Your safety and professional development are our top priorities. Before any organization joins the Roots network, we assess their mission, working environment, supervisory capacity, and safety procedures. Only partners who meet our full criteria are approved to host interns — and we stay in contact with them throughout your placement, so you can focus on the experience, not the logistics.
ALTURAS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization based in Costa Rica dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife. They run a 24/7 veterinary clinic and provide medical treatment for all injured wildlife in the area with the primary goal being recovery and release of native animals back to their rainforest homes.
A* Logic
A* Logic is a small tech startup founded in Edinburgh, Scotland. Their team is developing a search engine that can integrate with multiple apps, devices, and databases, allowing businesses to quickly and easily find their documents and files wherever they’re stored.
BAOBUYU LEARNING CENTER
A community center that runs various educational programs for the local community, including a preschool, girls and women support groups, health workshops, and more.
BUTTERFLY SPACE
Butterfly Space is a dedicated sharing space for a wide range of local social impact initiatives focused on education, public health, social entrepreneurship, and more. The space is a platform for support and information sharing, with the aim to help grassroots NGOs thrive.
CAPE RADD
Based in Simon’s Town, South Africa, Cape RADD (Research and Diver Development) is a marine research center with special focus on promoting conservation through citizen science. They run a range of programs aimed to further our knowledge of various marine environments and promote conservation awareness
CIRENAS
CIRENAS (Centro de Investigacion de Recursos Naturales y Sociales) is a conservation-focused nonprofit based in Costa Rica. They run a range of research, education, and community outreach programs with the goal of creating transformative connections between people and the environment.
ConCERT
Located just outside Siem Reap, this nonprofit offers interns the chance to support community-driven projects in education, youth development, and local empowerment. Programs emphasize sustainable impact, providing meaningful opportunities to engage ethically and make a positive difference in the community.
COPROT
COPROT Tortugas de Osa is a community-driven organization committed to protecting sea turtle nesting beach habitats in Costa Rica. They work towards this goal by establishing community-based initiatives to support locals and educate future generations on the importance of conserving natural resources.
DEVELOPING RADIO PARTNERS
As a nonprofit organization, DRP is committed to spreading information through the medium of radio in Africa and beyond. This mode of knowledge-sharing gives the power of information to everyday people, and changes their lives for the better.
DRIP BY DRIP
Drip by Drip is a multinational organization based in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to solving problems of water waste in the textiles industry. The first organization of its kind, Drip by Drip conducts independent research into the issue, runs advocacy and awareness campaigns, and education for relevant stakeholders.
EAZY WAY RIDES
Based in South Africa, Eazy Way Rides is a forward-thinking transport and logistics startup who are redefining how technology connects people and business. Through the use of artificial intelligence and smart digital systems, they aim to make transport solutions more efficient, inclusive, and future-focused.
ETIV DO BRASIL
This NGO based in the Itacaré region of Bahia, Brazil works to promote sustainable development, environmental conservation, and social justice in the local communities with a special focus on youth development. They envision a world where people care for one another and the environment, actively creating greater equality and opportunities for all.
FOSCOD
Based in Uganda, FOSCOD works with their community to create people-led and practical solutions for a more sustainable future. Ranging from renewable energy to gender equality programs, their projects aim to empower individuals to take actions for a lasting change.
FREE HAVEN COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
The Free Haven Community Initiative aims to provide much-needed resources and tools to children and families in Zambia to break the cycle of poverty through various initiatives and programs.
GIRLS LEAD CHANGE
This female empowerment organization offers remote internships in areas such as public relations, social media, leadership development, and community engagement. Interns gain hands-on experience in nonprofit work while supporting programs that uplift and mentor young Black girls.
GREENPOP
A nonprofit motivated by the vision of a world in which people and nature thrive together. Based in Cape Town, Greenpop works on urban greening, reforestation, and eco-education projects at schools in underprivileged areas. Their ultimate goal is to (re)connect people with our planet – and have fun doing it!
HYCF
A grassroots nonprofit based in Malawi working at the intersection of legal aid, healthcare, and community development. Short for Helping Your Community Forum, this organization offers internships that provide meaningful, supervised experiences in human rights, public health, and social empowerment.
INSTITUTE FOR MARINE RESEARCH
The Institute for Marine Research (IMR) is a nonprofit organization based in Dauin, Philippines that conducts research on marine ecosystems with a focus on coral reefs. They publish their findings in reports and journals and use them in education and outreach programs to help develop more sustainable practices among local communities.
IOI
IOI, short for the International Outreach Initiative, stands as a dedicated and dynamic transnational nonprofit organization. Their core mission is centered on empowering and uplifting isolated communities worldwide, fostering sustainable growth and development at the grassroots level.
IRACAMBI
Founded in 1999, Iracambi is a conservation and sustainability nonprofit organization located in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions: the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. They run a range of projects in conservation and sustainability including agroforestry, reforestation, medicinal plant research, environmental education, and community outreach.
LAJUMA RESEARCH CENTRE
Based in South Africa, Lajuma Research Centre hosts students and researchers from around the world to study its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems contributing to global scientific knowledge and environmental study. The center focuses on conservation, ecological research, and long-term environmental monitoring.
LILONGWE WILDLIFE TRUST
Committed to protecting Malawi’s wildlife, this leading conservation organization focuses on rescue, rehabilitation, and advocacy. As the country’s only accredited wildlife sanctuary, they combat illegal wildlife trade and conduct vital research. Through education and outreach, they work to safeguard Malawi’s biodiversity.
LIVING MUSIC FOUNDATION
Based in a rural community Uganda, this nonprofit organisation offers inspiration and positive life skills to children of disadvantaged backgrounds through music lessons.
MAKHULU MEDIA
Makhulu Media is a Cape Town-based global impact agency that harnesses the power of storytelling to drive tangible social change. They create compelling media campaigns rooted in lived experiences to increase awareness, promote advocacy, and inspire action across vital sectors like conservation, public health, and youth empowerment.
MANNA PROJECT INTERNATIONAL
This nonprofit is led by the mantra: ‘communities serving communities’. Their work with disadvantaged communities aims to break the cycle of poverty, whilst building communities of like-minded advocates for social change among their interns and volunteers.
MOSAIC
This Cape Town-based organization is on a mission to empower women and girl survivors of domestic violence and abuse by fostering enabling environments and providing support throughout the healing process. Their focus encompasses the individual survivor, intimate-partner/family relationships, and the community at large, recognizing the significance of these areas in achieving genuine empowerment.
MOVE FOR TWO
This nonprofit organization teaches dance to children from the townships of Cape Town as means of empowerment. They also run a life skills program that instills self-confidence and a sense of purpose in children who grow up in poverty.
MSPC
The Malawi Schools Permaculture Clubs (MSPC) is a nonprofit aiming to teach children how to care for and regenerate their natural environment, to value their local resources, and to learn how to produce their own nutritious food. They offer permaculture courses and materials to teachers involved in after-school programs.
MT Foundation
MT Foundation is a nonprofit organization located in Bloemfontein, South Africa, that supports vulnerable groups through empowerment, equality, climate resilience, and access to justice. They build sustainable, inclusive relationships with communities, corporate social investors, and other non-profit organizations.
NEW HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Based in Cape Town, but working across the Western Cape of South Africa, this nonprofit works to promote gender equality and improve women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. Their primary goals are to destigmatize menstruation, and end period poverty. They aim to achieve this through educational programs, skills empowerment, and the distribution of sustainable, reusable sanitary products.
OMNIS FACTUM
Omnis Factum is a youth association in Montijo, Portugal, empowering young people through digital literacy, social inclusion, and intercultural exchange. Their internships focus on NGO management, project coordination, and community engagement with local and international partners.
PAZ PERU
Paz Peru is a nonprofit organization that has remained committed to its mission to enhance the well-being of children and all individuals who are situated in Peru. Their noble mission is achieved through the execution of social and productive development projects.
PENDA
Penda is a fast-growing organization that uses photography to create amazing experiences while contributing to positive change. The organization uses photography trips as a tool to expose participants to important conservation and community projects in developing countries.
PROJEKT UBUNTU
A social development organization operating in Masiphumelele, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town. Via the Ubuntu Center they direct resources to the community and care for between 60 and 100 children every day. They also support a number of daycare centers that are run by the grandmothers and mothers of the community.
RALEIGH
Raleigh International is an institution within the world of volunteer work and gap year experience that has been arranging volunteer opportunities in sustainability and community development for over four decades.
REACH
This social impact nonprofit works to create long-term sustainable change in the Tlok Andoung Village of Siem Reap. Their vision is of a Cambodia where children have access to quality education, food, shelter, and healthcare they need to develop, thrive and break the cycles of poverty.
SCALABRINI CENTRE
An NGO that perceives migration as an opportunity and are on a mission to alleviate poverty and promoting development in the Western Cape while fostering cultural, social and economic integration between migrants, refugees, and South Africans.
SEMILLAS LIFE
This Peruvian NGO works to protect and conserve the Amazon Rainforest through youth empowerment and community development. They believe that working with local communities to build skills, develop sustainable practices, create new job opportunities, and ultimately reduce poverty is the best way to curtail the activities that harm the environment.
SOS ANIMAL
This environmental nonprofit is committed to protecting animals and their natural habitats. They provide free veterinarian care to animals of low-income homes, as well as sharing key information to help audiences understand the threats animals face. Their mission is for all animals to be treated with compassion and respect.
Sports Leadership Academy
This Ghana-based nonprofit uses sports training, education, and mentorship to equip athletes, coaches, and sports professionals to excel both in their sports and as influential community leaders, delivering character-building programs and youth empowerment initiatives.
STREETLIGHT
Active since 2004, this education nonprofit organization is based in Tacloban City, Philippines. They run a range of educational and vocational training programs focused on low-income families, as well as supporting community-led initiatives.
SUPREME MALAWI
As a Malawi-based social enterprise, Supreme is dedicated to providing locally made sustainable and accessible sanitary products to girls and women. They also fight persisting taboo around menstrual cycles through educational projects.
TANGARÉ FOUNDATION
Founded in 2009, this nonprofit organization is working to protect the Cloud Forest and its wildlife. Their mission is to promote and strengthen an alternative and innovative model of development in Ecuador, with the main emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation. They do this through a combination of research, natural resource management, and environmental conservation.
TRANSFRONTIER AFRICA
Transfrontier Africa is a wildlife conservation nonprofit based in the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. They conduct research and devise evidence-based wildlife management strategies in collaboration with local and international research institutions.
THE LIVING OCEAN
The Living Ocean is a nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation in Zanzibar, Tanzania. They work to bolster the protection of marine life and ecosystems through training, education, and employment by partnering with and supporting small, local projects and initiatives. They aim to generate sustainable positive change for future generations by changing attitudes towards conservation in coastal communities.
THE ORGANIZATION FOR YOUNG WOMEN’S DIGNITY
The Organization for Young Women’s Dignity (TOFYWD) is a South African nonprofit that works with young women, many of whom are victims of gender-based violence (GBV). They support these young women through community services that are focused on reducing GBV and HIV/AIDS, psychosocial support services, and provision of sanitary wear, among other key initiatives.
URBAN HARVEST
This organization is South Africa’s oldest edible garden service that installs (and maintains) food gardens in homes, businesses, schools and communities. By helping South Africans to grow their own food, they are supporting a healthier, happier and more sustainable way of life for everyone.
Volunteer for the Visayans
Based in the Philippines, VFV is dedicated to supervising collaborative projects with local partners. Ranging from bolstering childcare to aiding rural health clinics, they provide a spectrum of initiatives spanning social welfare institutes, nutrition programs, and special education.
Volunteer Building Cambodia
Volunteer Building Cambodia (VBC) is a locally run NGO dedicated to improving quality of life for severely disadvantaged communities in Siem Reap. They provide impoverished families in rural areas with housing, wells, WASH systems, and solar systems.
Volunteers Peru
Volunteers Peru is a small NGO located in the city of Arequipa, Peru. We help with the education of vulnerable children and young people. Our volunteers’ goal is to help children and teenagers whose lives are affected by social problems and who are lacking a good education. We collaborate with local organizations and provide the help needed by these children and young people.
Well Being Africa
This NGO is focused on addressing core human challenges in African communities by employing a methodical, research-based approach and by collaborating with stakeholders to amplify the impact of their initiatives. The organization’s mission centers on providing practical solutions in nutrition, capacity development, and psychosocial support to optimize individual well-being.
Wellness Africa Foundation
The Wellness Africa Foundation (WAF), based in Nigeria, is an organization focused on developing the health and agricultural sectors of the economy. Through innovative programs and collaborations, WAF addresses critical challenges to drive sustainable growth and community empowerment.
ZAWS
Zambezi Animal Welfare Services (ZAWS) in Livingstone, Zambia, is on a mission to improve the health and welfare of domestic animals in this town. They offer medical support, rescue, and re-home street dogs and educate children on how to look after their pets.
