Forest Management Internship in South Africa

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Gain field experience in the impact assessment and sustainability of forest restoration programs in South Africa.

Here’s an exciting opportunity to gain field experience in the impact assessment and sustainability of forest restoration programs in South Africa. Applications are now open for August – October 2023!

You’ll join Greenpop, a nonprofit organization on a mission to green communities, restore and protect forests, and spread environmental activism. As an intern on this program, you’ll be part of Greenpop’s ‘Forests for Life’ program in South Africa, and you’ll assist in both preparations of a reforestation festival and the impact assessment of past forest restoration work. You’ll spend two months in Cape Town, at Greenpop’s headquarters, and one month on the road, visiting reforestation sites and assisting with monitoring and evaluation activities.

This internship is a wonderful opportunity for students of fields such Land Management, Ecology, or Forestry to gain varied and hands-on experience in forest restoration work – and be part of a passionate team of experts.

Learning outcomes of this forest management internship;

  • Insights into forest management in a South African context
  • Experience in data collection and assessment
  • A thorough understanding of the planning, coordination and evaluation of reforestation projects
  • Practical experience in monitoring and evaluation of nonprofit work
  • International work experience

ORGANIZATION

Greenpop is a nonprofit organization that runs urban greening, reforestation, and eco-education projects. Based from Cape Town, South Africa, Greenpop plants trees and creates gardens at schools in underprivileged areas and works to regenerate indigenous forests throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. And as part of their mission to encourage a treevolution, the organization has a strong focus on activating people – both Africans and people from around the world – to participate in their projects.

Greenpop is motivated by the vision of a world in which people and nature thrive together. Since they kickstarted their programs in 2010, the team has planted over 190,000 trees and activated over 300,000 citizens to get active in protecting their environment.

TASKS & REQUIreMENTS

Responsibilities

Your key activities during this reforestation internship will be:

  • Conduct annual monitoring at all active projects. In the two to three weeks field work trip, you will visit 6 different locations, and monitor 27 individual sites along the Garden Route
  • Assist with planting workshop and plant day facilitation
  • Curation and analysis of Monitoring & Evaluation data collected (along with historical data)
  • Review and update Best Practice Guidelines

More specifically, this will be your Internship timeline:

  • Month 1;
    • Monitoring & Evaluation preparations for the fieldwork, which includes getting forms and equipment ready and scheduling field visits
    • Monitoring & Evaluation fieldwork
  • Month 2:
    • Data digitization & curation of spreadsheets
    • Further Monitoring & Evaluation field work
    • Coordination support of reforestation festival, which includes planting workshops and tree planting facilitation
  • Month 3:
    • Data analysis and reporting
    • Final report on M&E data
    • Update Best Practice Guidelines
    • Gathering feedback and creating recommendations

Requirements

  • Background in Ecology, Natural Sciences, Data management, Natural Resource Management or Forestry
  • Familiarity with statistical analysis programs and strong data management skills
  • Willingness to spend long hours in the field to collect data
  • Willingness to be traveling for about one month of the internship
  • Good social skills and ability to work in a small group for extended periods
  • Basic knowledge of ecological issues/concepts
  • Available from August-October 2023. Extending your internship after October is possible.

WHERE YOU’LL STAY

You’ll be staying at The Lenox, a comfortable guesthouse in the heart of Cape Town. Built in the old Cape Dutch style, The Lenox is characterful and historic. It has multiple balconies, a large dining room, and many other communal spaces. Shared bedrooms include 2 twin beds, and there are plenty of single rooms available as well (at an extra fee). You’ll be walking distance from many shops, cafes, restaurants, and some of the touristy highlights Cape Town has to offer as well.

Safety & Support

Safety & Support

Be sure to prioritize hydration in the summer to avoid heatstroke. South Africa does have high crime rates, so it’s important to be aware and use common sense to stay safe. Some safety guidelines are to always walk in groups, take a taxi/Uber in the evenings, know safe/dangerous areas, secure your belongings, don’t walk around with large sums of cash (you can pay everything with a card), minimize wearing flashy accessories, and be cautious of overly friendly strangers.

Communication

Communication

The accommodation offers free Wi-Fi to keep family and friends up to date via WhatsApp, Zoom, etc. Cafes/restaurants also offer free Wi-Fi. You can also consider getting a local SIM card if your phone is unlocked, or setting your phone’s status to roaming, depending on your provider’s rates.

Meals

Meals

A simple breakfast, lunch and a delicious cooked dinner (vegetarian & vegan options available) from Monday to Friday are included in your fee. Indulge in local dishes, like bobotie and South African Braai! For desserts, don’t miss out on milk tarts and malva pudding. There is a diverse food scene in Cape Town, so no matter your cuisine preference or dietary restrictions you’ll have plenty of options. Let us know in advance if you have any allergies/dietary needs.

Location details

Location details

Discover Cape Town’s attractions: Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, city tours, historical sites, and the Cape Point Peninsula. There are also opportunities to surf, kayak, paraglide, cage dive with sharks, and more! Cape Town has a mediterranean climate with cool winters and hot summers so be sure to check what the temperature will be like during your stay.

DATES & RATES

Fee Breakdown

This internship is available for the period August-October 2024. If you’d prefer to intern for longer than three months, you can add on extra time.

What you’ll pay (2024 rates)

12 WEEKS USD 2,321

16 WEEKS USD 2,797

20 WEEKS USD 3,273

Inclusions

  • Careful matchmaking. It takes time to find the right internship for each person, and we take this process very seriously.
  • Initial interview with one of our team to gauge your skills, interests, and desired learning outcomes.
  • An academic internship eligible for university credit. Check with your university to confirm if this internship qualifies for credit or alternatively we can assist you with purchasing transfer credits.
  • Accommodation in a shared room (2 pax). If you prefer a single room, please contact us for availability and prices. Pleasee during the event you will be camping in the forest.
  • During the fieldwork period you will stay at reforestation sites (either camping or shared accommodation)
  • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
  • Meals from Monday to Friday
  • Wifi access
  • Housekeeping service
  • Assistance with your visa arrangement and other preparations
  • An orientation program with your supervisor
  • Supervision and support during your stay
  • Regular check-ins during your internship with your supervisor
  • Troubleshooting if needed
  • A reference letter at the end of your internship
  • A discount on weekend activities, exclusive to Roots Interns

Exclusions

  • Flights to Cape Town International Airport
  • Visa and medical/travel insurance costs for the duration of your placement – must include cover for repatriation
  • Transport to the office
  • Meals during weekends
  • Drinks, snacks, and items of personal nature (f.e. curios, gifts, clothing)
  • Costs for additional excursions or activities
SCHOLARSHIP & FUNDING

FAQs

Some of our most commonly asked questions for programs in South Africa.

What can I expect from a NGO internship in South Africa?

During your internship in South Africa you can expect to meet people from around the world, as well as indulging yourself into the culture of this beautiful country! If you want to know more about what to expect, make sure to check out our top 7 reasons for an internship in Cape Town.

Will I have time to explore South Africa during my internship?

Yes! We partner with various activity organizers that can offer discounts exclusive to Roots Interns, for example, a road trip through the Garden Route and bungee jumping off the world’s largest natural bungee. You may also explore the country on your own and we are happy to give recommendations.

Am I able to do an internship while on a study program in Cape Town?

Yes! You are able to do a part-time internship with certain organizations so that you can continue your studies, while also gaining valuable work experience.

Will I receive a stipend of any kind during my internship with Roots?

Unfortunately, no. When working with a nonprofit organization, your internship will be unpaid, but there are many ways to fund your internship. Your experience will bring a wealth of knowledge and opportunities for both professional and personal growth that are invaluable!

QUICK FACTS

LOCATION: Cape Town, South Africa
PROGRAM FOCUS: Environmental NGO
TASK FOCUS: Monitoring, Evaluation, Data Analysis, Reporting, Reforestation
LENGTH: Aug-Oct 2024
COST: USD 2,382

REVIEWS

“This internship helped me understand there's are good people making a practical difference to help our world. I learnt that I would LOVE, absolutely LOVE to work for Greenpop or a similar company in the future. I was trusted with a variety of tasks and projects that I thought would be above my experience. I was thankful for the trust that was put upon me and how I was treated as a member of the team and not just and intern. We are all treated with equals and everyone is kind and speaks clearly to get the job done. I also learnt a lot about plants and fynbos which was my intention and I am grateful for that. I want to incorporate fynbos into my agricultural future one day and this has definitely helped me stay on path towards my end goals.”

Brandon, South AfricaUrban Greening Internship
READ MORE REVIEWS

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Get field-based experience in monitoring and evaluation of forest restoration projects in South Africa
  • Help prepare and coordinate a large reforestation event
  • Get involved in collecting and analyzing data as part of impact assessment
  • Be part of a dedicated and passionate team doing important environmental management work
  • Spend a month on the road, visiting various reforestation sites in stunning settings
  • Live and work in Cape Town, arguably the coolest city in the world
ENQUIREAPPLY NOW

HOW TO APPLY

If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:

APPLY

Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.

GET STARTED

SPEAK WITH AN ADVISOR

We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.

INTERNSHIP MATCHING

If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.

PAYMENT

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.

CONFIRMATION

Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.

NEED TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY FIRST?

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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