“I will forever be honored and appreciative of having had the opportunity to be an intern at The HOME Project”.
Casey, Intern at The HOME Project
Casey is a Social Work student at HAN University in the Netherlands. While searching for an internship, she came across The HOME Project and was inspired by our values. She quickly realized that our mission aligned with her goal of working with vulnerable children and decided to reach out to us.
She joined us six months ago and has since been working in two of our shelters. “When I arrived, I was analyzing and observing everything, trying to see how it all worked—and, most of all, to understand the children”, she recalls.
Over time, Casey formed meaningful bonds with them -supporting their daily care and helping to facilitate their socialization and development of key life skills. Sports played a central role. Whether it was volleyball with younger children, football with teenagers, or skating at the park, these moments sparked connection, built trust, and nurtured their confidence. “By going outside, by having this open space, and learning how to play, how to interact with each other, the children would gradually let their guard down, they would open up more, and even become more childish”, she reflects.
What impressed her most was our holistic approach to care and the diversity of our multidisciplinary team. As Casey observed: “Having this comprehensive team dynamic is really important for the children’s healing and growth, as it gives them access to all the support they need”.
Her internship was a transformative experience marked by personal development, learning, and deep emotional connection. She now feels equipped to carry the practical skills she gained into her professional journey. “Interning at The HOME Project has truly changed me. I feel ready to enter the field and apply everything I have learned. The resilience of the children gave me a whole new perspective on life. I will never forget my time here”.
Casey is one of over 200 interns that The HOME Project has welcomed over the years. As Maria Kaldani, Chief Operating Officer, explains: “Hosting interns is a win-win - both for our organization and for the students. We deeply value the energy, fresh perspectives, and academic insights they bring. At the same time, we offer them the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in real-life settings - to experience firsthand how theory often diverges from practice, and to take their first steps towards building a meaningful career".
As Casey prepares for her next chapter, she takes with her the valuable lessons, memories, and relationships formed during her time with us. “I will never forget the people I worked with and, of course, the children. This experience shaped me as a person. Seeing their resilience in their everyday life has given me a whole different perspective”, she concludes.