Roots Interns

After graduating in 2023 with a degree in International Relations, I knew I was passionate about working in the third sector. I did Operation Raleigh in 2024, where I spent 3 months in South Africa, I met many people who were on their gap year before university and many were planning to travel South East Asia in this time too. When I got back I wasn't satisfied with my life, struggling to find any opportunity for a role that I was passionate about. I then decided to work hard to save up to go traveling in 2026. I knew while I was traveling I wanted to do some kind of volunteering or internship, that's when I came across Roots Interns, who I had never heard of, but I found an NGO Management Internship based in Cambodia and was instantly set on making it my goal. In the months leading up to my departure I was busy planning my solo traveling, but Nakeshia from Root was always on hand to talk me through the logistics of my internship, along with answering any stupid questions I had. My expectations of this internship were beyond exceeded, I was welcomed with open hearts, and the team were amazing! I learnt many things during my time, spending time with each department of the NGO and learning my strengths and my weaknesses. I was sad to leave in November but I had more travel plans to continue. Except this wasn't where it ended. I stayed in contact with Volunteer Building Cambodia's (VBC) Founder Mr Sinn. He always mentioned if I wanted to come back there would always be a place for me here (like I said, open heart). So when I found myself at a bit of a crossroads, do I go back to England or do I fly back to Cambodia with the little money I have left. A year ago if you had put this decision infront of me I would've stayed in my comfort zone and gone back to England, but I chose to take a risk and head back to Siem Reap. Two days after I arrived back, I met with Mr Sinn and he offered me a role in VBC as Marketing & Communications, the following day I was moving in to my apartment, and the following week I was back in the office where I was sat 4 months ago. I cannot recommend Roots Interns enough, they provided me the opportunity which has led to where I am today. Working in the third sector can be extremely competitive, but because of this Internship I have been able to jump into a role where I am learning the ropes, whilst gaining experience of working in a grassroots NGO in Cambodia. For anyone who has graduated and is struggling for an 'in', this is genuinely the perfect opportunity.

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During this internship, I sharped my skills teaching English, working with kids of all ages, event set up and take down, supporting teachers as they taught various classes, and learned Portuguese throughout my stay. I learned about mangrove ecosystems and explored the impact of sea level rise on them. Overall, it was an amazing experience!

I think Roots emphasizes finding the right match for all applicants, ensuring a valuable experience. Roots allows anyone to make a valuable impact, whether it be with physical presence or remote work.

Although I met some great people and try to focus on the good that came from my internship, I would be lying if I didn't express how misleading it was, resulting a lot of emotional distress and frustration. My work contract stated I would be primarily conducting environmental research, monitoring forest biodiversity, and data analysis. In reality, for 28-30 hrs/wk I was babysitting, sweeping, and trying to help teachers conduct classes (who didn't even know who I was or how to include me, making matters worse that I couldn't communicate to them, as I didn't speak any Portuguese when I arrived and was told it wasn't needed). When I did do environmental work (1-2 hrs/wk), it was researching on my own or reviewing my work with my supervisor, in which instead of encouraging and teaching me, she spoke very condescendingly and blamed me for things whenever she could, even for information or instruction she never told me. I was minimally trained, and quickly became the trainer of the volunteers after me. I felt strongly that my time and work was undervalued and that my supervisor had some resentment and would often get very frustrated at me for simple things, like not hearing her or not knowing info. that was never disclosed to me (by her). When I brought up my concerns, she would gaslight me, tell me I were wrong and try and blame me for the situation, using manipulation tactics. Crucial information wasn't communicated to me consistently, often making my work feel very purposeless and unsuccessful. There wasn't a role for interns here (or physical space in many instances, as I was told to move out of the way often), I was made to feel in the way, and would not recommend undergoing this internship.

Had the most wonderful internship at Projekt Ubuntu Connekt! Worked with an amazing team, consisting of 2 amazing community women leaders, at the community hall. The time I spend with the children was special and I learned so much from them! I felt so at home in the community and was surrounded with great joy everyday!

My internship was a highly valuable and enriching experience that combined practical work with meaningful learning. It allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world context while developing new skills and confidence. The supportive environment and hands-on responsibilities made the experience both personally and professionally rewarding.

This placement offered excellent practical experience of theoretical insight into International Relations put into action on grassroots development in an education and gender-oriented NGO. As I supported curriculum, policy-relevant research and operation, I observed how global concepts- like the SDGs were being turned into local programs. Overall, it reinforced my research, analytical and professional skills and confirmed my passion for international development and policy-focused work.

I spent 16 weeks in Malawi, doing both a two-week Sanctuary and 14 week Research Placement with LWT. I had an incredible experience, from the friendly people to the fascinating wildlife, natural beauty, and food, everything was amazing. It was not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but as a student currently studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and wanting to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, this placement provided me with an experience that prepared me for a future in this field and equipped me with skills like radio telemetry and data entry. However, I do wish I could've been more involved with some of the data entry, organization, and manipulation (e.g. GIS), but otherwise I highly recommend this program.

My internship journey with Root Interns has been truly worthwhile. My team was amazing, and I developed both personally and professionally. Confidence and leadership are just two of the best skills I gained throughout this experience.

The internship was a great experience and very accommodating. I felt that I had a lot of freedom in my work and schedule while also being given guidance on certain projects. I ended up learning quite a bit at my own pace and pushing myself to meet expectations. Communication was also good between my supervisor and myself.

This was my second internship placement with Roots. I am a computer science student and the first internship was IT related but this time I was placed into a program where I was able to program and learn with a lot of freedom as I was the solo developer for the duration of my internship and I gained a lot of exposure to many things and a lot of communication from my supervisor. I also met a mentor figure who has been guiding me and helping me along my journey which I am very thankful for as well. The experience with Roots was very pleasant and I got a lot out of this opportunity.

As I reflect on the people I've met during my time as an intern in Cambodia, the word that first comes to mind is genuine. From my coworkers and the students I worked with to the street food vendors who have kept me well fed, I've felt sincerely welcomed at every turn. This sense of authenticity extended into the workplace as well. The NGO I've been working for has a deeply meaningful impact on the local community, and in my role, I feel that my contributions will be long-lasting and truly student-centered, rather than oriented toward short-term volunteer experiences that primarily benefit the volunteer.

Overall I had a great experience on this internship! I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture, work entirely in Spanish, and see remote parts of the Amazon. At times the difference in work culture was hard to adapt to, and it was hard to work in a second language, but this only made the experience more valuable in the end. Definitely an experience you can’t get anywhere else.

My time in Cambodia was the perfect blend of culture, hard work, learning and developing. The people are lovely and couldn’t be more helpful and I felt safe and comfortable throughout my time in Siem Reap. It has truly been amazing and I’m gutted to be leaving already!

My internship placement with the Wellness Africa Foundation through Roots Interns has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The program provided structured guidance while still allowing me to take ownership of meaningful policy work that aligned with my academic goals. Communication with both Roots and the host organization was supportive and responsive, ensuring that I felt prepared and valued throughout. I would highly recommend Roots Interns to any student seeking an opportunity to apply their studies in a real-world, globally relevant context.

I had same excellent experience overall from start to finish. Everyone was incredibly helpful and I learned valuable skills to take with me in my future endeavors. My main tasks were: Organizer student files and profiles, create fundraisers, review social media posts, research.

For context, I have traveled abroad to Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean. I am a generally agreeable person and am absolutely fine with hands-on, gritty experiences. But this experience was beyond disappointing. The actual value versus the cost is unforgivable. I received absolutely no guidance from my supervisor during my internship (which was an entire month). Never did they review the workplan with me or acknowledge that I was an “intern” rather than a volunteer– it seemed like there was no differentiation. The staff even asked me what my role was because they had no idea and clearly never reviewed my documents. The staff were also quite rude, and often gossiped about volunteers and made snide remarks in front of them. The “internship” was not at all about developing my skills. Instead, I learned from other volunteers whose only experience was starting a few days earlier than me. To say the facilities were “rustic” is generous; bedding was blood-stained and ripped. Despite working with animals, there was no soap in any of the bathrooms, and a volunteer contracted a parasite during my stay because of it. EcuaExplorer ignored my repeated messages for weeks, both before and during my trip. Many of the tasks are physical labor that have nothing to do with the animals, like moving sand. Though the experience itself is an amazing opportunity, and working with the animals is incredible, everything else about it is poorly organized. They are much more interested in making money off of their volunteers over investing in a worthwhile internship experience. I don't appreciate how Roots dismissed my concerns by telling me that EcuaExplorer was a “quality” placement when I reached out to them. Roots seems to have little communication with their internship placements. If you are really set on this place, I would advise you to book directly through their website rather than through a 3rd party. Not worth it.

I am very satisfied with this internship opportunity. During my time here, I was able to broaden my horizons and gain valuable knowledge about water-related issues and how they are addressed within the textile industry. I felt that my contributions were valued, as my ideas were consistently listened to and taken into consideration. I learned how to work effectively in a remote setting while balancing my studies and personal life, which has made me feel more prepared and confident to enter the workforce after graduation. Getting to collaborate with great colleagues and engage directly with experts in the water field, gave me deeper insights into the challenges and solutions surrounding water stewardship.

The experience was extremely valuable to understand the healthcare system in Zambia. However, there was much less public health work than expected--only working with patients in the mornings with not enough focus on most severe cases and no public health education. Recommend if interested in healthcare and community building vs public health.

I would defiantly recommend this internship for people who have a passion for animal care and rewilding. It was an amazing experience that taught me so much. It was rewarding whilst also providing time to explore Costa Rica as a tourist.