NGO & NPO Internship Programmes

We partner with a huge range of inspiring local NGO’s and NPO’s in Cape Town that benefit hugely from the assistance of passionate and enthusiastic interns. Our NGO and NPO internships provide you with the opportunity to work on incredibly meaningful projects and make an important impact in the lives of some of the most desperately in need people and animals in South Africa.

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NGO & NPO internships - quick video overview
The best NGO & NPO Internship Programmes in Africa?

The best NPO and NGO internships in Cape Town?

Are you an ambitious NPO and NGO student ready to turbo-charge your career? Set yourself apart from your peers with our value-packed NPO and NGO internship programmes.

We pride ourselves on delivering customised internship placements and on the ground support that offer life-changing, valuable professional experiences.

We collaborate with over 200 local NGO and NPO’s in Cape Town in need of assistance from passionate interns who want to discover more about South Africa, learn about themselves and make a difference in local communities.

Our internships provide you with the opportunity to gain international work experience in the operations and administration of an inspirational NGO.

As an intern you could assist with managing donations, arranging fundraising events, conducting fieldwork, managing relationships with local communities, implementing policy changes, managing social media channels, facilitating community based projects, creating newsletters, managing corporate partners and assisting with operations.

We partner with a wide range of NGO’s focused on; the promotion of women’s rights, anti-trafficking, refugee rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, youth development, social work, equal education, economic development, sustainable development, wildlife rehabilitation and protection, social justice and improved healthcare.

Read on for a full overview of the best NPO and NGO internships in Africa

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KEY INSIGHT

NGO & NPO Internship Programme Overview

Here's what you can expect from the programme in a nutshell!

NPO & NGO Internship Key Skills

  • Digital marketing
  • Writing
  • Creativity and innovative thinking
  • Adaptability
  • Business acumen
  • Data skills
  • Interpersonal
  • Organisation

Academic & Career Benefits

  • Boost your CV with valuable international work experience.
  • Make influential contacts that could assist you in any stage of your career.
  • Contribute to the amazing work of an inspirational NGO of your choice and explore your passions and strengths.
  • Challenge yourself and improve your self-development.
  • Demonstrate your adaptability, dedication and passion to future employers.
  • Gain a valuable insight into what a career in an NGO really entails and make more informed career decisions.

Ideal Internship Applicant

  • Proficient in English.
  • Proactive and self-motivated.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Passionate about helping others.

Programme highlights

  • Participate in a meaningful and rewarding internship placement.
  • Make a real difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of South African society.
  • Gain an important insight into the operations of an NGO and add valuable work experience to your CV.
  • Work for an inspirational local NGO of your choice and make a valuable contribution to their projects.
  • Enjoy an adventure of a lifetime!

Minimum Requirements

  • Minimum age: 18
  • Completed (or will have completed) A2-Levels or equivalent
  • Minimum of 2 weeks duration, no maximum
  • Not a resident of South Africa

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Skills you'll hone through your NGO & NPO internship

Of course, the list is much longer - but these are the skills our intern alumni reported back that they grew in the most!

Adaptability
Budgeting
Business acumen
Creative thinking
Data Skills
Organization skills
Digital marketing
Written and verbal communication

Ready?

Turbo charge your career in NGO & NPO

What are you waiting for - get started now!

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KEY INSIGHT

NGO & NPO internship programme reviews & ratings

We managed to grab some detailed interviews from previous interns on this programme, you can click on them below.

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Bridging Gaps has got the social and internship sides down to a T. So, I would highly recommend it!
Rachel Willems
Post Graduate
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KEY INSIGHT

A hypothetical NGO & NPO Internship Programme

What might your programme in this career field look like? Here's how it has typically shaped up for our alumni!

Week One

Arrival & orientation. Introduction to Cape Town, your accommodation and your internship host organisation and colleagues.

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Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 1
Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 2
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Week Two

Get stuck into your NPO or NGO internship placement and establish yourself with your organisation. Come to our free social events

Week Three

Enjoy a great work-life balance, getting out and about to see the sites alongside working hard on your internship.

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Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 3
Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 4
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Week Four

Pick up more responsibility in your internship as you prove your capability. Enjoy regular activities in Cape Town outside of work. Come to another social!

Week Five

Now you’re flying (metaphorically) at work, you’ll be more and more autonomous. Expect to pick up even more challenges!

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Week Six

Internship is going swimmingly, now go and do something crazy like swimming with some great white sharks or abseiling off of a mountain.

Week Seven

Regularly enjoy the benefits of Cape Town and at work, gather materials needed for portfolio (e.g. references from us and provider).

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Week Eight

Putting the finishing touches to your internship and gathering feedback from us and your internship provider for use in your academic / career portfolio. Finalise paperwork (if needed) and debrief.

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Download and read a free guide.

13 Essential Insights for a Fulfilling and Safe Internship in Cape Town

TAKE ME TO THE GUIDE
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KEY INSIGHT

NGO & NPO internship programme features

What makes our internship programmes a worthwhile investment? Here's a swift overview of what you can expect!

Choice of two programmes

We have two primary programmes to suit your needs. In some instances we also offer virtual placements.

Unlimited duration as standard

You can come for as long as you need without paying any extra fees.You'll receive the same level of support.

Backed by concrete promises

We are 100% on your side. We guarantee every aspect of your trip with unrivalled promises.

Career
Focus

Need to focus on a precise niche or two? No problem! Your programme can focus on your specialist areas.

Immersive cultural experience

We'll help you engage with the culture and personal benefits of being in a foreign country.

Virtual placements

Save on travel and accommodation costs, pay a far lower fee. All while building your professional network.

Academia friendly

We will handle all aspects of academic accreditation, including direct liaison with your tutors and academic staff.

Future career friendly

We will write full reference letters for your placement(s) to optimise future employers' first impression of you.

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Current NGO & NPO Job Openings

Here are some current or recent internship job opportunities in this career area. We do not publish all openings - so please contact us to hear about others.

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Explore your custom NGO & NPO programme now

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KEY INSIGHT

A straightforward process

We have worked very hard to streamline our process to make your experience easy, fun and highly rewarding personally and professionally. Flick through the steps below, or read about our process in more detail.

Introduce yourself to our friendly team

Getting your dream internship all starts with you saying hello! Just pop your details into our enquiry form and we'll reach out to schedule a conversation with you that we call a 'discovery call'.

Ask questions & learn how we can help

In your discovery call, you can ask us any questions you still have. We'll talk about your options in the career fields you've told us you're interested in to help you imagine your placement and decide if our service is right for you.

Complete your programme application

If everything sounds good to you, complete your application to put into words your dream programme. This forms the basis of the 'design' of your customised placement and will be the primary framework against which we validate potentially suitable opportunities.

We'll source you the best opportunities

We maintain a large and varied network of the best organisations in Cape Town. We will identify the best potential fits for your programme goals and preferences and reach out on your behalf to assess those organisations for suitability (learn about their current projects and initiatives).

Prepare and plan for your experience

Once you've confirmed which placement offer you prefer, we'll start helping you plan the rest of your trip. We'll book your accommodation, help with your travel arrangements and provide extensive advice and information on how to get ready for your time in Cape Town. Your Bridging Gaps mentor will be on hand to make sure you're fully prepared for your placement.

Maximise your experience & learning

Finally, every member of our team will move mountains to make sure you get what you came for and MORE! It's essential to us that you're safe, you're learning and growing in confidence and developing the most important skills for your future career.

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KEY INSIGHT

NGO & NPO internship programme cost

Our programme fees are shown below, for a full description of our service offering please click to view the programme or a side-to-side comparison.

Bootstrap

£
795
one-off, fixed

Bespoke programme

Backed by 4
concrete promises

VIEW BOOTSTRAP

Concierge

£
1195
one-off, fixed

Comprehensive support

Visa & travel assist

Accommodation assistance

Social events & excursions

... and lots more

VIEW CONCIERGE

Virtual

£
395
one-off, fixed

Tailored Search

Ongoing support
& mentoring

VIEW VIRTUAL
Click to see detailed programme feature comparison.
FAQ
NGO & NPO Internship Programmes FAQs

We've answered some specific questions about this internship programme below.

What is the need for volunteers in South Africa?

In South Africa, there is a great demand for volunteers of all types, especially those in the social work and youth development sector. As many government and nonprofit programs are underfunded, they lack the staff and material resources they so desperately require.


Which country is best for an NGO internship?

South Africa is among one of the top countries for an NGO internship. This is due to our complex history and human rights development, as well as the large variety of nonprofit focuses and community needs. Other countries that offer excellent opportunities could be in sub-Saharan Africa and other locations. 


How can I get an internship in an NGO?

Interning at an NGO or NPO is a wonderful way to launch your career in the non-profit sphere. As many nonprofit organisations rely on the work of volunteers and interns, there is generally a need to fill these positions. Often, due to the heavy workload experienced by staff members of these organisations, intern placements are organised by third party companies like Bridging Gaps, to help them source the best candidates to fill their vacant positions.


What should I expect from a research internship?

Research internships often entail a lot of independent work, although asking questions, being proactive, and making the most of your resources are key to a successful research internship. Medical internships or those in the field of biology are often heavily focused on research and interns will either be asked to complete their own project or contribute to ongoing research. These types of internships will also involve laboratory work. Research is also often integral to internships in human rights, law and public policy.


Will I have to plan and facilitate an event on my own?

Absolutely not!  All the local companies we work with provide excellent support and guidance for their interns and you will be working alongside a team of experienced professionals.

What type of NGO or advocacy organisation could I work for?

We collaborate with a wide range of human rights organisations and NGO's here in Cape Town that focus on the promotion of women's rights, equal access to education, HIV/AIDS prevents and education, anti-trafficking, refugee rights, youth development, LGBT rights, improved healthcare, social justice and economic development.

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NGO & NPO Internship Programmes

Hi, we're really sorry but we are no longer offering internship opportunities in this career field. However, we wish you the best with your search.