Summer Internship in Malawi
Join Small Farm Cities for a 8-10 week internship in Lilongwe, Malawi.
An economically viable, socially impactful business
For those looking to work hand-in-hand with Malawian professionals to create pathways for upward mobility
Internship Details
We are accepting interns for a summer program which will last between 8-10 weeks long, and includes a pre-trip workshop (online or in person depending on location), followed by a week of onboarding in Malawi consisting of safety and security, cross-cultural communication, business elements overview (agriculture, aquaculture, housing, admin/finance, sales, HR, tourism/hospitality, community creation, community advancement through education and health), and our foundations course in their personal and professional development plan.
Our internship coordinator led Northwestern Mutual's Internship program (ranked top 10 in the US for over 20 years) and is developing and directing aspects of our internship program. He will lead our foundations seminar at the start of the internship and routinely meet with interns to maximize their time at SFC as well as their personal and professional development.
The internship consists of 70% supporting ongoing core business department work, 20% championing a unique initiative developed by the intern in collaboration with their department head, and 10% personal and professional development.
As an early social impact start-up, we are limited on funds and do not offer compensation. We encourage interns to explore scholarships that could support unpaid/underpaid internships that could cover the travel, insurance, housing, and stipend.
FAQs
What type of major are you looking for?
As a multidisciplinary company in a cross-cultural setting building communities consisting of houses, agriculture, aquaculture, poultry, and recreational sporting activities, we are open to interns with various majors, which could include business, economics, international relations, anthropology, sociology, biology, physics/engineering, applied health science and healthcare related majors, and others. Our leadership team of 11 Malawian college graduates have come from various backgrounds and majors, and many of their jobs have little to do with what they studied. At SFC, we care more about the quality of the person and their initiative, rather than purely their major. We are confident this experience will be formational and career advancing for various majors, as it melds social entrepreneurship with cross-cultural communication in low income settings together with the practical application of best practices in a wide number of fields of study.
Who is eligible to apply?
We are looking for students ranging from sophomores to graduated seniors, and would be open to Masters students, as well as those looking for career changes.
What would I do during my internship?
Each internship will look different, based on the major, interests, and skills of the intern. A majority of the internship time will go towards supporting ongoing SFC activities. This could include supporting the sales and marketing team serve and expand our various customer segments in fresh produce, housing or recreational activities, joining the agronomy and aquaculture team on the management and research of greenhouse and fish pond production, supporting the infrastructure/housing team with the designing, procurement, and construction oversight of various buildings and infrastructure around campus, or many other possibilities.
In regard to the personal initiative championed by the intern, there are limitless possibilities. An engineer may help create rainwater catchment systems or pilot a bio-gas system, a biologist may run growth trials testing fish feed and water ph, an economist may research and pilot new initiatives in our local vegetable buying and selling program, and an education major may design a digital literacy curriculum for our rural staff with minimal formal education.
We are looking for individuals that can find links between their passions and skills and the mission of Small Farm Cities, and are eager to brainstorm and listen to proposals on ideas for individual initiatives that each intern will champion.
Common elements include our pre-trip workshop and arrival onboarding week. In addition, each internship will consist of 70% supporting ongoing core business department work, 20% championing a unique initiative developed by the intern in collaboration with their department head, and 10% personal and professional development.
Is Malawi Safe? Will I be safe?
All places face risks, and Lilongwe is no different. With that said, according to the Global Peace Index, Malawi is the 8th safest country in Sub-Saharan Africa (of 44) and tied with France as the 55th safest country in the world. According to the United States Travel website, Malawi is a level 2 of 4, and those working should “Exercise Increased Caution.” Crime in Malawi is generally low, with purse-snatching and petty thefts being the largest threats.
As an organization, we ensure all interns are properly briefed as to the unique risks of working in urban and rural parts of Malawi. We will ensure living arrangements, work transport, and all work related activities are done in a way that mitigates risks. We encourage interns to apply for evacuation insurance and international health care coverage (and can help advise on this if accepted).