World Wide Fund for Nature-South Africa’s (WWF-SA’s) graduate interns programme has received a substantial boost with an award of R7.9-million from the Department of Higher Education and Training’s National Skills Fund – which will allow it to quadruple its intake of graduates for 2017.
The graduate interns programme places graduates with WWF-SA or one of several partner organisations, ranging from local conservation organisations such as the Nature’s Valley Trust on the Garden Route to large corporates, such as Nedbank.
The programme has been developed in line with the environmental and socioeconomic policy framework of South Africa, which has adopted a more people-centred and equitable approach towards the environment and resource management.
With the additional funding, it is anticipated that next year the programme should be able to accommodate more than 60 graduates.
These interns will get to participate in meaningful work for the environment, gain valuable experience and join key communities of practice as they navigate their transition from student life to the world of work.
“We are delighted that we are able to grow this successful programme through this additional funding. Conservation can’t happen if you don’t have the people to do it. It’s critical that we invest in the people that need to manage conservation work going forward,” says WWF-SA environmental leaders head Dr Glenda Raven.