Environmental education internship in Portugal

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Help a growing NGO develop an educational curriculum to initiate engagement with local schools and the community for outreach and education.

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to build your curriculum development skills. In this internship, you will help create a curriculum and materials to engage students and the community, in both English and Portuguese.

Using your creativity, good communication skills, and compassion, you’ll develop lesson plans and educational materials to help set up the opportunity for engagement with local schools.  The organization has a bank of powerful media content, including films and images, that are free to access for curriculum and program development. By developing material, you will help provide the organization with a strong foundation to expand their local impact for future school engagement.

Learning objectives:

  • Get experience in developing engaging sessions on conservation and animal welfare for young people in Portugal
  • Network with individuals in the environmental education sector
  • Build excellent communication skills, e.g. in presenting
  • Gain understanding of how an environmental nonprofit completes community outreach
  • Deepen your knowledge of the animals and plants native to Portugal.

ORGANIZATION

SOS Animal is driven to improve animal welfare throughout Portugal and beyond. They have a main office, as well as a veterinary hospital in Lisbon which are open to the public and members of SOS Animal. They have recently set up an animal sanctuary in the Santarém region of Portugal, which will be home to a rich variety of native animals and plant species.

The organization offers free veterinary care to animals from low-income and vulnerable households and has set up a successful animal sterilization program whereby they have performed over 3000 sterilizations. They have also found new homes for over 600 rescued animals and have given almost 10,000 free veterinary consultations to families in need.

Alongside providing medical treatment and care to animals, the organization aims to share important information relating to animal welfare and environmental issues impacting flora and fauna more widely. They do this through the dissemination of studies, running clarification sessions and hosting lectures and other educational activities. This nonprofit also contributes scientific research and data to help manage communities of stray animals, and promote initiatives aimed at improving animal welfare across the public and private sectors.

TASKS & REQUIreMENTS

Your internship tasks will be tailored to your interests, goals, and background. It is important to note that as  the organization is growing and still developing their local connections, direct teaching opportunities with schools is currently not established. Therefore to increase the benefit for both the organization and interns in the pairing, it is recommended to join the organization for a minimum of six weeks to make a significant contribution on this specific project. 

Responsibilities

Your main tasks will cover:

  • Plan workshop/lesson for young people and the general public in Portugal
  • Develop the curriculum framework, which includes creating interactive session materials and resources
  • Build strong rapport with different groups, including youth groups, teachers/practitioners, and those working in the environmental
  • All interns assist with general work and at the start of the internship there will be an orientation program with basic skills (taking care of animals, cleaning, etc.)

Requirements

  • Passion for the environment and animal welfare. Any experience or background in pedagogy, teaching, or education is a plus.
  • Share the organization’s core values, demonstrating the desire to contribute to this unique project in Portugal
  • A flexible approach to work
  • Fluency in English
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Minimum age of 20 years old

WHERE YOU’LL STAY

You will stay at the sanctuary in Santarém, where there is a house with the choice of single or shared bedrooms. The house includes all furnishings, bed linen, a shared kitchen where you can prepare your meals, communal areas, as well as an outdoor pool for you to enjoy. The accommodation has access to Wifi and a cleaning service is included. You can buy groceries in the local town or order from an online supermarket for delivery.

Safety & Support

Safety & Support

Portugal is considered a very safe destination for travel. Crime rates are low, but pickpocketing and handbag snatches do occur in tourist destinations. Make sure to visit your doctor and dentist for a check-up before your internship and to get all the recommended vaccines and/or medications necessary to stay healthy.

Communication

Communication

Free Wifi is available at your accommodation to stay in touch with family and friends while abroad.

Meals

Meals

The accommodation is self-catering and meals are not included in the fee. The consumption of meat and fish is not allowed in the sanctuary. You can order food from an online supermarket which will be delivered to the sanctuary.

Location details

Location details

The nearest city is 5 km from the sanctuary and you are welcome to take one of the sanctuary’s bicycles to explore the surroundings. Santarém is on a plateau, situated on the bank of the River Tagus, a picturesque area surrounded by hills and wheat fields. Located in the middle of the river, is the fairy-tale Castelo de Almourol, arguably one of Europe’s most beautiful castles.

DATES & RATES

Fee Breakdown

Internships are available from January until November. They have fixed start and end dates (generally twice a month), which will be discussed with you during the selection process.


It is recommended to join this internship for a minimum of six weeks in order to develop relationships and make a significant impact


What you’ll pay (2025 rates)

4 weeks EUR 1,706

8 weeks EUR 2,760

12 weeks EUR 3,813

16 weeks EUR 4,867

20 weeks EUR 5,920

26 weeks EUR 7,500

Inclusions

  • Careful matchmaking. It takes time to find the right internship for each person, and we take this process very seriously.
  • Initial interview with one of our team to gauge your skills, interests, and desired learning outcomes.
  • An academic internship eligible for university credit. Check with your university to confirm if this internship qualifies for credit or alternatively we can assist you with purchasing transfer credits.
  • Accommodation based on a shared room (up to 4 pax). If you prefer a single room, please contact us for availability and prices.
  • Wifi access
  • Assistance with your visa arrangement and other preparations
  • An orientation program with your supervisor
  • Supervision and support during your stay
  • Regular check-ins during your internship with your supervisor
  • Troubleshooting if needed
  • A reference letter at the end of your internship

Exclusions

  • Flights to Lisbon
  • Transfer from the airport to the sanctuary (less than one hour by car)
  • Visa and medical/travel insurance costs for the duration of your placement – must include cover for repatriation
  • Meals, drinks, snacks, and items of personal nature (f.e. curios, gifts, clothing)
  • Costs for additional excursions or activities
SCHOLARSHIP & FUNDING

QUICK FACTS

LOCATION: Santarém, Portugal
PROJECT FOCUS: Animal Welfare and Conservation NGO
TASK FOCUS: Education, Facilitation, Curriculum Development, Monitoring
LENGTH: Min. 4 weeks
COST: From EUR 1,706

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Gain international curriculum building and outreach teaching experience to add to your resume
  • Be part of a dedicated, passionate team of educators and movement-makers
  • Enjoy interesting, varied work in developing a unique educational curriculum and related material.
  • Learn more about the nature that is unique to Portugal and the way it influences local life
ENQUIREAPPLY NOW

HOW TO APPLY

If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:

APPLY

Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.

GET STARTED

SPEAK WITH AN ADVISOR

We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.

INTERNSHIP MATCHING

If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.

PAYMENT

If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.

CONFIRMATION

Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.

NEED TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY FIRST?

Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!

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