How I improved my professional skills while creating social change
by Sam Olds
Who Am I?
My name is Samuel Olds and I’m an incoming senior at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I’m double majoring in History and Sociology. I am originally from Berkeley, California, but I moved to Barcelona this summer to intern through the University of California, Davis’ Business and Communication Summer Abroad program.
Why I Chose Homeless Entrepreneur
I chose to intern for the NGO Homeless Entrepreneur because the position offered me the chance to help others while simultaneously advancing my own personal and professional skills. My social impact is of significant concern to me because it represents the extent to which I’m using my privileges to create positive changes in the lives of people with less access to resources and opportunities for success. In addition, the organization appealed to me because they understand that true change goes beyond temporary solutions; it lies in providing individuals with the tools and support they need to rebuild their lives. Currently, society’s welfare-centric approach provides only temporary assistance for the homeless, while ultimately leaving their long-term employment and living conditions untouched. Among homeless individuals who gained access to conventional housing for at least 30 days, one study found that it took an average of just 56 days for the subjects to return to their homelessness. By contrast, professional development opportunities, such as the HELP Program offered by Homeless Entrepreneur, provide homeless people with mentorship and job training to reintegrate themselves into the workforce, and society as a whole.
My Experience
During my time with Homeless Entrepreneur, I assisted primarily in the development of a specific fundraising initiative, the Social Impact Room. Through a partnership with the Barcelona-based Eco Boutique Hostal Grau, the profits from a night of one guest per week’s stay are automatically allocated to poverty-reduction measures. As an innovative form of tourism with social impact, the initiative provides the opportunity for tourists to create social change by simply choosing to stay at Hostal Grau, with no further expenses in addition to their room’s rate. Over the initiative’s first year, Homeless Entrepreneur plans to use the proceeds to empower 60 people out of poverty. In the future, the organization intends to form a network of both eco-sustainable and five-star hotels throughout the continent to join the project. While developing the social impact room initiative alongside the owner of Hostal Grau’s son, Janpol Camp, I was responsible for curating the guest experience, forming a checkout survey to inform constant improvements, and writing a script for the video that informs social impact room guests of their contribution.
Photo from The Social Impact Room intro video: Watch video
Apply to Book the Social Impact Room!
Throughout the internship, I also received multiple opportunities to attend meetings and events that promoted my professional development while furthering my appreciation for the work of Homeless Entrepreneur. For example, during the second week of my internship, I had the great privilege of meeting David Sánchez, a participant in Homeless Entrepreneur’s HELP program, at his workshop in Barcelona.
Interns visit David Sanchez, Sandboard - Snowboard Repairer and Sandboard Shaper & Homeless Entrepreneur in Barcelona.
While there, David (Follow him on Instagram!) gave a group of my fellow interns and me a tour of his workspace, where he repairs snowboards and shapes sandboards while sharing his story. A week later, I represented Homeless Entrepreneur alongside its President, Andrew Funk, at ETHBarcelona, the largest Ethereum festival in Europe. While in attendance, I photographed and recorded key components of Andrew’s participation in a 45-minute expert panel on creating an inclusive, accessible online ecosystem.
As part of my internship, I also completed two online courses offered by IBM Skillsbuild, "Soft Skills for Work" and "Working in a Digital World: Professional Skills." These courses empowered me to communicate effectively, deliver impactful presentations, and improve my problem-solving and teamwork skills, all of which will benefit my future endeavors.
How You Can Help
Homeless Entrepreneur is a remarkable organization that not only empowers people out of poverty through professional development but also advocates for policies that reduce homelessness. By providing mentorship and job training, Homeless Entrepreneur equips individuals with the skills and confidence to reintegrate into the workforce and society. If you are able and willing to contribute, no matter how small the amount, you will be directly impacting the lives of those in need. Your support will provide crucial resources and opportunities for homeless individuals to regain their independence and dignity. Together, let's create a future where homelessness is just a memory. Join me in supporting Homeless Entrepreneur and their vital work. Your generosity will have a lasting impact, helping to transform lives and communities.
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