Location
Multiple Locations +3
  • South Africa
    • Cape Town
  • Ghana
  • Malawi
Length
8 to 26 weeks
General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Apartment
Language
English
Weekly Hours
40
Age Min.
18
Qualifications
  • Background or experience in environmental science, biology or similar field
  • Preferably experience in gardening, growing vegetables or permaculture
  • Hands-on mentality and love working in a team

Pricing

Starting Price
1757
Price Details
At Roots we do everything we can to make your work placement experience smooth and hassle-free. We offer an all-inclusive service, which means we will help you find the right internship (we believe we are great match makers!), help you with visa arrangements, book accommodation for you in Cape Town, give you all the pre-departure information you need before arriving, pick you up from the airport and check in with you while on your work placement to ensure you feel supported.
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Meals SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
Aug 08, 2023
Mar 13, 2018
11 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

We have some exciting environmental internships with NGOs in Africa that focus on urban greening, food security, horticulture, and environmental education. If you’re studying environmental sciences, biology, horticulture or a related field and are interested in doing an internship abroad, we have some great opportunities for you.

- Get a thorough understanding of the organization's methods, goals, and operations.
- An opportunity to put your skills into practice.
- Well-structured and guided internship that will meet your desired learning outcomes while getting a valuable work experience.
- Contribute to a worthwhile environmental cause.
- Work and live in the beautiful parts of Africa.

"They gave me the opportunity to work and develop my skills with them on a project that suited my background. I am beyond thankful and I will never forget the wonderful people I met." - Robby, United States, Urban Greening Internship

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

Our mission is to place candidates from around the world, with organizations around the world. We welcome applicants from any background to apply for any of our internships. All placements are made based on skill qualifications and a passion for nonprofit work.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Our mission is to place candidates from around the world, with organizations around the world. We welcome applicants from any background to apply for any of our internships. All placements are made based on skill qualifications and a passion for nonprofit work. As many of our internship destinations are in developing countries, please be aware the LGBTQIA+ laws and cultural acceptance will vary based on each location.

Neurodivergent Support

Our mission is to place candidates from around the world, with organizations around the world. We welcome applicants from any background to apply for any of our internships. All placements are made based on skill qualifications and a passion for nonprofit work. If you need any additional support, contact us to discuss on an individual basis what internship options may be best suited for you.

Accessibility Support

Our mission is to place candidates from around the world, with organizations around the world. We welcome applicants from any background to apply for any of our internships. All placements are made based on skill qualifications and a passion for nonprofit work. If you need any additional support, contact us to discuss on an individual basis what internship options may be best suited for you. As many of our internship destinations are in developing countries, please be aware that the accessibility support available will vary based on location.

Impact

Sustainability

Having started off as the offshoot of an urban greening project, Roots Interns has always been aware of our environmental impact. That's why we work with projects and accommodations that are also actively aware of their impact and striving to make a positive difference. By consciously choosing partners that have sustainable practices in place, we can work towards balancing out any impacts on the environment with equally positive actions.

Ethical Impact

Roots Interns was built around a need for qualified interns in the sustainable development sector. Whether supporting environmental or wildlife conservation or social development, our internships leave a tangible positive footprint on people’s lives and their environment. Working at a grassroots level ensures that the needs of host communities are always at the forefront, no matter the specific cause. Many of our partners support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, further aligning our internships with creating sustainable change. We take great pride in the impact our interns create with the organization they work with and the connections they're able to make in new locations and cultures.

Program Highlights

  • Flexible start and end dates.
  • Duration from 8-26 weeks.
  • Opportunity to be a large part of a small team.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.75 Rating
based on 4 reviews
  • 5 rating 75%
  • 4 rating 25%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.5
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.75
  • Housing 4.25
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Elvira
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Greenpop: UGP & Monitoring internship

My experience with Greenpop was an experience I think every one should go through. Why? Not only was this an opportunity for me to impact my studies, but also an opportunity to see and learn the South African culture. Three months later, I still can't seem to stop playing the highlights in my mind. From going to Rands for Sunday BBQ's and pap, waking up early to the beautiful table-cloth on the majestic table mountain, to viewing different Western Cape landscapes every week - even to unwillingly being carried away by the furious winds during the months of November & December. Oh, how I'd give anything to be back.
The internship itself was an eye-opener for me. I study Environmental Sciences of Sustainable Energy and Technology in the Netherlands, and with Urban Greening I got to experience the other 'spectrum' of this field. Learning mulching techniques and teaching different composting benefits to communities is an aspect I didn't consider as personal interest. Seeing smiles on children's faces in schools - who we got to plant and play with, is heart warming.
I would encourage every one to work with Greenpop and to make the world a better (and greener) place.

70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
August
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Urban Greening Intern at Greenpop

I had the great fortune to be able to go to Cape Town and do an Internship at Greenpop. The work that Greenpop does is amazing and it felt like they were driving an enviromental movement in the city and the rest of South Africa. My work at Greenpop felt meaningfull and I had many different tasks to work on and was given my own projects. I really enjoyed the aspect of having your own project has you were not just assisting someone else, you were doing your own thing and that was not something I expected out of an internship. Spending time in the office and out in different schools and other locations actually planting trees felt amazing. Greenpop really made an effort to tailor the internship to suit you and your interests. I consider myself blessed that I got the chance to work with Greenpop and the wonderful people there. It was a life changing experience and I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I would encourage anyone with a passion for enviromental issues and with the opporutnity to go to Cape Town for a longer period to apply for an internship at Greenpop. I don´t believe that there is a better internship out there for people who want practical experience in working with sustainability and the enviroment. I could not be more happy with my time there.

What would you improve about this program?
N/A
65 people found this review helpful.
Response from Roots Interns

Thanks August, we are happy to receive such good feedback on your internship experience!

Robert
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Internship with Roots Interns at Greenpop (Cape Town)

Hi everyone,

I'm super excited about the way Roots Interns treated me. I was desperately searching for an internship, since 1 month in advance my earlier internship cancelled. The clear contact with Roots Interns made me feel particularly confident about an internship in South Africa. I would recommend anyone who's doubting to go abroad, an internship with Roots.
Roots was very flexible, clear and helpful in any situation. Apart from that, the contact is personally, so any problem you might face is answered quick and efficient. I've had an amazing time and I'm thankful for the opportunity to travel with Roots.

Cheers,
Robert

68 people found this review helpful.
Vinola
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience ever!

I interned at Greenpop during 2016 in the Urban Greening Programme for 2 months.

This experience was not only fun but life changing. The work environment at Greenpop was unique and unexpected, but really enjoyable as the same time. Some of the best parts of the experience was getting to meet interns from around the world and getting to learn about their cultures.
I would highly recommend an internship with this program to anyone looking for a change or to gain some experience in their field. Not only this experience change your life, but will provide you with a new appreciation and outlook.

70 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers