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Internship and Volunteering in Africa
Conserve Africa arranges international volunteer and internship placements within local NGOs and public institutions based in Africa that work in pursuit of sustainable development, socio-economic development, natural resource management, poverty reduction and environmental conservation.
Through our volunteering and internship programme, we aim to raise international awareness of sustainable development challenges that face Africa and to give interns and volunteer the opportunities to contribute to eradication of poverty. Participants in our internship and volunteer programme come from any country in the world.
We offer a tailor-made service, arranging individual, long-term volunteer placements across Africa.. We match the skills of volunteers to the needs of locally run organizations that work towards poverty reduction and sustainable development. Placements may cover the area of education, community development, gender and environment issues, health, water and sanitation, project development and identification, sustainable agriculture, wildlife conservation projects, business support, training and more.
Application Requirements
Participants are advised to apply 3 months in advance so that a well-structured internship can be organised. You will need to pay administration fees of £150 as indicated above to enable us to process your application and organise contacts with potential host organisations. You will also need to complete an application form and provide a CV. All this must be sent to us with a covering letter explaining your interests in and expectations from your work placement. You must precise preferred country and language.
You are expected to meet all your living, accommodation and travel expenses. After receiving these materials, when necessary we may arrange an interview with you on phone about your goals and interests. Then we will begin working with our partners in your chosen country to find the right internship or voluntary work for you. Typically, placement is made within three months from the time the completed application is received.
The duration of the work placement is from 1 week to 12 moths any time throughout the year.
My name is Joel Thompson from UK. After being accepted by Conserve Africa to intern in Africa, I was matched with the Cameroon branch of NGO the Royal Commonwealth Society (http://www.rcsint.org/society.)
I spent one month there drawing up a sustainable livelihood project to benefit the people of a small local village called Kurume. Together we built up a project under the approval of the local chief to implement a diverse range of initiatives to achieve the sustainable and booming dream the locals had for their village. A project proposal for "Kurume Project" was completed, and, with much hard work and the support of a diverse network of volunteers, we launched the project on Friday 14th September. We pray the project will grow from strength to strength for the good of the people.
I will continue to volunteer my time to managing and coordinating events with the members of Royal Commonwealth Society in Cameroon into the future. Returning was an emotional experience and settling back home a challenge. But I'm so glad to have gone and have learnt so much that there's not a day I regret spending there. My every need was catered for and I was looked after very well by my hosts. I can't thank them enough for that, they made my trip as safe and enjoyable as it was.
The trip was a great success and I look forward to staying involved with the project long in to the future.
Fees
A non-refundable application fee of £ 150 deposit must be paid by cheque issued to Conserve Africa Foundation, at the time of application to the programme. Should you choose to withdraw for any reason, you must advise us in writing in 30 days from the date we received your application. If we have not received any notice of withdrawal of your application in 30 days from the date of receiving your application, no refund of any kind will be given after this period.
Once you accept to participate in the work placement you are considered an active participant in the program and are responsible for paying other costs relating to your internship (e.g. travel, living costs, accommodation, etc.).
- To create and enhance awareness of the linkages between sustainable development and poverty alleviation;
- To allow interns and volunteers to be equipped with the knowledge, values and skills that may enable them to participate in global actions towards solutions to sustainable development problems and issues;
- To increase knowledge and understanding of the major challenges and prospects for sustainable development and poverty reduction in Africa;
- To increase understanding of our global interdependence in relation to the environment and natural resources;
- To increase understanding how the degradation of the environment and natural resources is affecting the poor in Africa;
- To increase understand how people continually impact on the environment in Africa, as individuals and as part of wider society, from local to global levels;
- To develop a sense of concern for global social and environmental justice; understand the differences between quality of life and standard of living in different parts of the world;
- To increase understanding of the role of communities in the management of natural resources in Africa;
- To understand how people in sub-Saharan Africa depend more on their natural resource base for economic and social need.
Benefits to Students and volunteers:
You will gain valuable, hands-on international development work experience overseas. The programme helps them to understand the complexity, challenges, and constraints with regard to sustainable development issues and poverty reduction initiatives in Africa. It provides an opportunity to compare principles with practice and enables participants to increase their experience.
You will not only contribute to socio-economic development of Africa, but will also contribute to your personal and professional development. You may work either within NGO and public institutions' offices or in rural and urban communities in supporting local projects
After successful completion of the internship/volunteer placement, interns and volunteers receive a certificate.
- Increased understanding of the host country, its language, culture, and socio-economic, environmental and development challenges.
- Opportunity for a career-enhancing experience, which allows students and volunteers to gain new perspectives and be exposed to new working environments and to share professional expertise.
- Opportunity to develop lifelong friendships and professional relationships with African colleagues.
- Opportunity for increased awareness of diversity of ideas, values, worldviews, and ways of life.
- Opportunity to develop skills and knowledge through hands-on experiences, while gaining invaluable insight into the realities that confront African poor communities.
To participate in our Volunteer and Internship Programme, please send your completed application by post or email to:
Conserve Africa Foundation
1st Floor 36 The Market Square
London
N9 0TZ
England.
with all the information needed to process your application as indicated above.