Carlos Miguel Firmino was one of the SEA’s volunteers who went to Budapest to participate in a Urban Sports Camp, which was part of the UUM project. We went to talk with him, to get a better understanding of what led him to join SEA and how this experience worked out for him.
Hi Carlos. First, we would like to thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Let’s start from the beginning: how did your voluntary journey with SEA begin?
I have people in my family who do volunteering, as well as some friends, so I was always curious to do something in this area. I have heard about the UUM project, and I have decided to apply to be a volunteer. I really like sports, so this was a great opportunity to do something different and exciting. Being with different people and gaining new skills was an experience I couldn’t miss.
What is your connection to the NGO or the urban sports world?
I had no connection with Sport Evolution Alliance. I was informed about the open call to participate and I was immediately interested in the project and I decide to apply. I didn’t know anything about the organisation, but the work SEA has been doing is very good and helpful to society. I already did some Street Workout exercises, but with the UUM project I was more motivated to learn more about this kind of sports activity.
How was your experience like at the urban sports camp?
It was really funny, I’ve met a lot of different people and new cultures while practising sports. As I said before, I already had some previous experiences in Street Workout. However, the training I received exceeded my expectations. Parkour and Streetball were fantastic experiences.
What did you learn in the local event? How did you feel, which challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
I tried Parkour for the first time and it was extremely challenging and at the same time enriching. It made me get out of my comfort zone and deal with frustration. It is important to always have new challenges. For me, it was a rewarding event as it allowed me to work in a team, to be resilient and above all to improve my problem-solving skills.
What are you most looking forward about what’s yet to come in the UUM project?
I know Cascais well, the town where the next event will take place, so I am looking forward to welcoming the other volunteers to Portugal, to show them the best we have and can do in our country. I’m also looking forward to helping with the last event “the big one”, it’s a thing that I enjoy because everybody will be there and I will feel that I am part of it while doing something that I love, which is sports.
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