The purpose of this page is to provide a directory of resources for Wesleyan students and alumni who wish to study, volunteer, work, or intern somewhere on the African continent.
For current students
Study Abroad
The first place to begin for Wesleyan Students is Wesleyan's Office of Study Abroad. A number of programs in Africa are either sponsored by Wesleyan or already approved for study abroad. Please see the complete list of approved programs here.
Other useful sources on study abroad include:
- Council On International Educational Exchange. Their stated goal is: “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” They have information on programs for study, work, internships, and teaching.
- Africa South of the Sahara’s List of Study Abroad Programs. From Stanford University.
- Boren Awards’ African Languages Initiative (AFLI) funds a summer intensive program at a US institution and fall study abroad in Africa
- Students in freshman through senior year can apply for Critical Language Scholarships for intensive summer language study abroad for Swahili language
Other Research & Education
- Davenport Study Grants, Wesleyan University. Provides funds to support student research and other student scholarly projects in public affairs. Only current sophomores and juniors are eligible. Many students use this to fund research on their honors theses.
- Innovations for Poverty Action. IPA is “a nonprofit organization that creates and evaluates solutions to social and development problems, and works to scale up successful ideas through implementation and dissemination to policymakers, practitioners, investors, and donors.” Wesleyan Students have participated in their internship programs. For more information: http://poverty-action.org/getinvolved/jobs
Volunteering & Service
- Wesleyan’s Environmental Studies Department: Rausch Internship Grant
- Shining Hope for Communities: SHOFCO
- Council On International Educational Exchange. Their stated goal is: “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” They have information on programs for study, work, internships, and teaching.
- Davis Projects for Peace (on hiatus in academic year 2022-2023)
Internships & Work
- United States State Department: Programs for Undergraduate Students
- Africa South of the Sahara List of Internships. From Stanford University
- UPENN’s Guide to Volunteer Work and Internships in Africa
- Council On International Educational Exchange. Their stated goal is: “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” They have information on programs for study, work, internships, and teaching.
For graduating seniors and alumni
Research and Education
- Fullbright U.S. Student Program. For study, research, and/or teaching English. Consult the Office of Fellowships to learn more about how to apply for Fulbright through Wesleyan.
- Read about some of the Wesleyan alumni who have done Fulbright grants in Africa:
- Alphina Kamara, ‘22, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Zambia
- Inaya Bashir, ‘20, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kenya
- Nicole McCann ‘18, Fulbright researcher in Kenya
- Read about some of the Wesleyan alumni who have done Fulbright grants in Africa:
- Watson Fellowship (applications are due in early fall of senior year): Watson Fellowships are global in scope but a number of recent Watson Fellows have pursued projects that involve months spent in Africa:
- Watson Fellow, Inaya Bashir, ‘20
- Watson Fellow, Livia Cox, ‘22
- Watson Fellow, Luka Lezhansky, ‘20
- Wesleyan’s Office of Fellowships has a list of programs for students interested in Teaching English Abroad.
- Innovations for Poverty Action. IPA is “a nonprofit organization that creates and evaluates solutions to social and development problems, and works to scale up successful ideas through implementation and dissemination to policymakers, practitioners, investors, and donors.” They have a number of internship and career positions available. For more information: http://poverty-action.org/getinvolved/jobs
Volunteering & Service
- The Christopher Brodigan Award (Limited to Wesleyan Seniors and Recent Graduates). The African Studies Cluster here at Wesleyan University administers this annual award. Awards are made to graduating Wesleyan seniors (first priority) and recent Wesleyan graduates who plan to pursue public service or research (in that order of preference) on the African continent. Past award recipients have discovered a number of opportunities for service in Africa that may be of interest to students and alumni, including:
- Sankofa Center for African Arts, Ghana
- Grassroots Soccer, Inc, South Africa
- Mali Health Organizing Project
- Dogodogo Centre for Children’s Rights, Tanzania
- Programs started by Wesleyan Alumni, or where Wesleyan Alumni currently work
- Shining Hope for Communities: SHOFCO, Kenya (founders Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner)
- Breaking Ground, Cameroon (founder Lindsay Clarke, Wes ’05)
- Generation Rwanda (Wesleyan Alum: Michael Brotchner, Exec. Director)
- Thanda, South Africa – Support for orphans of AIDS and vulnerable children (founder Angela Larkan, Wes ’05; Jonathan Leland, Wes ’05)
- Wesleyan’s Office of Fellowships has a great list of programs.
- The United States Peace Corps.
- Council On International Educational Exchange. Their stated goal is: “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” They have information on programs for study, work, internships, and teaching.
United States Government
Internships & Work
- Wesleyan’s Office of Study Abroad has a great list of programs.
- UPENN’s Guide to Volunteer Work and Internships in Africa
- Council On International Educational Exchange. Their stated goal is: “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” They have information on programs for study, work, internships, and teaching.
Coming Back
Much more thinking is typically done about preparing to go abroad than on the return home. However, it is important to think about the return. Many are surprised at just how big a shock it can be to return home after spending 2 months or more in another country. Fortunately, resources are available to help you think about the experiences you just had, to interpret their meaning for your personal and professional life, and to utilize them as you begin a new, post-abroad phase.
- Wesleyan University’s Office of Study Abroad: “Returning”.
- Michigan State University has tips on returning on their website.