NGO Event Coordination Internship in Cape Town

I had a wonderful experience interning for Greenpop in Cape Town, South Africa. The people I work with as well as the general community was so welcoming and kind. There were so many things to do and places to explore with the most stunning views.

Working with Greenpop over the past 3 months has been a truly enriching experience, made even more special by incredible colleagues and the beauty and liveliness of the Mother City! The internship provided me with an exceptional platform to enhance and complement my academic journey, enabling me to delve deeper into the intricate relationship between environmental conservation and sustainable development within urban contexts. With ongoing guidance, support, and feedback from a dedicated supervisor, I worked both independently and in teams on a diverse range of exciting tasks that facilitated my disciplinary, professional, and personal development. The time at Greenpop equipped me with invaluable skills in the environmental field and encouraged my personal growth by increasing my environmental awareness, giving me a sense of purpose and impact, fostering my empathy and cultural sensitivity, and boosting my confidence in my professional abilities. Surely, this comprehensive development during the internship lays a solid foundation for my future endeavours in the environmental field. Finally, the flexibility in managing one's working hours allowed me to really explore the hidden gems of Cape Town, a city that will always have a special place in my heart!

In the pre-phase of my internship with Greenpop, I really did not know what to expect but as I was looking for an opportunity to return to South Africa, for a more or less meaningful reason, an internship with Greenpop was the chance that I gladly took. Without great experience in NPO work, I just dived into the process of preparing for the most beautiful festival experience that I ever had, working at the Reforest Fest hosted by Greenpop. I grew quickly into the team and enjoyed my time to the fullest. The way I was treated, compared to other jobs I have had before, was just mind-changing and I absolutely love the "there is always a solution"- mentality. Even though I have been working long hours sometimes, the insides I gained, the experience that I gained, and the personal growth due to working with inspiering personalities can only be recommended to everybody who is eager to learn. I came with no expectations but was left overwhelmed by uncountable great memories and a bunch of new friends. The support I got from Roots has been disappointing. Even though I did not ask for any services provided, like housing, transport, and so on, I had to pay a 600$ placement fee which is a lot for an average student, from an average family background. Thanks to a long and complex application process I missed the application deadline for a scholarship which I would have needed in order to not be broke to the core, like I am now. These circumstances leave me with the feeling of being taken advantage of, which is unfortunate due to the fact that I had such a wonderful time with Greenpop.