Contribute to important women’s empowerment projects during an education-focused internship in Livingstone, Zambia
You can join this internship remotely or in-person. Either way, you’ll gain hands-on experience in the development of educational material, and you’ll make your mark on an inspiring project that uplifts girls and women in this African community.
As an education intern, you’ll be part of Baobuyu Learning Center, a nonprofit organization that works in a rural area on the outskirts of Livingstone, a welcoming town a stone’s throw away from the Victoria Falls. (You can often see the spray of the falls from the project!) Baobuyu runs a community center that serves as a pre-school in the mornings, offering high quality education to kids in the community, and as a workshop space in the afternoons. One of the focus areas of the workshops is health education for girls and women.
Your role will be to help develop (and run, if you’re working in the field) these workshops. This can involve research, creating visual and interactive materials, and helping develop the initiative as a whole. It’s a wonderful opportunity to play a vital role in a grassroots level gender equality project.
Baobuyu Learning Center is a community center that provides a large number of educational programs to the local community. It’s based in Mwandi, a rural community on the outskirts of Livingstone that deals with a lack of opportunities and resources. The center was established in 2016, and has since grown into an important hub with a varied program of free workshops and classes.
During the mornings, the center provides primary education for children aged 2 to 6. The goal is to provide free education to children who might otherwise not have access to quality schooling. During the afternoons, the center becomes the venue of a number of clubs and workshops, including;
You’ll stay in a shared house near Baobuyu Learning Center, together with the founder of the organization and a couple of others. It’s a basic but very comfortable house in a nice area of Livingstone, a 20-minute stroll into the center of the town. The house has three bedrooms, plenty of living space, and a large garden. There are three dogs at the property. You’ll share a room and bathroom with one other person.
Zambia is a relatively safe country, but there is petty crime, so it’s always good to be vigilant. Some safety tips are to avoid traveling alone, take a taxi/Uber at night, know safe/unsafe areas, avoid carrying valuables around, stay alert, and inquire about swim area safety. Prioritize protection from heatstroke and dehydration during your stay by drinking plenty of water. It is also important to respect the advice given to you by the accommodation host and internship supervisor.
Make sure to visit your doctor and dentist for a check-up before your internship and to get all the recommended vaccines, malaria profylaxis, and/or medications necessary to stay healthy.
There is no Wifi available at the accommodation, so you will have to use mobile data. Purchase a Zambian SIM card for reliable phone use or opt for international roaming.
Food is not included and you can prepare your own meals in the kitchen. Zambia is not known for its cuisine but there are few things you definitely need to try.
Nshima: a maize porridge which is a staple food all across Africa.
Zambezi bream: fish from the Zambezi river
Ifisashi: vegetarian stew of peanuts, tomatoes, spinach and cabbage. Usually served with nshima
Mosi: the local beer
You will be based in Livingstone, a town that’s famous for the Victoria Falls, but there is plenty more to see and do in your spare time. Take a stroll at one of the local markets and enjoy the friendliness of the Zambian population. Or if you are more adventurous, think about rafting the mighty Zambezi river or a bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge. And of course, there are plenty of opportunities in the area to go on a safari, either in the country or across the border in Botswana or Zimbabwe. Never a dull moment in Livingstone!
Start and end dates for the internship with this organization are flexible and will be discussed during the application process.
What you’ll pay (2025 rates)
8 weeks USD 2,197
12 weeks USD 2,864
16 weeks USD 3,531
20 weeks USD 4,199
26 weeks USD 5,199
Remote internship: USD 595
NOTE: Internship applications for 2024 are now closed. Applications are open for start dates in 2025.
Some of our most commonly asked questions for programs in Zambia.
During your internship in Zambia, you’ll be able to work with people from around the world, while also becoming part of a tight-knit community. Check out this testimonial blog from a past intern about her experience in Zambia to learn more about what your Zambian internship may entail!
An internship with an NGO in Zambia will allow you to develop and strengthen various skills such as communication, teamwork, project management, problem-solving, leadership, and adaptability. You can check out this blog article in order to learn more about why doing a charity internship is good for your career!
It’s not a guarantee that there will be other interns on-site at the same time as you, but the organizations work with people internationally and locally to achieve their goals daily so there are plenty of colleagues around. The accommodation is a great way to meet other volunteers in the area as well!
Only people above the age of 21 can apply due to visa requirements. If you’re under 21 you can apply for a hybrid internship, which is up to 1 month in person and then continues remotely.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to receive any compensation. Since you’ll be joining a nonprofit organization, your internship will be unpaid, but you can find ways to fund your internship here. The opportunities for both professional and personal growth are invaluable and your experience will bring a wealth of new knowledge!
“I had a wonderful time working with roots and my placement organization. I was walked through the interview process and enjoyed how well heard I was. My interests, schedule, and goals were taken into account at every turn. I felt supported during my stay and the accommodations were very nice.
Shelby, Education Internship Female Empowerment, United States
One of the best parts about this internship was how flexible it was. At the beginning this was a bit of a challenge but once you find your own rhythm and goals, its the best. I did everything from working one-on-one with a few of the kids from the school, facilitate girl power group, facilitate lesson plans with teachers, help create a business plan, mission and vision statement, and so much more. Each day was new and different, a real adventure. My whole experience was so pleasant that I decided to come back after my internship and I'll be staying here for the rest of the year! My life has been changed for the better because of this experience.”
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.
Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.TEST
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
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ABOUT US
At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
CONTACT
UK: +44 139 269 0255
US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com
OFFICE: Cape Town, South Africa
SOCIAL
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
