Past Internships
Internships in Cameroon are often largely research activities. These internships require some initiative on the part of the student who might see a need they themselves are able to fulfill.
Amara Geibel - organization Réseau Associatif des Psychologues Praticiens (RAPHA-Psy)
Located in Yaounde, Cameroon, the organization Réseau Associatif des Psychologues Praticiens (RAPHA-Psy) strives to provide mental health care, encourage psychological research within Cameroon, and mentor for the next generation of therapists. Through a two-month academic internship, I observed a series of therapy sessions and participated in academic work to expand my understanding of clinical psychology. As a result, I gained a greater knowledge of psychology in the Cameroonian and African context, as well as how psychological theory is being applied in practice.
Lucy Marco- Réseau Camerounais des organisations des droits de l’homme (RECODH)
This semester from November 6 to December 12, I did an internship for RECODH (Réseau Camerounais des organisations des droits de l’homme), an NGO that connects with other organizations and networks to work on projects concerning human rights in Cameroon. RECODH focuses on the defense and advancement of human rights in Cameroon, especially the quality of life of vulnerable populations. As a student studying sociology and anthropology, especially interested in the rights and autonomy of children and vulnerable people, my internship at RECODH was an enlightening experience as to how human rights NGOs function. During my month at RECODH, I learned a lot about the human rights issues that exist in Cameroon and what is being done to surmount and diminish them. As an intern, I assisted with translating documents into English, assisted meetings and took notes, read through past reports, wrote research papers, assisted a conference, and helped with little tasks whenever I could. I feel immensely grateful for my time at RECODH and the cultural, informational, and early career experiences I obtained.
Mack Briglin - Green Development Advocates (GDA)
During my internship with Green Development Advocates (GDA) in November and December, I had the opportunity to work with a young, dynamic, and welcoming team committed to promoting sustainable development in the Congo Basin while protecting the rights of local and Indigenous communities. To future interns, I recommend first approaching Christiane about the internship and then speaking with Mr. Fokam to express your interests and clarify the areas or departments of the organization you’d like to explore. They are very willing to let you focus on an interest if yours. When you have found a person and area of focus you want to work with, be proactive—engage with colleagues and ask, “How can I be useful?”—ensuring you get clear instructions on tasks. While you may be assigned some grunt work because you are an intern, it remains meaningful and rewarding because it is in French and directly contributes to GDA’s impactful mission. I collaborated with Mr. Fabrice Alain’s team to analyze investment laws of Cameroon and their impact on indigenous and local population protection, which was both fascinating and relevant to my studies of political science. I also collaborated with M. Ekane’s team and did a similar analysis with the Cameroon mining code and international law. My work will help build their annual report so it will be it was exciting to know that my work will actually go towards something! The work environment is warm, supportive, and full of humor, so don’t hesitate to show your dedication to GDA’s mission—colleagues are eager to involve you if they see you care. Overall, this internship offers valuable opportunities across multiple domains and is an incredible experience for anyone passionate about environmental stewardship and sustainable governance.
Ravi Mehta - The Green Development Advocates (GDA)
The Green Development Advocates (GDA) are lovely group of young lawyers and activists working on a variety of environmental challenges, most notably indigenous and local community protection. After presenting our varying interests in GDA as well as our own academic and professional experiences/ambitions, Mr. Fokam warmly explained the openness of the organization and how we could work wherever we’d please. It is important to be clear about your interests in the various teams (economics, indigenous rights, local people’s rights, community engagement, etc.). Make sure to ask precise questions about the work you may do and clarify any ambiguities.
Mr. Fokam suggested I speak to Mr. Fabrice (Alain) to explore legal work protecting local communities and indigenous groups. I was tasked with reviewing and analyzing Cameroon’s investment laws and how they considered indigenous and local peoples. After Mr. Fabrice left for an extended field visit, I worked with Mr. Ekané on a review of newly updated mining laws and their compliance with ratified international. Both legal reviews explored grounds for legal cases and contributed to a “state of affairs” publication on indigenous/local communities and the Cameroonian state.
GDA is composed of kind professionals who welcome your questions and curiosities about them and their work. The work culture is different from what I was used to back home…Nonetheless one should seize the opportunity to explore how environmental work is done in Cameroon and how people drive it.
Dora Ammerman - Relais Enfants-Parents du Cameroun (REPCAM)
This past semester I interned with REPCAM (Relais Enfants-Parents du Cameroun). The organization aims to maintain and support the relationships between children and their incarcerated parents. I was in charge of administrative tasks, such as keeping track of records of children who required support, as well as practical tasks like helping with events that allowed us to promote our services. We prepared food, snacks and other items to print to prisons in the Central region of Cameroon. I had the opportunity to travel around the city to different prisons and a little bit outside, as well. We spoke with women and children about ways they can benefit from our resources, in ways that are educational or financial.
Teagan Benavidez - Sainte Marie Medical Foundation
For the Spring 2024 semester at the Middlebury School in Cameroon, I did an academic internship at a gynecology and pediatrics clinic in Jouvence, Yaoundé: the Sainte Marie Medical Foundation. Under the supervision of OBGYN Dr. Jean Tatsipie and his staff, I assisted with clinical tasks, administrative logistics and the general maintenance of sterile spaces and equipment. By building relationships with nurses and patients, I made cultural and medical observations on the organization of a private clinic in Cameroon, the complementary roles of the various clinic employees, and the condition of women in Yaoundé.
Carter Ottele - Réseau Camerounais des organisations des droits de l’homme (RECODH)
This semester, I interned for RECODH (Réseau Camerounais des organisations des droits de l’homme), an NGO dedicated to protecting and advancing human rights across Cameroon. I’m a political science student with a passion for human rights, so this internship helped me understand the implementation of the theory that I’d studied. Over eleven weeks, I produced research projects, translated documents, attended meetings, and generally speaking, assisted wherever I could. Each activity contributed to my understanding of human rights work in Cameroon. I also had the opportunity to interact with and learn from my coworkers, who hailed from a variety of disciplines and personal backgrounds. All the while, by speaking and writing solely in French, I pushed myself to expand my language skills. In all, I really appreciated my internship with RECODH as a valuable educational, cultural, and pre-professional experience.
Adah Bryan - Green Development Advocates (GDA)
During my semester in Cameroon, I worked as an intern at Green Development Advocates (GDA), an organization based in Yaounde, Cameroon, that works to defend the environment and the indigenous communities of Cameroon. At GDA, I worked with a team tasked with supporting local communities who were negatively impacted by the construction of the Nachtigal dam on the Sanaga River. As an economics student, I attended meetings, gave economic advice, and wrote documents to explain economic ideas to other members of the team. This experience taught me much about the balance between independent work and teamwork, and how my theoretical knowledge could be applied to a situation based on a cultural context.