How people work, study and live has changed rapidly over the last few years. If you have access to a computer and the internet, you instantly have access to a world of possibilities.

Virtual internships are a savvy way to get the practical work experience you need to land that purpose-driven job you’ve been dreaming about – from the comfort of your own home.

When you do a virtual internship with GVI, you’ll do actual project work that is solving real sustainability problems – in partnership with renowned conservation organisations in locations all over the globe.

You could help by analysing photos of baby sea turtles, or scanning drone footage of tropical coral reefs. You could set up a fundraising campaign to help fight rhino poaching, or do research about creating an environmental education campaign for fishing villages.

Although this sounds exciting, we know that you probably need the flexibility to make it work. That’s why you’ll have complete freedom to choose your own GVI virtual internship subject area, project focus, duration and pace to suit your lifestyle and personal goals.

GVI virtual internship types

We offer a variety of subject areas and project focuses to choose from. Our targeted approach ensures that your experience is highly relevant to what you would like to do in your career, getting you one step closer to your dream job.

Virtual internship subject areas

When you join a virtual internship, your first step will be to identify a conservation subject area that sparks your interest the most. These include:

• Marine conservation – support marine biologists and conservation experts to promote the protection of marine areas and its inhabitants.
• Wildlife conservation – gain practical experience to reduce the destruction of natural habitat, combat poaching and protect wild animals.
• Climate crisis and clean energy – assist organisations to implement clean energy solutions such as wave, wind and solar power.
• Environmental and corporate sustainability – increase sustainability efforts and awareness to effectively manage our natural resources.

If you’re keen to explore virtual internships in the community development sector, we also offer a range of subject areas over at GVI People, which include: global public health, human rights and access to justice, social economic development and education for development.

Virtual internship project focuses

After choosing your subject area, you’ll be able to go even deeper and choose specific project work that you would love to be involved with most. The focus areas that you can choose from typically include:

• operations and program management
• data analysis and research
• marketing, media and communications
• fundraising
• law, advocacy and policy.

GVI online courses included

During your virtual internship with GVI, you’ll not only get practical experience and develop new skills, but you’ll also get the opportunity to complete quality online courses that are endorsed by the University of Richmond. The selection of online courses include:

• Marine Conservation
• Wildlife Conservation
• Climate Crisis and Sustainability
• Careers in Sustainable Development

If you opt to do a virtual internship focused on community development, you’ll also have access to the Careers in Sustainable Development course, as well as these additional online courses: Community Development, Human Rights and Advocacy and Global Public Health.

Duration and structure

Our virtual internship programs are structured in a way that will keep you accountable, while also giving you the flexibility you need to complete it in your own time.

You can choose between the following virtual internship durations:

• 40 hours
• 80 hours
• 120 hours 

You can also determine your own pace – committing to either 5 hours per week or 10 hours per week.

Are virtual internships for you?

Anyone interested in working in the conservation and sustainability industries would benefit greatly from joining a virtual internship with GVI. No matter how much (or little) you already know, or whether you have existing experience or qualifications or not.

Joining a virtual internship program is perfect for you, if:

• You’re in high school and have a summer break or holiday coming up.
• You’re studying at university or college and want to do real project work.
• You’ve just completed a qualification and need practical experience.
• You’re considering changing your career or field of study.

Benefits of doing virtual internships

There are so many good reasons for you to do a virtual internship with GVI. Not only will you be playing your part to contribute to positive environmental impact, but you’ll be advancing your own career in the process, remotely.

Here are some of the main benefits of joining a virtual internship:

• Get international experience with global organisations, while saving travel and accommodation costs.
• Offer your support to the impactful work of our partners, while investing in your own personal and professional development.
• Conveniently test out a new career direction before commiting.
• Gain practical work-related skills to enhance your career.
• Get additional qualifications and references to boost your CV.
• Learn about the culture and values of an organisation.
• Build a network of industry professionals.
• Learn how to work effectively online by using a range of digital tools.

Support and guidance

As a virtual intern with GVI, you’ll get matched with a GVI virtual internship supervisor to guide you every step of the way.

They’ll brief you on your project work, do weekly check-ins, set up meetings between you and our partner organisations, and be your support system throughout your entire journey. They will also help you showcase your GVI virtual internship on your CV and add a reference to your LinkedIn profile, to boost your career.

As well as your weekly one-on-ones with your assigned mentor, you can attend two career coaching sessions and have the opportunity of joining monthly masterclasses delivered by experts in your field.

Virtual internship partners

GVI partners with over 600 international organisations, governments, NGOs and social enterprises across our range of programs on GVI Planet and GVI People. We are passionate about collaboration to ensure sustainability, and our virtual internships are no different.

Here are a few of our renowned partners that you could be doing your internship with:

• Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife in Laos
• Rhino Revolution in South Africa
• Healthy Reefs in Central America
• Shark Guardian in Thailand and UK
• Turtle Love in Costa Rica
• Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development in Belize.