experience through the projects and activities I took part in. I have also realised that learning can happen in many different ways. It can come from a workshop, a discussion, working on a project or simply talking to someone with a different background or experience. I am glad I chose to do my internship abroad. It has given me new experiences, new friendships and the opportunity to learn more about social issues and the people working with them. These are things I will take with me into my future studies and my work as a social worker.