Cape Town & Swaziland: Entrepreneur Development

Introduction

Social enterprise and small businesses are vital to help the economy and to bring income into families. All Out Africa has a network of social enterprises / small businesses which it supports though placement of interns/interns and business mentors. Many of these organisations employ women, who traditionally are more marginalized in the employment market, and are also members of local Fair Trade Organisations to help ensure good standards of working and pay for their employees.

Whether you are looking to gain experience to add to your CV, need to fulfill University requirements or just have experience to contribute, we like to make our internships as beneficial for each intern as possible. That’s why we want to know in advance if you have a special interests, expertise or goals to achieve whilst your completing your internship with us.

In the area of marketing, you can join in the development of the marketing mix including creating marketing plans, pricing strategy, product line development, website design and support, and the expansion of social networking outlets. In terms of business development, you can get involved in logistics and production support, designing and implementing new business practices and systems, improving human resources via staff development and relationship management, and contributing to the development of sound financial practices. Regarding creative product design and innovation, you can join in developing the artistic product line with painting, sewing and photographing the people and the products. The company is always looking for new creative ideas and products to support the local community and your art skills, creativity and interest in crafts can be put to good use.

Interns will begin helping out with day to day tasks, such as assisting with making or packaging the products, making tea and taking notes at any appropriate meetings, helping with guided tours and sales. Once you have settled into the role and know more about the business, you will meet with the business manager to come up with a suitable project or task, which you can complete during the remainder of your placement. The project will depend on your previous skills and may be marketing related such as taking photos for promotion, developing the website or Facebook page; or Human Resources of Finance related such as assisting with providing staff training, or with HR or Financial management practices. Those with creative skills may assist coming up with new art or creative techniques or product ideas, or training staff to improve their skills.

Support the local community and develop your skills while enjoying the vibrant life in a Southern Africa, and exploring the beautiful surroundings!

Daily Life

Our Team Member will greet you upon your arrival in either Cape Town South Africa, or Johannesburg South Africa (for Swaziland Interns) and transfer you to your accommodation.

On your second day you will participate in an informative presentation briefing you on everything you need to know about the country and the culture, what to expect and how to contribute effectively during your internship. This will also include some great tours to get your acclimated to your new destination!

On your third day, you will start to get to work! You will meet with your business partner and begin to identify their challenges. Together you will develop a strategy for the next 4 weeks, developing sustainable solutions that will empower the entrepreneurs business and help them bring their business to the next level.

The weekends will be yours to explore your destination and relax!

Travel & Accommodation

The shared dorms where you will sleep have communal bathrooms, and bed linen and pillows are provided. There are also communal living spaces, kitchen and terrace are waiting for the volunteers to enjoy together. There are three meals a day provided and they can be eaten together on the communal decking area in the summer or in the dining room during the winter.

The self-service breakfast offers a selection of cereals, bread, fruit, yogurt, eggs and spreads. You will prepare your own lunch and bring it to the project to eat. There are bread, ham, salad and fruits available. Dinner is a cooked meal which you can assist in preparing on a rotational basis. The types of dishes include pasta, stir-fry, curry and stew. A vegetarian diet and most food allergies are taken into consideration.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18
• Minimum 4 weeks commitment
• Be able to communicate in English
• Be open minded, patient, adaptable and willing to embrace the challenges of the project
• Have a positive attitude towards living in a rural setting and working in a team
• Good mental and physical health – an appropriate level of fitness
• Necessary flights & visas
• Full travel & medical insurance – full assistance will be providing in arranging everything should you choose our Placement Support Package

Costs

* Currency conversions are approximate.
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee.
*** Places are confirmed with a 3 week deposit

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes food, accommodation, airport pickup, orientation, in-country support and project activities.

What’s not included:

Flights, insurance, visas (if applicable) and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.