If you’re wondering when to apply for nonprofit summer internships, there is no better time than now to get involved with our nonprofit partners. Here we’ve included opportunities that will transform your typical summer into an incredible journey where you can discover what it truly means to make a difference. From animal rehabilitation to social work, to marketing internships, we’ve got you covered with the 9 most worthwhile learning experiences in Africa, Central America, Asia, Europe, and remotely.
– Written by Kotomi Hasegawa & Emily Che, photo credits Anna Lusty
Browse all of our 2026 summer internship offerings
Best Nonprofit Summer Internships for 2026
AMAZON WILDLIFE REHABILITATION, ECUADOR
- Location: Pastaza Province, Ecuador (Amazon Rainforest)
- Length: 4-12 weeks
- Who you’ll work with: A nonprofit wildlife rescue center working to rehabilitate and conserve Amazonian flora and fauna affected by illegal trafficking, deforestation, and habitat loss.
- What you’ll need:
- Genuine passion for wildlife conservation and animal welfare
- Willingness to work in remote, rustic conditions
- Flexibility to assist with varied tasks, from animal care to research
- Minimum age of 16 (individuals) or 15 for supervised groups
This center is a vital safe haven for over 200 animals rescued from illegal trafficking in Ecuador’s Amazon. The organization works tirelessly to rehabilitate primates, wild cats, reptiles, and countless other species, striving to release them back into the wild whenever possible. For animals that cannot be reintroduced due to long-term captivity or health issues, EcuaExplora offers a sanctuary-like environment replicating their natural habitats. As an intern, you’ll engage in hands-on animal care—feeding, cleaning enclosures, observing animal behavior—and assist in environmental education efforts with local schools. For those interested in research, there are opportunities to study animal behavior, diet, and release strategies within the center’s own Amazonian reserve. Unlike many programs, you’ll work across several specialized areas, from veterinary intake assessments to crafting enrichment activities aimed at restoring natural instincts.
Highlights:
- Assist in daily animal care and rehabilitation activities
- Support veterinary assessments and quarantine procedures
Learn more about our Amazon Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship
Apply for our Amazon Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship
WOMEN’S SUPPORT, SOUTH AFRICA
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Length: 12-26 weeks
- Who you’ll work with: with: A grassroots company focused on female empowerment and gender equality.
- What you’ll need:
- The maturity and empathy to work with vulnerable groups
- Belief in empowering young individuals and women
Perfect for those passionate about gender equality, MOSAIC is an organization that works to tackle violence against women. You’ll get to do a bit of everything, including: support female survivors of GBV, assist in education projects, and research for advocacy. Based on the values of respect and healing, MOSAIC attempts to rectify gender norms and provide empowerment to women chained in the patriarchy. Spend your nonprofit summer internship bringing lasting change into the world.
Highlights:
- Understand South Africa’s gender context and work to educate on it
- Offer meaningful support to victims
Learn more about our Women’s Support Internship
Apply for our Women’s Support Internship
NGO MANAGEMENT, CAMBODIA
- Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Length: 8-26 weeks
- Who you’ll work with: A nonprofit organization supporting marginalized youth through education and community development initiatives.
- What you’ll need:
- Interest in nonprofit management and community development
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Adaptability to work in a multicultural environment
Want to gain real-world experience in running a nonprofit? Join this NGO Management Internship, where you’ll help oversee projects aimed at empowering underprivileged youth in Cambodia. You’ll assist in a variety of operational areas, including fundraising, donor communications, program coordination, and impact reporting. Unlike classroom theory, this internship immerses you in the practical side of nonprofit operations, giving you firsthand insight into the challenges and strategies of grassroots development work. It’s an opportunity to build professional skills while making a genuine contribution to an organization dedicated to long-term social change.
Highlights:
- Gain hands-on experience in nonprofit project management
- Support fundraising and donor relations efforts
Learn more about our NGO Management Internship
Apply for our NGO Management Internship
YOUTH SOCIAL WORK, CAPE TOWN
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Length: 5-24 weeks
- Who you’ll work with: A grassroots organization providing after-school care, emotional support, and community development services in the township of Masiphumelele.
- What you’ll need:
- Interest in social work, community development, or youth programs
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Compassionate attitude and openness to cultural exchange
Ready to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children? Join this Youth Social Work Internship in Cape Town, where you’ll support after-school programs designed to provide a safe, nurturing environment for kids affected by poverty and social challenges. You’ll help run educational activities, provide emotional and trauma-informed support, and assist in day-to-day operations at the Ubuntu Centre. Beyond working with the children, you’ll also contribute to the organization’s broader goals through community outreach, communications, and fundraising efforts. This hands-on experience will give you valuable insights into grassroots social work, while allowing you to build meaningful relationships within the local community.
Highlights:
- Facilitate after-school programs and recreational activities for children
- Assist with trauma-informed care and emotional support initiatives
Learn more about our Youth Social Work Internship
Apply for our Youth Social Work Internship
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, MALAWI
- Location: Nkhata Bay, Malawi OR Remote
- Length: 2-6 months
- Who you’ll work with: Butterfly Space – A nonprofit ecolodge integrating travel and doing good, a true business champion.
- What you’ll need:
- Proficiency in digital software
- Creativity and problem-solving for strategy planning
- Willingness to work independently and take control of projects
Butterfly Space is an eco-friendly lodge located on the shores of Lake Malawi (which off the bat, outshines any regular office building) offering nonprofit summer internships to those curious about the ins and outs of community development. Not only that, it’s focused on the tourism sector in Malawi as well. The professional tasks are just as appealing as the location, be it SEO operations, brainstorming digital strategies, writing blogs or using Google Analytics. Learning how eco-friendliness and tourism go hand-in-hand is a must for environmental businesses, so don’t miss this unforgettable chance.
Highlights:
- Option to work remotely- yep! It’s completely up to you to choose where to spend summer 2026
- Explore the tourism industry in Malawi
Learn more about our Sustainable Tourism Marketing Internship
Apply for our Sustainable Tourism Marketing Internship
REMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, NIGERIA
- Location: Remote (with field projects based in Abeokuta, Nigeria)
- Length: 8–26 weeks
- Who you’ll work with: A nonprofit focused on adolescent and youth health, community wellness, malaria prevention, and reproductive health education in underserved communities.
- What you’ll need:
- Strong interest in public health, community development, or youth health education
- Ability to work independently in a remote setting with minimal supervision
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Self-motivation, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity
- English proficiency (no knowledge of Nigerian languages required)
This nonprofit runs grassroots health initiatives aimed at improving well-being in peri-urban and rural communities of Nigeria. As a remote intern, you’ll support their work by contributing to research, content creation, program design, and outreach campaign development. Depending on your background and interests, tasks may include drafting health education materials, assisting with monitoring and evaluation, supporting online health awareness campaigns, or helping to design workshops on topics such as sexual and reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, or malaria prevention. While remote, your work will directly contribute to WAF’s on-the-ground impact, offering valuable experience in international public health and nonprofit communication.
Highlights:
- Support the design and delivery of community health campaigns
- Contribute to public health research and monitoring & evaluation
Learn more about our Remote Public Health Internship
Apply for our Remote Public Health Internship
REFORESTATION & BIODIVERSITY, PORTUGAL
- Location: Santarém Region, Portugal (Countryside near Lisbon)
- Length: 4-26 weeks
- Who you’ll work with:A nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife protection, habitat restoration, and reforestation initiatives on a 27-hectare sanctuary in rural Portugal.
- What you’ll need:
- Strong interest in conservation, ecology, or environmental science
- Enthusiasm for hands-on work in outdoor, rustic environments
- Adaptability to work in a small, dynamic team
- Basic English proficiency (Portuguese not required)
Located outside of Lisbon, this organization is spearheading an ambitious reforestation and biodiversity restoration project. The sanctuary rehabilitates degraded land by planting native trees and enhancing habitats for local fauna, including mammals, birds, and insects affected by deforestation and climate change. As an intern, you’ll actively participate in reforestation efforts, conduct biodiversity surveys, assist with land management, and contribute to ecological data collection essential for future conservation planning. You’ll also have the opportunity to support SOS Animal’s awareness campaigns by assisting with content creation or research for their TV appearances. This is a field-based internship where you’ll gain practical conservation experience, directly contributing to the regeneration of native ecosystems.
Highlights:
- Participate in reforestation planting and habitat restoration
- Conduct biodiversity surveys and ecological monitoring
Learn more about our Reforestation & Biodiversity Internship
Apply for our Reforestation & Biodiversity Internship
NONPROFIT COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING, SOUTH AFRICA
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Length: 2-6 months
- Who you’ll work with: A nonprofit organization who finds wisdom embedded between the lines of book pages – The Bookery
- What you’ll need:
- Eager to interact and reach out to new people
- Familiarity with computers and office software packages
- Of course, ideally be an avid reader yourself!
Bookworms, look no further. Spend the summer in the libraries of South African schools getting lost in fairytales. This nonprofit’s mission is to make knowledge more accessible through library books for disadvantaged communities. You’ll step in as an intern to communicate with and sustain The Bookery’s established libraries. Through a marketing internship, interns will publish content online to expand the organization’s reach and develop their digital strategy. Combine your love of reading with this opportunity to see the ins and outs of a nonprofit changing the lives of young students.
Highlights:
- Learn how to manage online presence and social media accounts
- An environment directly related to the heart of your tasks– libraries!
Learn more about our Nonprofits Communications & Marketing Internship
Apply for our Nonprofits Communications & Marketing Internship
HUMANITARIAN PHOTOGRAPHY
- Location: TBC
- Length: 2-4 weeks
- Who you’ll work with: Penda Trust (who has brilliant humanitarian photographers like Anna Lutsy) is an organization that does not exploit pictures for profit but instead, understands how dignity should be captured and protected in a single frame.
- What you’ll need:
- Values responsible and mature conduct
- Deep connection with humanitarian issues
- Your own DSLR or mirrorless camera
The most moving of pictures come from the rawest of moments. This beauty deserves capturing through the eyes of a lens and preservation for others to marvel at. Penda Trust’s mission is exactly that – to use photography as a tool in showcasing humanitarian work. The workshops offered are theoretical and practical, creating a masterclass for this style of photography. These images make a meaningful impact to the marketing and fundraising efforts of nonprofit organizations, so you see how your camera’s point of view is a needed window for the rest of the world.
Highlights:
- A one-week introductory workshop to gain a solid foundation
- Dive into an inspiration-rich atmosphere
Learn more about our Humanitarian Photography Internship
Apply for our Humanitarian Photography Internship
Got questions? No problem. Find the answers on our FAQ page.
At Roots, we believe all-year round, is the season for volunteering. Nonprofit internships summer 2026 are the latest to join this lineup of possible choices. We see the value in these nine worthwhile summer internships, but if you’re still looking, check out our other international internships here. There’s definitely something for everyone. Make the most of your summer 2026 internship by applying now for an unforgettable experience abroad!
