Program Reviews

I can safely say that my 5 month internship at project ubuntu was a life changing experience for me that I will always remember. Roots interns supported me at all times and answered all questions that came up during the internship, regardless of whether it was about visa or other problems. The project taught me that love and respect are the most important values in life to change something and make a difference to people. Being happy and rich has nothing to do with material standards but with a sense of community. Experiencing their strong sense of community is what made me stronger as an individual and help me to overcome future challanges.

I had an incredible few weeks in Cape Town interning with Greenpop and Penda. I gained professional working experience in writing and communications, I developed a clearer vision of what I want to pursue as a career, I contributed to causes I feel passionate about, I met the most amazing like-minded people and I fell IN LOVE with Cape Town.

I'm really happy that I found Roots. They helped me choose an internship that was right for me (or two in my case!), guided me through the application process and were a great support in-country.

The slightly lower 'safety' rating is no reflection on Roots, Greenpop or Penda as organisations - I felt very safe and supported by them. CT is just not what I would call a 'safe' city and it's important to be aware of this. It definitely shouldn't stop you from going - the pros far outweigh the cons and taking precautions such as catching Uber's after dark meant that I never encountered any issues.

I realized my Marketing Internship for Penda Photo Tours in Cape Town during two months. It was an incredible experience who permits me to learn new things about marketing, but also to grow up my level english, and the most important to meet amazing people. I think this first professional experience will be an asset for my next internships because it builds skills in the field. About the personal view, I met a lot of people who the most of them were so nice!
My work consisted to find competitors of the company, send email to external website for purpose partnership, create listings on an external listing site to have more visibility in Internet, and SEO.
Finally, it was one of the best experiences of my life and I would keep that good memories.

Talitha and the whole Roots team made me feel supported and reassured at all times when preparing for my stay and internship. They provided me with all the necessary details and information and also suggested me the accomodation, and it was definetely the right choice. I got to live with the people I was working with and we developed a very good relation. The work at the office was stimulating and interesting for the most part. I learnt a lot about cooperativeness, flexibility and adaptability, working in an international environment and city. The on-field work where you witness how the work you do at the office translates into concrete action was a life-changing experience, as were the adventures exploring the beautiful Southern Africa, made possible by a great life-work balance.

I totally enjoyed my experience at Greenpop. It's totally different from any internship in marketing you could find elsewhere! First of all because at the office you would feel really relaxed and welcome and you'll spent time in an environment full of people passionate about they do! Moreover, they give you lots of opportunities to also enjoy and experience Cape Town outside the working hours or during the days off you get. As a marketing internship, you'll find yourself busy in managing social media, writing blog posts, doing research! I made many friends with whom I shared my different adventures (road trips, hikes, wine tasting)

Interning at Greenpop was such a fun experience. The work environment itself is very relaxed and the culture is very intimate. Moreover, I became such good friends with the employees and also with the other interns at work. I'm interested in pursuing a marketing concentration and therefore, I applied for the marketing and creative writing internship at Greenpop. My supervisor, Zoe, was extremely helpful and informative and even though I don't have any prior experience with marketing, Zoe was very willing to guide me through the work. South Africa itself is a very beautiful country with so much to offer. The natural beauty of the country is breathtaking and the activities range from hikes and adrenaline filled activities to restaurants and bars. In addition, South Africa is host to a variety of different species and so, the wildlife in South Africa is a beauty one must experience. The city itself is filled with young travelers which makes it very easy to meet new and interesting people. It was overall a very memorable experience that I will for sure be sharing with friends and family back home. All of this was made possible by roots intern and especially Talitha who helped me throughout the process.

Interning with Roots has been absolutely valuable not only for my future career plans but also for my personal perspective and growth. I got the chance to meet incredibly amazing people, got a lot of interesting insights how NGO’s are working and learned so much in the field of Marketing and Communications. I developed my writing skills in an immense way by creating blog posts, newsletters, mailers and running the social media. Besides that, I learned a lot about SEO and got the chance to dive into my own customer journey and personas project which helped me so much to understand the whole marketing strategy of the organization. I loved the inspiring vibe in the office and being surrounded by people that included me in their group right from the beginning. This has been an amazing internship experience which I will never forget!

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.

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.

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