Africa, to non-African residents, often sounds like an exotic destination for adventurers, teaming with wild animals and unrestrained bush. It sounds like a hotbed of poverty, hunger and AIDS based on how often you watch international news channels. Whilst Southern Africa is facing one of the largest hunger crises (care.org, 2020), it’s not all doom and gloom (far from it) and the region has many incredible experiences to offer.
Internship abroad is an opportunity to not only develop professional knowledge but to also expand your academic and cultural horizon outside your country of residence.
Volunteering abroad is the process of doing unpaid work in a foreign country with the goal of positively impacting the people and environment of the country.
The goals are different. The main goal of an internship abroad is to train you and to allow hands-on experience in one’s major area of educational concentration or career interest. It is a training experience for you. Volunteering on the other hand places greater emphasis on your impact on the community whilst acquiring new and valuable experiences, and perhaps skills along the way.
Volunteering or interning abroad isn’t necessarily a free endeavour, particularly because of the learning experience and exposure it gives you. Moreover, most African countries are prime destinations for vacations, and provide stunning scenery. Before you pay for your placement you have to make sure you can afford the airfare and other travelling expenses such as the visas (although for Zimbabwe, this is pretty cheap at USD$35 for a single entry and USD$60 for a double entry visa), accommodation, in-country transportation and food. If you are looking to volunteer or intern abroad, at Tiritose Sustainable Travel, we can provide you with bundled packages reducing the burden of planning on you. We are your travel buddy & just like we did with Gavin Lau when he was a student at University of Yorke, we can also help you fundraise for your trip.
The key to finding a great organisation to work with is research. The international volunteering and internship industry is massive, continues to grow and is an ethical minefield. Volunteers Beware is a Facebook page with organisations that pass the ethical yardstick and you can use it as a reference when making your choice. With so many programmes and projects running, some are more ethical than others and it is important to ensure you end up on a sound placement. Don’t take our word for it, we are the first and only accredited Sustainable travel company in Zimbabwe, certified by Travelife & Fair-Trade Tourism who administer the accreditation on behalf of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). As seen on WYSE Confederation Travel.
Once you have found an organisation you can work with and trust, it is time to dig a little deeper. Ensure that your questions address all the crucial areas; enquiries could include the following:
BE CAUTIOUS OF QUESTIONS CONCERNED WITH NUMBERS ON YOUR CREDIT CARD. *do not enter your credit card details on websites that do not display the lock sign on the URL – it should say “secure or 3D secure*.
When choosing a volunteer or internship placement, it is really important to think of the big picture. If you are already involved with or want to pursue a career in teaching, a suitable project or programme for you could involve assisting a teacher at a school. If you are interested in a health profession, a suitable medical internship slot would be at a hospital or clinic – either shadowing doctors for high school or gap year students and global health clinical rotations for medical students. Matching a project to your skills and interest not only means you have a rewarding and truly valuable experience, but also ensures the project is genuinely benefitting from your presence.
How long to commit to any given project is subjective and largely dependent on the type of volunteering or internship. Keep in mind that for some projects or programmes, on the ground training will be necessary, so factor this into the total amount of time you can dedicate. Generally, a six-week programme will probably be more beneficial than a two-week programme, and the latter is definitely better than not doing it at all! Six weeks allows you to slot in some travel in the mix – after travelling all the way to Zimbabwe, you have to check the bucket list with some of our favourite Experiences.
Whether you are working in an office for a business internship or volunteering at an animal rescue & rehabilitation sanctuary, one thing is guaranteed: you will work hard. You have the duty of an employee or a volunteer to hold up your end of the pledge. Showing up to work and not being ready to work or doing your job poorly does not reflect well on you, on the organisation or your country either. So, roll up those sleeves and let’s get cracking!
Be outgoing! Be open to adventures! Let’s be frank, if you’re excited about going to a foreign country then you know you’re signing up for an adventure. Take advantage of everything that is around you and experience it for all it’s worth. You might regret not doing so when you go back home. Just be a yes man/woman!
Some people prefer to “experience” the country or city for themselves, alone. But being lost, not knowing how to negotiate with people, not knowing what you are eating and admitting that you need help is not a bad thing. Of course, if you’re coming to Zimbabwe through Tiritose Sustainable Travel, then the likelihood of any of that happening is incredibly low, we take care of our charges. However even with us, don’t shy away from asking extra help if you need any. Here is a modern guide to those travelling to Zimbabwe and you can also access free travel advice.
When signing up for an internship or volunteering opportunity abroad, it is good to have a little background information on what you are about to experience and the general laws and customs of the country you are visiting. But researching and the lived experience have a sharp contrast. Come in wide eyed and willing to accept that the culture and style of living is going to be different from what you’re used to. Take it willingly, accept and embrace the culture, after all it’s only temporary (*or is it?). Being equipped with knowledge of the culture, economic and political situation will also help you be able to avoid sensitive topics of discussions and possibly alienate your hosts.
You will probably find that there is so much more to do in the destination rather than work, work and work. You might want to try out recreational and leisure experiences or food and that extra cash will come in handy. However, most importantly it’s prudent to be prepared for emergencies, and an international currency in the form of hard cash can take you a long way in most African countries. TransferWise is a secure and trusted partner for opening an account from anywhere in the world and having a debit card mailed to you within a few days. African countries have many volunteer and internship opportunities that could enrich your summer break, vacation, gap year or hiatus. Zimbabwe is an easy country to visit for such a programme, with great weather, friendly people and English as one of the official languages…and Tiritose Sustainable Travel is a great place to start on that research. Don’t just take our word for it, have a look at reviews from our alumni.
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