Facilitate transformative volunteering experiences for young people to learn about global citizenship
Travel to South Africa or Costa Rica and spearhead impactful initiatives leading young volunteers on transformative journeys. This Project Coordinator Internship will allow you to gain hands-on leadership experience, make a meaningful impact, and cultivate essential skills in sustainable development.
You’ll work as part of a global organization dedicated to empowering young people through impactful volunteering experiences. They engage volunteers in sustainable development projects worldwide, fostering leadership and positive change within communities and environments.
Collaborating closely with Wellbeing Coordinators, your job will be to foster volunteers’ growth and ensure project success. With responsibilities ranging from facilitating projects to managing safety, you’ll gain invaluable insights into sustainable development practices as well as youth development, and adventure leadership. This internship offers a platform to hone leadership, mentoring, and practical skills while making a meaningful impact on communities and the environment.
Learning objectives
This organization is a global powerhouse in the world of volunteer work. Active since 1978, the mission of this organization has always been to support young people to make change, both on their projects and within themselves. They arrange service-focused expeditions that provide their volunteers with opportunities for transformative personal growth. These expeditions equip volunteers with vital life skills, broaden their perspectives, and give them the confidence to become global citizens and leaders.
A crucial part of these expeditions is ensuring that all volunteer activities are done in an ethical, responsible, and sustainable way. The organization collaborates closely with local sustainable development initiatives to find sustainable solutions to issues of poverty, low education levels, food insecurity, and unemployment that volunteers can contribute to helping solve.
Your focus will be overseeing each phase of a volunteer expedition and ensuring the successful completion of projects. You’ll be in charge of coordinating volunteers and keeping them safe throughout their trips. This will require logistical management skills, but more importantly, the ability to connect with, empower, and inspire young people. You’ll have the responsibility to:
During this internship, you’ll be joining volunteers on their expeditions. You will choose whether you travel to South Africa or Costa Rica where you’ll spend the majority of your time at the organization’s field base. These field bases are compounds with housing and a workspace for office-based members of the team that also serve as the start and end point of expeditions.
Situated either just outside of Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa or within view of Turrialba Volcano in Costa Rica, you’ll stay in shared rooms or dormitories with shared communal areas. Then, during expeditions, you’ll accompany volunteers and will stay at remote lodges and campsites.
This organization has established support systems for all their expeditions, so interns can feel safe and secure. Interns will also be part of this safety and support system. As part of your internship, you will be first-aid trained and will take responsibility for the health and well-being of your volunteer group.
The field base in either country has Wifi available, although their remote locations mean connection can be limited. We recommend downloading WhatsApp to stay in touch with family and friends via messages or calls.
All meals will be provided for you throughout your internship and cooked by yourself and volunteers on rotation. In Costa Rica, expect to eat many rice and bean dishes, while in South Africa you’ll have plenty of maize meal and chakalaka. You and your team of Venture Managers will also be given a small food budget for extra fruits and snacks.
You’ll choose between two of the most exciting internship destinations in the world: Costa Rica or South Africa
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with untamed natural landscapes featuring rainforests, volcanoes, and stunning coastlines. You’ll be based in Turrialba on a remote farm, surrounded by mountainscapes and deep forests.
South Africa is a land of rich cultural diversity, important history, and all of Africa’s most iconic wildlife. Based just out of Greater Kruger National Park, you’ll see the best of African Bush and an impressive cast of wild animals.
This internship has fixed start and end dates, which you will find below.
26 January - 19 April 2025 --> Application deadline: 9 December 2024
11 June - 3 September 2025 --> Application deadline: 23 April 2025
26 September - 18 December 2025 --> Application deadline: 8 August 2025
What you’ll pay (2025 rates)
12 weeks GBP 200 + fundraising contribution of £400-£600
Some of our most commonly asked questions for programs 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.
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.
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.
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!
“Definitely seeing the volunteers grow and noticing how they’ve changed; quite a few of them at the beginning were really shy and quiet! As part of my role, I have been able to visit volunteers on different project sites. It’s been really really wonderful to see how they have adapted over the course of each cycle. Also, being able to go to different parts of Costa Rica has been great. I’ve been able to lead project site visits, checking in on the volunteers and VMs. Visiting the communities, national parks and other beautiful sites has been amazing.”
Kat, Expedition Medic, Costa Rica
If you’re ready to apply for this internship or want more information, here’s what to do:
Visit the Raleigh website for more extensive information about this internship.
Complete the online form on the Raleigh website and upload a copy of your CV/resume.
Raleigh will invite you to attend an assessment event if your application has been approved. If successful, you will be offered a place on one of their Expeditions.
If everyone’s happy, Raleigh will provisionally confirm your placement and send you the invoice for the deposit.
Your placement is confirmed when the deposit has been received. You will then receive all the information to help you prepare as well as an invitation to the Raleigh Training event.
Impact Made During a Photography Internship in Cape Town
What is Animal Welfare & Why is it Important?
Frequently Asked Culture Shock Questions & Answers
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
CONTACT
SOCIAL
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
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
