International Internship Program
Spend your summer building something real in Malawi. Two months, June to July 2027.
Are you Malawian? See our Malawi Internship Program.
Hyper-affordable agricultural communities for working-class families
Lead a real project. Learn the whole business.
Internship Details
Small Farm Cities Africa combines affordable homes, precision agriculture and shared infrastructure to build communities where Malawian families can live and grow. We are a startup, and our interns do real work that moves it forward.
Every intern leads a primary project in one department and rotates across the rest of the business, working side by side with our Malawian team. You’ll take part in leadership classes and learn how a startup runs with limited resources, while gaining a real understanding of rural Malawian life.
Project areas
Agriculture, horticulture and greenhouse innovation
Agri-finance, microcredit and mortgage design
Affordable housing and construction
Sustainability, water systems and rural energy
Finance, business operations and supply chain
Data analysis, research and digital systems
Human development and community services
International development in a post-USAID world
Impact measurement and social performance
What past interns have built
Cut the cost of building a home from $1,000 to $500 through adobe block research and construction
Launched a Land Restoration and Regenerative Agriculture Center combining compost, biochar, agroforestry and composting toilets
Built the financial model and business case for a scalable pig operation and an on-site corn mill
Developed apps and surveys for real-time tracking and impact measurement
Helped our restaurant expand online and improve quality, contributing to over 6,000 meals served
The details
When: First week of June to last week of July 2027
Length: 2 months
Where: Rural working site near Lilongwe, Malawi
Who: University students and recent graduates
SFC covers: Housing, meals, work transport and airport pickup
You cover: Flights, visa, travel and medical insurance, vaccines and personal spending
Pay: Unpaid and self-funded
Cost and funding
Budget about $3,000 for the summer. The round-trip flight from the US to Lilongwe is the largest cost, at about $2,000.
Most interns fund their summer through university international-internship grants, department or global-studies funding, fellowships or personal fundraising. Start now: many university grant deadlines fall before ours. If you’re accepted, we’ll provide an acceptance letter and project description to support your funding applications.
How to apply
Complete the online application (about 20 minutes).
Record a 60-second Loom introduction.
Have a short video interview with our team.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority deadline: January 15, 2027. Final deadline: March 15, 2027.
Questions? Email michael@smallfarmcities.com.
FAQs
Who can apply?
University students (freshman to graduate) and recent graduates, from any major. We care more about initiative and character than your field of study. You’ll need a passport valid at least six months past your planned return date.
Can I change the dates or length?
We prefer the full June to July window. Arrival and departure dates can move to fit your flights. If you have a conflict, we can look at shifting your two months slightly, or shortening the internship in exceptional cases. Tell us in your application.
Is it paid?
No. The internship is unpaid. We provide housing, meals, work transport and airport pickup.
Where will I live?
In dorm-style housing on our rural working site outside Lilongwe, alongside other interns. Expect occasional power outages, heat, long days and a different pace of life. Interns who embrace that consistently tell us it was one of the most formative experiences of their lives.
Will I do physical work?
Yes. You’ll work alongside Malawian staff across departments, including physical and outdoor work. Projects follow the needs on site at the time, so we’ll match your interests where we can and expect you to commit fully to whatever you take on.
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).