Finnuala journey at EFTC
Finnuala first came to the School of Hope when she was 18, during a backpacking trip after finishing school. She spent five weeks in Guatemala, living with a host family in Antigua and helping in a third and fourth grade classroom. It was a completely new experience for her, and one that left a lasting impression.
Being able to see the school up close, from daily routines to the energy of the students and teachers, had a big impact on her. It even led her to rethink her path and switch her major from Architecture to Liberal Arts, to focus more on global studies and nonprofits. “I realised how interested I was in learning more about the world - from history to cultural studies to humanitarianism and non-profits in particular.”
After graduating, she reconnected with Education for the Children and joined our UK-based team as a communications and marketing intern during a busy end-of-year fundraising period for EFTC. She helped with campaign ideas, created content, and worked on donor updates, while also learning tools like Mailchimp, Squarespace, and Canva.
“One thing I’ve really enjoyed doing was helping create the updates for our supporters - it’s really interesting deep-diving into the impacts EFTC has, and the myriad ways it supports students.”
One thing she really noticed was how much happens behind the scenes to keep everything in Guatemala running. From administration to fundraising, there is always a lot going on, and extra support really matters.
For her, the experience was just as much about learning as it was about contributing. She says the most important thing you need is curiosity and a genuine interest in being part of the work.
““EFTC supported me as both a volunteer and intern, helping me build new skills and feel like part of the community. It was an incredibly enriching experience, and I’m grateful to have contributed to such impactful work.”
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