Our Team

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Talitha van der Waerden
General Manager

Talitha has a hugely varied CV; she’s worked as a tour leader in the Middle East, as a communications consultant, and a project manager developing change management campaigns for big multinationals. In 2012, Talitha took a break from her career in the Netherlands to travel, explore new places, and use her skills for a good cause during a work placement with a nonprofit in Cape Town. Three months turned into six, and eventually into a job coordinating events and experiences. Talitha is now excited to manage Roots, and enable others to have fulfilling volunteer work placements around the world. Having been in your shoes, she knows how important it is to find the right match between individuals and organizations, and she goes out of her way to create the most rewarding experience for all involved.

Amanda Drobek
MARKETING Manager & University Relations

Amanda is one of Roots’ very own alumni coming full circle to be a part of the team. After graduating from Indiana University with degrees in Marketing, International Business, and Digital & Social Media, she headed to Malawi to complete the Community Development Internship at Butterfly Space. This developed into a longer term role within the nonprofit, and a year later she joined Roots to help facilitate experiences just like the one she had. Knowing first-hand what it’s like to be a Roots intern, Amanda combines her personal and professional experiences with her passion for purpose-driven work to share opportunities with interns around the world.

nakeshia tobias
Experience Coordinator

Nakeshia started her career in the world of theatre; she studied at Cape Town’s Theatre School and worked at the Rainbow Academy as a performer, hostess, and production administrator. After a few years, she shifted gears and worked in retail, in the nonprofit sector, and in tourism. She’s now an essential part of ensuring our interns have a smooth and enjoyable internship experience, from start to finish. Nakeshia is passionate about the impact our internship programs make, both on our interns, and on our grassroot partners around the world.

John Acebedo
MarkeTing Assistant

John is our teammate from the Philippines, and he brings a calm, can-do energy to everything he does. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration & Marketing Management and now acts as our all-around admin and marketing support – managing website content, internship listings, and customer relations, while also building skills in social media marketing and SEO. Helping others has always been central to John’s work, whether through direct support or by connecting people to life-changing opportunities. He’s excited to keep doing just that with Roots, supporting individuals in finding meaningful, impactful placements around the world.

Emily Che
Business development Intern

Emily began her career with a strong interest in the intersection of global business and social impact. She’s currently studying International Business and Marketing at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Canada, where she’s also completing a Certificate in International Management. With international experience living in Asia and Europe, Emily brings a global perspective to her role. As an intern at Roots, she’s passionate about helping grassroots initiatives grow their digital presence and expand their impact.

ABOUT US

At Roots, we create the perfect balance between meaningful work and valuable learning through internships with nonprofits & social enterprises in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.TEST

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US: +1 617 500 6179
internship@rootsinterns.com

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