Location

Most companies which offer international internsips are based in the larger tows and cities like:

  • Johannesburg, Gauteng
  • Cape Town, Western Cape
  • Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

 

Industries

Here are some of the internships you can join.

Arts Education
Intern at a small non-profit organisation committed to developing South Africa’s capacity for arts education and youth empowerment. Some organisations need the help of creative, organised and flexible interns to expand footprints in the arts education field. This interesting work will expose you to the organisation’s annual art festivals and educational seminars which use conscious art exhibits to teach youth important social lessons about HIV/AIDS, the environment and diversity.

Behaviour Change Communication
There are a variety of behaviour change communication (BCC) internships with well-established, high-profile non-profit organisations throughout Cape Town. South Africa is marked by huge discrepancies in wealth, resources, and educational and career opportunities. Because of this, South Africa aims to provide comprehensive, integrated, sustainable and quality social-development services, with the overall aim of creating an enabling environment for sustainable development in partnership with those committed to building a caring society.

Children & Youth Development
This is a specific internship offering with a non-profit organisation which believes in the power of youth. This organisation works to provide the right guidance and love that enables young people to be agents of change in their own lives, as well as in their communities. This organisation specifically needs marketing support, website re-design and administrative assistance. There is also a different kind of opportunity with this organisation for an intern to be part of their team which is setting a new live-in facility for some of the young people who participate in their programme.

Communications
NGOs in the Cape Town area are looking for skilled media interns to assist with various communication portfolios. These include social media, fundraising, public relations and marketing. This internship will give young media enthusiasts the opportunity to create an impressive portfolio with which to enter the working world.

Community Outreach & Development
There are a range of internships available with this non-profit organisation which focuses on developing young leaders, empowering youth and building community. The organisation uses a specific music, dance and drama methodology to foster leadership skills, as well as spark mentorship and community support. The organisation supports 10,000+ children through camps, after-school programming, and HIV/AIDS counseling.

Counseling & Psychology
You can join a few hands-on internship opportunities at excellent non-profit organisations working to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) through advocacy, or treating and counseling the survivors of gender-based violence. Due to the sensitive nature of this work, these internships will suit more emotionally-mature candidates who have some knowledge and experience of gender and GBV issues.

Environment
Intern with a non-profit organisation providing holistic education that incorporates spiritual well-being, physical health, and environmental consciousness. The organisation runs programmes in primary schools, and offers a supplementary curriculum that includes meditation, yoga, food-gardening and earthworm farming. There are excellent opportunities for like-minded individuals to help with organisational administration, monitoring and evaluation, website re-design and new project implementation.

Gender Advocacy & LGBTQI
Some gender advocacy and LGBTQI organisations seeking interns to support in advocacy, research and communications. The aim of the organisations is to focus on the transgender community and provide help, advise and information for those who seek to adjust their lives to live in the opposite gender role, as to that assigned to them at birth, or who are working to come to terms with their situation despite their genetic background. It is a space in which queers, intersex people, trans-men, non-trans women, non-trans men and other allies can have open dialogue and assist each other in their struggle to be recognised as full members of society. This movement professes that everyone has a right to define their own identities, even if that identity is not the status quo of society.

Human Rights & Social Justice
Human Rights and Social Justice internships range from working with highly-visible grassroots social movements to large multi-national non-profit organisations. Interns who are passionate about Human Rights can gain hands-on work experience that includes increasing people’s access to basic services; promoting active citizenship and social justice; Human Rights education; policy, research, and writing; and community organising.

Policy Work
Policy work internships with well-established, high-profile non-profit organisations in New Delhi. In developing countries, it is necessary for government and organisations to take responsibility for guaranteeing equal opportunities to all citizens through social action and social development. Policy work plays an integral part in uplifting India and contributes significantly towards improving its social development.

Public Health
Join public health internships with well-established high-profile non-profit organisations. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about public health issues affecting impoverished communities and to develop your skills in the exciting, dynamic, and rapidly growing field of public health.

Refugees
A rewarding experience is at several innovative non-profit organisations providing social, economic or psychological support to refugees from conflict-ridden countries around Africa. Internships include research on social, economic, legal and political issues affecting migration to South Africa and the refugees currently in South Africa; monitoring and evaluation; fundraising and marketing; and social work and counseling.

Women’s Empowerment
There are a number of organisations looking for interns to assist in their vision of empowering, educating and uplifting women in South Africa. The organisations run various programmes and initiatives to realise their vision of empowering women by celebrating and promoting their achievements. They do this through socioeconomic rights-based and gender education, advocacy and lobbying, human rights case work, and support for the building of social movements.

 

FAQ

Requirements
You don’t need to have specifically studied in a development-related field, as many non-profit organisations require a range of skills and expertise in other organisational areas such as finance, communications and information technology.

Duration
We recommend internships for a minimum of 12 weeks. However, any reasonable time-frames can be arranged.

Cost
The programme costs vary but usually include airport transfers, orientation and in-country support. You will need to budget for your airfare, accommodation and living expenses, insurances and visas.

How to Appy
You can browse the current internship offerings we have listed here to get some ideas of what is possible. However, if you don’t see an internship that suits you, don’t worry! Please contact us with your specific interests and we’ll be sure to match you to an organisation that offers what you are looking for! You might also like to view more intern programs in Africa.