Volunteer with Us

The HeroRAT campaign has been very fortunate to have some truly amazing volunteers assist us in our work. The work of a social enterprise is never-ending, and without the dedication and efforts of our staff and support volunteers we could not have come this far. Thank you to those who have helped us get here, and thank you to those who will help us reach the next steps.

Volunteering for our public campaign happens in two forms: here in Tanzania and at home wherever you may be. For research opportunities or volunteer opportunities with APOPO outside of the public campaign, please see the Work With Us page of the APOPO site.

In Tanzania:
At our headquarter office in Morogoro, Tanzania, we have a volunteer internship program where volunteers who want to spend some time learning about and being a part of our work have the opportunity to get involved.

In order to make the experience valuable for both our volunteers and for us, we ask that volunteers stay with us for 6 months or longer. To really get the full experience and to be able to have a valuable impact, we have found that this length of commitment helps to ensure continuity and is a good fit for all involved.

The intern role involves assisting with the donor support campaign, and helping with correspondence, questions, and the day-to-day activities of the adoption program. APOPO also has a large number of visitors that come to see our work and facilities, and the intern helps with tours, and logistics when media or film crews visit.

APOPO is a small team, so although it is a volunteer position the intern is an integral part of the campaign and has a great deal of ownership. We look for people with communications and donor support experience, and ask that volunteers are of college age. Experience living and working in Africa is a plus, but not required. Volunteers must be independent and self-motivated.

To inquire about HeroRAT internship vacancies and applications, please send an email to us via the contact form.

At home, wherever home is for you:
You can raise awareness for our work by spreading the word within your networks – this could include your school, your place of work, your neighborhood, your book club, your sporting club, your church, your local pub, your scout group, your blog, your forums, your events, etc.

Schools and scout groups have held bake sales for us, pubs and pet shops have adopted a rat to share with their customers, schools have done advocacy campaigns for us, college students have held informational meetings in coffee houses, and concert venues have donated a portion of their proceeds to our work. Others have held wine and cheese parties at their home and watched one of the documentaries on our work with their friends, or in place of wedding or birthday gifts some of our supporters have asked their closest friends to support a cause of their choice…

There are so many ways to be a part of our work and to share your passion with those you know. The issues we work with are global issues, and you can be a big part of our success right from home. You can download brochures from our media section, or you can simply direct people to our website for more information. We welcome involvement from new supporters in whatever way you feel most comfortable with.

If you have any questions or would like to brainstorm ideas with us, you are more than welcome to contact us via the contact form on our site. Thanks for your interest in getting involved!