Staff Interview with Talitha van der Waerden

What inspired you to work for Roots Interns?

I was inspired by the opportunity of being able to help other people have a similarly good experience as the one I had when coming to South Africa for a skills-based volunteering experience. And it's great to be able to help our non profit partners grow and develop by sending them valuable interns.

Describe a typical day at work.

Since I am in a general management role, there is no typical day at work. It varies from answering enquiries via email to doing interviews, checking in with interns on site to administrative tasks, creating reports to sorting out logistics for people coming to Africa.

Why do you do what you do?

I love bringing smiles to people's faces! It's also such a great reward to hear from interns and organizations after 2-3 months that they had such an amazing time and experience in Africa.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Seeing people smile, hearing good stories at the end of an internship from both intern and the nonprofit organization. It's great to hear from organizations that they could not have done or achieved certain things without the help of their interns. And it's great to hear from interns that they value their experience or that after their internship they still stay connected with the organization they have worked for.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

Having traveled and volunteered myself, I know what to expect and what kind of questions/doubts people might have before making any decisions. And it's very convenient for people to know everything is taken care of.

Having extensive experience in project management/coordination as well as travel experience comes in handy when helping people to prepare for their stay abroad, and when making sure everything is ready for their arrival.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Be open-minded and flexible when traveling to Africa and working for a smaller non profit. Often things don't go as planned (TIA = This Is Africa) and with small non profits you have to be creative since they often have limited resources. Everybody helps out with anything, but it also means you can be a large part of a small organization.

What makes Roots Interns special?

We only offer internships with nonprofit organizations and social enterprises in Africa. Most of these organizations are grass roots so it means you can be a large part of a small organization. You can often combine working in the field with office work, so you can often experience/see the impact you make on the ground.

Why should someone choose Roots over competitors?

We really try to create the right match between intern and the organization and will help you with all preparations before the start of your internship. (But they can also count on us once on the ground!)

What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our mission is to create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning. That’s why we offer nonprofit internships in Africa for people around the world, and internships that support important social and conservation initiatives happening at a grassroots level. 

How do you help support participants?

We help them find the right internship placement, and assist with logistics (such as accommodation and airport transfers) and any preparations before their stay in Africa. We provide support on the ground as well. Participants can always approach us to ask for advice, things to do, or if they are just keen to chat.

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

Many interns ask (often on behalf of the parents) if Africa (and especially Cape Town) is a safe place to travel to. I always tell them if they Google the crime statistics, a city such as Cape Town is very dangerous. But they must be aware of where they are staying in the city (e.g. most of our placements are in the city center which is a lot saver than the townships).

Having said that, you have to keep certain things in mind, such as taking a taxi after dark instead of walking, not walking around with large sums of cash, not walking around showing off your luxury items (store them in a safe place instead), etc.

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Have an open mind, be flexible, and think about what you would like to get out of this internship experience. If you want to develop certain skills, participate in certain things, etc., make sure to discuss this with us (and also with the potential host organization) before making a decision to accept the internship.

Also during the internship it's important to express your expectations and wishes. There is nothing worse than hearing at the end of an internship “I actually would have liked to…” because then it's too late! We (e.g. Roots and the host organization) can't do anything anymore to make that happen at that point.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Within the context of Roots Interns, it means you will go abroad for an experience that will have an impact on someone personally as well as on your society/environment (or whatever the cause you work for). Someone comes back enriched, while at the same time having contributed to the progress of an organization and/or project. A win-win for both.

What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?

I don't really want to call it an issue in the world of international education, but often people expect to come to Africa to “save the world”. They come with a “Western” mindset and attitude, but for sustainable development, it's vital to have local community engagement in mind.

This also means that despite someone's good Western intentions and mindset, he/she often has to adjust — as in change, for example, the way something is organized or implemented. Or how local communities are educated to secure ongoing success in the future.

By doing an internship of 2-3 months, it's unlikely you are going to save the world; it will take longer and more than this. But someone is able to contribute in an essential way to an organization (and project) with their time and skills and really help them take the next step in the whole process.

What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)

A willingness to make it a good experience for both parties (so host organization AND intern). As with every job there are always tasks that you might like less than others, but that's part of any job. Have an open mind and communicate your wishes and expectations, but also be open to trying new things. Stepping out of your comfort zone is often a good way to experience, learn, and discover.