Become a Flame Tree Initiative Intern
The Flame Tree Initiative (FTI) partners with African universities to foster scalable, socially-minded businesses that accelerate regional change. We believe that training, mentoring, and launching development enterprises -- businesses that confront global development challenges -- is a potent way to contribute to the new, innovative era in Africa.
The Flame Tree Initiative offers a variety of unpaid internship opportunities throughout the year. Prospective interns must go through the internship process and should be currently enrolled in an educational institution.
Internships at the Flame Tree Initiative provide college students with opportunities to gain professional experiences and exposure to different fields. Interns learn how to build professional networks within the community and cultivate adaptability and creativity in a dynamic world.
Steps to becoming an FTI Intern:
Learn about the Flame Tree Initiative’s work by reading the information on our website or by reaching out to us at admin@flametreeinitiative.org
Review available internship positions below. Please make sure that your schedule allows you to fulfill the time commitment required by your preferred internship position.
Send your resume and cover letter to admin@flametreeinitiative.org . Please make sure that your cover letter addresses the following questions:
Why you are interested in the Flame Tree Initiative internship?
Which Flame Tree Initiative internship project area are you interested in?
What previous work, volunteer or internship experience or special skills would you use to help you succeed in the position you are applying for?
What are your career goals and how could this internship help you advance those goals?
Intern General Responsibilities
Work closely with Tucson staff to complete one of the internship options in a highly professional manner, concluding with a summary report.
Provide 8 hours/week to work on your internship project.
Be available once each week to work with us at Connect Co-working (downtown Tucson)
Work independently at other times.
Occasionally be available for evening or weekend events/group meetings.
Keep in constant communication with Flame Tree Initiative staff through WhatsApp and email
What you will gain
Exposure to the dynamic strategy of development-focused social entrepreneurship
Exposure to critical issues in sustainable development
In-depth understanding of non-profit administration and development
Work experience with a professional, dedicated, international staff
Professional acknowledgment of your work in Flame Tree social media.
Access to an international network of development entrepreneur professionals.
Ability to take responsibility and navigate tasks for which there are not always known precedents.
Internship Positions
Fund Development Internship
The Fund Development Intern will work collaboratively with the Flame Tree Initiative staff to conduct research, help design fundraising strategies, and assist with developing grant proposals. This opportunity will provide the intern with hands-on experience in several of the most in-demand skills in the non-profit industry and enhance his/her writing and research skills.
Responsibilities:
Research grants and corporate sponsorships or partnerships that are appropriate for Flame Tree Initiative’s mission, vision, and organizational values
Present research findings in an organized manner
Maintain and update FTI’s grants database
Assist with editing grant proposals
Draft and proofread letters of intent (LOIs) using both existing and new content
Provide support to local fundraising efforts
Provide general office support such as data entry, filing, scanning, mailing, and other administrative duties as needed
Research Internship
The Research Intern is integral to Flame Tree Initiative’s growth. The intern’s main responsibility is to survey existing innovative, international, energy-related social entrepreneurship models. Based on this research, the intern will assess one of the models that is the best fit for implementation in the country of Malawi.
Responsibilities:
Conduct a review of research studies, publications, and other sources providing information related to sustainable energy development
Determine existing gaps and challenges in Malawi’s energy sector
Identify current initiatives addressing energy poverty (financial, technical) with a focus on initiatives that are looking to support the bottom of the pyramid in tandem with FTI’s Country Coordinator in Malawi
Research examples of energy incubators and their models from around the world that support social entrepreneurs to launch their energy social enterprises
Identify key people in the Malawi off-grid energy sector that must be involved in the energy DELab
Develop a final report with a thorough assessment of the research findings