Internships

Global Innovation & Education Internship

Location: Calestous Juma Innovation & Resource Hub, Port Victoria, Kenya

Duration: Summer 2026 (8 weeks).

Open positions: 2

Costs: Self-Funded

About the Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation

The Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation (CJLF) operates at the intersection of global influence and local action. Founded to honor the legacy of the late Professor Calestous Juma—a renowned Harvard Kennedy School professor and global authority on science, technology, and sustainable development—CJLF empowers communities to chart their own path to prosperity.

Our flagship initiative, the Calestous Juma Innovation & Resource Hub in rural Kenya, is an African-led center bringing foundational relevant digital skills to a remote community on the shores of beautiful Lake Victoria. Run by a dedicated local team and guided by a community advisory board, the CJ Hub has already graduated over 300 students (60% women), creating new pathways to livelihoods in the local "Blue Economy" and beyond. We have a strong community of support in Port Victoria and have hosted 2 interns from MIT previously. We can guide our interns to find comfortable, affordable, and secure accommodations (room and board).

The Opportunity

We are seeking driven, culturally sensitive students to join us as Global Innovation & Education Interns. This is a unique opportunity to work directly on the ground in East Africa, contributing to a proven model of community-led development.

Interns will work closely with our local Kenyan leadership team and our US-based Executive Director to advance our mission. There will be an onboarding process both before interns leave for Kenya and once they arrive. Interns will be engaged at the CJ Hub on a daily basis, Monday through Friday, and weekend excursions are possible to surrounding areas. Interns could independently organize other excursions outside of the surrounding areas, for example for a safari trip, and CJLF could offer suggestions and will allow time-off from the internship to do so.

CJLF can guide our interns to find comfortable, affordable, and secure accommodations (room and board). Our local team and community will make our interns feel welcome and give them an authentic experience of rural Kenya.

Key Responsibilities

1. Education & Digital Skills Training

Instruction: Support classes in basic and advanced digital skills (MS Office, Google Workspace, Canva, AI tools, digital safety) for youth and community members.
Curriculum Enhancement: Collaborate with CJ Hub instructors to refine and expand curriculum materials, ensuring they are engaging and relevant to the local context.
Mentorship Program: Help launch and coordinate our new mentorship initiative, connecting CJ Hub students and graduates with global and local mentors to support their career pathways.

2. Impact Assessment & Alumni Network

Alumni Network: Initiate an alumni network of past CJ Hub graduates.
Alumni Survey: Design and conduct a survey of past graduates to understand their current status, needs, and career trajectories.
Alumni Event: Help organize an alumni gathering or networking event at the CJ Hub to foster community and peer support. This may be in conjunction with a CJ Hub Graduation event in early August.
Data Collection: Conduct interviews and surveys with CJ Hub graduates to track their progress in employment, education, and entrepreneurship.
Success Story Bank: Create a structured database of "success stories" with quotes, photos, and stats that can be easily accessed for fundraising and communications.

3. Communications, Storytelling & Case Study

"Field Notes" Blog or Social Media series: Write a series of posts about your experience and observations at the CJ Hub, providing a unique "outsider-insider" perspective for our global audience.
Case Study: Research and write a Case Study on the CJ Hub model (Community-Led Innovation in Rural Kenya), analyzing its effectiveness and scalability. This document will serve as a key strategic asset for the Foundation.
Impact Storytelling: Document success stories and challenges to create an Impact Report for donors and partners.

4. Other Possible Projects (include but not limited to)

"Soft Skills" Workshops: Design and deliver short workshops on essential career skills such as CV/Resume writing, interview prep, public speaking, time management, and basic financial literacy, or other topics.
Resource Library Curation: Curate a digital library of free, high-quality learning resources (YouTube channels, free courses, PDFs) relevant to students' interests (e.g., coding, graphic design, entrepreneurship).
Database Management: Help clean up and organize donor or student data to improve operational efficiency.
Operational Support: Assist with day-to-day Hub operations, event planning, and community outreach.

Qualifications

Current undergraduate or graduate student (all concentrations welcome).
Digital Fluency: Strong proficiency in standard office software, cloud tools, and basic digital platforms. Advanced skills in coding, communications, or graphic design are a plus but not required.
Research & Writing: Excellent written communication skills with the ability to synthesize qualitative data into compelling narratives.
Cultural Humility: A deep respect for community-led development and the ability to work effectively and respectfully in a cross-cultural, rural setting.
Adaptability: Willingness to work in a dynamic, resource-constrained environment with flexibility and a positive attitude.
Passion: A genuine interest in technology, education, and African development.

Why Join Us?

Living Legacy: Engage directly with the intellectual legacy of Professor Calestous Juma in the community where his journey began.
Tangible Impact: See the immediate results of your work as students gain skills that transform their economic prospects.
Global Network: Gain exposure to our high-level network of advisors and partners.
Mentorship: Receive guidance from our experienced leadership team and Board of Directors.