Program Reviews

I never imagined myself interning at a non-profit to begin with so this internship has really opened up my eyes to how to raise money strategically. This can be through writing, which is my passion so I have had a lot of hands-on experience on content marketing and how specific keywords can help raise money. It impacted me to now think more of non-profits, even to then think about pursuing a masters in visual anthropology in the future. I think future participants should know that the work done here can be impactful depending on what you make it. Sometimes the work may seem tedious and repetitive but it needs to be done in order to get the content out there and producing money for the non-profit to continue. It is a really great environment to work in since everyone is passionate about the organization's mission and really willing to put in the effort to raise funds. Everyone is excited and willing to work together for the good of the organization. There is always projects to work on for example writing a blog or experimenting with social media management.

I came to South Africa knowing no one and, apart from other transferable skills and work experiences in NGOs, little about the world of marketing. In short, I had my trepidations. What I discovered was a welcoming and warm environment of young and dynamic professionals who were passionate not only about the job, but the underlying cause of the organisation. I found that to be the case with Penda as well, where, despite my insecurities, I was a growing amount of responsibility over the time I worked there, as well as the freedom to take on or suggest new responsibilities according to my interests and internship goals. Above all, I feel that it was through the trust and mentorship of Penda's founder, Marleen, that I was able to rise to the challenges and to learn to trust myself and my ability to adapt and grow to fill my position within a new and dynamic organision. Overall, I am incredibly happy with my experience. I could not have imagined how much I would learn in just a few months, and it's thanks to this experience that I now approach jobs since then with a sense of confidence that has been vital in making me competent and trustworthy in any professional environment.

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.