ORANGUTAN SOCIAL MEDIA INTERNSHIP

Maximum Intake

4 interns

Minimum Age

18 years old

Accommodation

Dormitory-style with private partitioned areas

Nearest Airport

Medan International Airport (KNO)

Meals

Three cooked buffet-style meals per day included

Transportation

Airport transfers included

Tell the stories that protect Sumatra's most endangered wildlife

Deep in the rainforests of North Sumatra, a grassroots team is working to protect one of the most critical wildlife corridors on the planet. The project borders the UNESCO-listed Gunung Leuser National Park, the only place on Earth where orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinos still share the same forest. As an intern, you’ll be on the ground sourcing real stories, building audiences, and creating the content that funds and drives this work forward.

Duties & Responsibilities

TYour mornings will take you into the jungle alongside the conservation team joining orangutan monitoring walks, documenting community activities, and gathering the raw material that powers the project’s digital presence. Your afternoons are where that material comes to life: crafting social content, designing donor newsletters, and building the kind of storytelling that turns followers into supporters.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Social media management — running the project’s Instagram and Facebook pages, growing audiences and driving engagement around conservation content
  • Content creation — producing graphics, photography, and short-form video from the field using Canva and InShot
  • Content planning — developing and maintaining a content calendar that keeps communications consistent and strategic
  • Storytelling — writing compelling narratives about the project’s work, wildlife, and community impact
  • Donor communications — designing and writing newsletters that keep supporters informed and inspired to give
  • Fundraising support — contributing to fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives
  • Field participation — joining jungle walks, orangutan monitoring sessions, and community activities to source authentic on-the-ground content
  • Community outreach — supporting targeted communications that connect the project with local and international audiences

Dates & Prices

This internship runs year-round, except during major holidays, with a minimum stay of 4 weeks and placements typically ranging from one to six months

£990

£180

Includes

  • Dormitory accommodation in the jungle lodge
  • Mattress, fresh bedding, pillow, and mosquito net
  • Three cooked meals a day (dietary requirements accommodated with advance notice)
  • Airport transfers from Medan International Airport on arrival and departure
  • On-site mentoring and training
  • Certificate of completion and professional reference

 

Not included:

  • Flights
  • Personal travel insurance (essential)
  • Visa fees
  • Additional snacks or drinks
  • Transport or activities outside the project
  • Laundry (available in the village for a small fee)

Academic Credits & learning Outcomes

This internship offers the chance to build a professional communications portfolio while embedded in active conservation work in one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. The content you create here will be seen, shared, and used to protect real wildlife.

By the end of your placement you’ll have gained experience in:

  • Multi-channel social media management — growing and managing professional conservation audiences across Instagram and Facebook
  • Field content sourcing — gathering authentic stories, photography, and video footage in a live jungle conservation setting
  • Digital asset design — producing graphics and short-form video content for environmental advocacy using industry-standard tools
  • Donor communications — writing and designing newsletters that engage and retain conservation supporters
  • Fundraising — contributing to real campaigns with measurable outcomes for a grassroots NGO
  • Conservation storytelling — developing a specialist skill set at the intersection of communications and environmental advocacy
  • Professional network building — connecting with conservationists, NGO professionals, and international peers in the field

 

On successful completion, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and a professional reference to support your CV and LinkedIn profile.

Please note: this is a non-academic placement. No on-site academic supervisors are provided, and the internship is not suitable for placements requiring formal university project validation.

Requirements & Qualifications

This internship is suited to graduates or career-switchers with a background in marketing, communications, journalism, or non-profit fundraising who want to apply their skills in a genuinely meaningful context. A formal degree is not strictly required — what matters most is your ability to tell a compelling story and manage professional communications independently.

You’ll need:

  • A background in marketing, communications, or non-profit fundraising — a relevant degree is desirable but not essential
  • Exceptional written English — the ability to write clearly, compellingly, and with purpose across different formats and audiences
  • Social media experience — a proven track record managing professional Instagram and Facebook accounts
  • Proficiency in Canva and InShot — comfortable producing graphics, photo edits, and short-form video content to a professional standard
  • Familiarity with email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp is a strong advantage
  • Creativity and a keen eye for design — able to produce content that is both visually engaging and strategically effective
  • Strong time management — able to balance field participation, content production, and planning independently
  • A passion for ethical, impact-driven communication

About This Project

The project is based just outside Bukit Lawang, a small village in North Sumatra nestled on the boundary of the Gunung Leuser National Park. This is one of the last places on Earth where orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinos still share the same forest — and the landscape you’ll be working in and communicating about every day.

The village has earned a reputation for primate spotting while remaining relatively unspoiled, with local guesthouses, small eateries, and the Landak River running through it. Beyond the forest, there’s plenty to explore on your days off: river tubing, caving to find colonies of bats and swallows, or a day trip to the Tangkahan elephant sanctuary. Further afield, cultural visits to the volcanic Lake Toba offer a glimpse into the rich Batak tribal heritage that defines this part of Sumatra.

The project is approximately three hours by road from Medan International Airport, with transfers included in your fee.

Accommodation is in an on-site jungle lodge with dormitory-style rooms, shared bathroom facilities, Western-style toilets, and cold-water showers. A mattress, pillow, fresh bedding, and a mosquito net are all provided — bring your own towel, toiletries, and a torch. Daily cleaning of the facilities is included in your fee. Laundry can be done in the village for a small additional cost.

Three cooked buffet-style meals are provided daily. Breakfast typically includes eggs, pancakes, or fresh fruit, with lunch and dinner centred on vegetarian Indonesian dishes. Rice, noodles, curries, and tofu. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets can be accommodated with advance notice.

Map

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FAQ

Do I need a background in conservation to apply?
No. This internship is designed for people with a background in marketing, communications, journalism, or non-profit fundraising who want to apply their skills in a conservation context. A formal degree is not strictly required, what matters most is your ability to produce compelling content and manage professional communications independently.
This is a non-academic placement. No on-site academic supervisors are provided, and the internship is not suitable for placements requiring formal university project validation or data sharing. It is designed for graduates and career-switchers looking to build practical professional experience.
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets can all be accommodated. Please let us know your requirements in advance so the team can make the necessary arrangements.
Yes. Stays typically range from one to six months, subject to Indonesian visa requirements. Additional weeks are charged at US$245 per week, covering the same accommodation, meals, and support as your initial placement.

Price

£990/pers

Deposit

£200/pers

  • Non-profit based pricing
  • Certificate upon completion
  • No registration fee
Job Description
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