I Am Writing to express my deep frustration regarding the growing trend of ‘pay-to-work’ internships within Namibia’s conservation and wildlife sectors.
As a fourth-year student on the verge of entering the professional workforce, practical, hands-on experience is essential to my graduation and future career.
However, I have discovered that many private organisations and non-government organisations – the very ones managing our national heritage – are now inviting local students to participate in programmes that carry a heavy daily cost, sometimes upwards of N$1 700 per night.
For a Namibian student, these costs are a complete shutdown of our career paths.
It is deeply discouraging that I am unable to access the quality experience I need simply because I cannot afford to ‘buy’ an internship.
In our own country, the chance to study and protect our wildlife is becoming a luxury reserved only for international tourists or the wealthy.
How can we expect to build local capacity and produce the next generation of Namibian conservation leaders if we are priced out of our own field? By charging these fees, these organisations are effectively choosing profit over the development of local talent.
I call upon the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, as well as our universities, to intervene.
We need a system where local student interns are valued for their skills and research contribution, rather than being treated as a source of daily revenue.
– Emilius Bangu
