Work alongside villagers to move from poverty to self-sufficiency
OneVillage Partners offers internships year round in both the US and Sierra Leone. Please contact us for additional information and to discuss the possibilities. Mature college juniors/seniors and graduate students are encouraged to apply. We typically place between 5 and 10 interns a year.
Intern in Sierra Leone
Interns for Summer 2011 in Sierra Leone have been selected. We will begin reviewing applications for Summer 2012 this winter. Thanks for your interest!
Historically, OneVillage has had interns from Amherst College and Harvard Business School due to alumni relationships with these 2 universities. However, interested students from other colleges are encouraged to apply. To date, we have placed 16 interns in the villages. These interns have worked in improving educational programming, access to potable water, micro lending, and village health concerns.
Join a team of graduate and college student interns for “the toughest internship you’ll ever love” in rural Sierra Leone, West Africa. OneVillage Partners is a growing nonprofit dedicated to creating a replicable model of sustainable holistic rural development. Although you’ll face both physical and emotional challenges while living in a subsistence farming village, you will have an amazing opportunity to work alongside Sierra Leoneans as they move from extreme poverty to middle income. With hard work, introspection, and dedication, you will have a tremendous impact on the lives of some of the poorest and kindest people in the world. You will come to understand what it means to live in extreme poverty, and in doing so, gain insight to “the other half of the world”.
An intern meets with teachers to discuss methods for improving the quality of education
An intern relaxing with a friend
Typically summer interns travel to Sierra Leone in late spring with a group of travelers on the annual 2-week service learning trip. The group is led and assisted by OneVillage staff. During this time, the interns will have a 2 week overview and introduction to Sierra Leonean life, and OneVillage staff and programming. When the service learning trip concludes, the interns will begin their internship, usually in the range of 8-12 weeks.
The internship is a combination of capacity building, development studies and critiques, and tasks associated with OneVillage organizational growth. In order to supplement their direct service in the villages, interns will be expected to complete several short assignments to explore development theories and related complications. Interns will be required to submit a final report.
Our primary goal for the interns will be to build capacity and know-how among the villagers and organization staff. The job is fairly unstructured and we are eager to have an intern with dedication and personal motivation. We are seeking interns who are well-organized, good communicators, work well with others regardless of cultural differences and are able to develop and deliver trainings for the staff as well villagers, some of which are illiterate.
For additional information, please view this short video about the internship, keeping in mind we welcome interns from all colleges and universities in addition to Amherst: Internship Video
OneVillage is willing to work with colleges and universities if you would like to receive course credit for the internship, however it is not mandatory that you receive course credit.
Summer interns' group photo
Intern in Minneapolis, MN
OneVillage Partners maintains its headquarters in Minneapolis, MN and is eager to strengthen organizational management. Since OneVillage’s vision and mission require sustained development for self-sufficiency in the villages, we seek to mobilize a group of committed volunteers in Minneapolis to support and facilitate the programs executed by our Sierra Leonean staff.
Interns would work in a variety of nonprofit management and administration roles (accounting, fund raising, grant writing, research and synthesis of current development technologies). These internships would be most appropriate for students interested in nonprofit management, international development, cultural exchange programming, etc.
Interns in Minneapolis would be able to hold flexible work schedules and work from home provided a results-based focus. Interns will be expected to meet with OneVillage staff as needed, preferably once every one or two weeks.
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about our internship opportunities at info (at) onevillagepartners.org.
