NGO event coordinator internship

NGO Event Coordinator Internship in Cape Town Leverage your event coordination skills to help organize an environmental action summit, contributing to the success of the NGO's mission

Bring your event management skills to this unique environmental event. Greenpop hosts festivals every year, putting on unique environmental events in stunning South African forests. Participants of the events plant trees to help restore the forest, learn about important sustainability issues, and soak up the forest setting with a variety of health and well-being activities. You can be part of making this happen. Between February and April, you can join this incredible initiative and put your organizational skills to work!

As an Event Management intern, you'll be a vital part of planning, organizing, and running the annual Reforest Fest (held over Easter weekend). You'll liaise with partners, put systems in place, assist in the site set-up, help run logistics, and manage schedules. You'll be part of both the planning phase and the actual event, which ensures that you'll get to see the result of your work on the ground, and that you'll experience the thrill of working behind the scenes at a large event. This Event Coordination Internship will offer you an incredibly rich and valuable work experience, as you'll have a wide range of tasks and be given responsibility in your assignments - a brilliant experience on both a professional and personal level.

The ideal candidate for this NGO Event Coordinator Internship in South Africa will have strong organizational skills, a can do attitude, and good problem solving skills. If you're looking to gain hands on experience in fieldwork by organizing a large scale environmental conservation event, you've found the perfect opportunity!

ORGANIZATION Greenpop is a nonprofit organization that runs urban greening, reforestation, and eco education projects. Based in Cape Town, Greenpop plants trees and creates gardens at schools in underprivileged areas and works to regenerate indigenous forests throughout Sub Saharan Africa. And as part of their mission to encourage a treevolution, the organization has a strong focus on activating people - both Africans and people from around the world - to participate in their projects.

Greenpop is motivated by the vision of a world in which people and nature thrive together. They aim to empower the public to get active (not anxious) about the future of our planet.

Their programs:

• Urban greening: concentrate on planting fynbos gardens and trees in urban spaces and run school based eco education workshops in marginalized communities. It also aims to create biodiversity corridors across Cape Town.
• Forest restoration: plants trees, clears alien vegetation, and works with communities to protect indigenous forests, restore degraded forest areas, and increase biodiversity.
• Sustainable development and environmental art projects on an ad hoc basis: these give communities tools to improve their lives while effectively managing their natural resources and create public art and music which brings awareness to local environmental issues.
• Events: experiential and educational events. Think of interactive educational workshops on a variety of environmental, entrepreneurial and leadership topics for school groups, corporate teams and the general public. They aim to equip people with the skills they need to get active (not anxious) about the future of our planet.

Every year over Easter weekend, Greenpop organizes a reforestation festival (Reforest Fest) with four days filled with tree planting, workshops, music, and entertainment (vendors, speakers, etc.). This requires a lot of organization with regards to logistics and coordination with partners, sponsors, suppliers, artists, etc. As an Event Management intern you can assist in EITHER the Coordination or Production departments.

During this internship, there is no physical office, as the team in Cape Town operates on a remote work model. As an intern, you will mainly work remotely, with occasional supervisor and team meet ups and opportunities at the Greenpop Nursery. Additionally, you will have the chance to participate in Garden Days or other events happening while you're on the ground. You will be required to attend the entire duration of Reforest Fest.

Responsibilities You can either focus more on the Coordination or Production side of things. When on site for the event, everybody helps out in any way they can to assist in things running smoothly.

Coordination

• Serve as liaison with vendors, artists and partners on event related matters: applications, dealing with contracts, set up instructions, accreditation, etc.
• Digital event marketing: social media management, direct marketing, responding to questions, copywriting event communication, preparing the ticketing
• Fundraising: contacts with partners & sponsors, checking if ROI has been fulfilled, partner communication
• Assist on keeping track of event finances including quote requests, invoicing, and reporting.
• Event coordination: hands on preparations for the events (signing, site map, packing, decoration), on site assisting with the production, artist liaison, bands & sound tech liaison
• Planning and administration: drafting a timescale for the job/event, coordination of volunteers, keep track of the budget, site map and evacuation plan

Production

• Assist with set up, strike, and managing on site production and cleanup for the event
• On site event management during the event
• Managing logistics, collections, and returns (sponsored goods)
• Shopping
• Producing and following packing lists
• Festival build
• Driving a loaded bakkie
• REQUIRED: Valid driver's license + comfortable driving a loaded bakkie

Requirements

• Preferably some background in working outdoors, or at least excited to get outdoors and get dirty
• Time management and multitasking skills
• Problem solver and creative thinker with a flexible mindset
• Not afraid to take responsibility
• Hands on mentality
• Willing to work evenings and weekends (especially when on site for the event, days are long and tiring)
• Willing to camp for the week you are on site for the event
• Coordination: Ideally have a driver's license (and willing to drive in South Africa)
• Production: valid driver's license REQUIRED and comfortable driving a loaded bakkie
• Bring your own laptop
• Available January - May (exact dates depend on your specific role)

As an intern in Cape Town, you'll have the choice between three different accommodations. With dorm and single room options, you can opt for the lodging option that meets your needs and budget. All locations include Wifi, linens & towels, communal areas, shared facilities, 24/7 security, laundry services, and housekeeping. Each option is conveniently located to be walking distance from various shops, cafes, restaurants, and some of the touristy highlights Cape Town has to offer as well. You'll have the opportunity to meet a variety of travelers, including students & backpackers, and explore the wonders of the city - while being based in the heart of it all.

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. During your placement, you'll have access to the Roots team remotely, along with your internship supervisor on the ground.

South Africa does have high crime rates, so it's important to be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Safety recommendations include: do not walk anywhere alone and do not walk anywhere at night - it's better to Uber, no matter the distance, even if you are in a group. Upon arrival, ask your accommodation about the safe/dangerous areas & streets that are nearby. Keep your belongings close to you (avoid using handbags), always keep an eye on your drinks when out socializing, don't walk around with large sums of cash (you can pay for everything with a card), minimize wearing flashy accessories, and be cautious of overly friendly strangers. Take extra precautions at night by staying in a group and always taking an Uber once the sun goes down.

Your accommodation will include free Wifi to keep family and friends up to date via WhatsApp, Zoom, etc. Most cafes/restaurants also offer free Wifi for remote work days and staying online. You can also consider getting a local SIM card if your phone is unlocked for international carrier, or setting your phone's status to roaming (be aware of high charges for this option).

Meals are NOT included at the accommodation options in Cape Town. The kitchen facilities vary at each location and details will be provided during the application process. With a variety of international cuisine options available in the area and throughout Cape Town, there is no shortage of restaurants, bars, and cafes to try out.

Discover Cape Town's attractions: Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, city tours, historical sites, and the Cape Point Peninsula. There are also opportunities to surf, kayak, paraglide, cage dive with sharks, and more! Cape Town has a mediterranean climate with cool winters and hot summers so be sure to check what the temperature will be like during your stay.

DATES & RATES Fee Breakdown The internship is available for a period of three months from January/February until the beginning of May.

Production role: 19 January - 17 April 2026

Coordination role: 1 February - 1 May 2026

What you'll pay (2026 rates)
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