Anthropology and Nature are my passions and I am very fortunate to be able to intern for one of my favourite organisations the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International in Rwanda. My name is Sarah Connor and I hail from Montreal, Canada where I study at McGill University. This is my first time in Africa and my first internship so every step I take is an entirely new world for me. I hope you enjoy taking that journey with me.
Since returning home, I received many wonderful e-mails and comments from people interested in volunteering with DFGFI. While I am so glad that ther are so many people interested in helping and studying the gorillas, DFGFI does not actively take interns or volunteers. The organisation does not have enough ressources to take on people and train them. I acquired this position simply by fluke since an acquaintance knew they needed a reporter and one that was fluent in both English and French since almost all of the interviews I conducted were in French. I know how hard it is to acquire internships and I am sorry I cannot be of more help.
Sarah
What are you an intern for? gorilla research? or at a medical/vet clinic?ea
I’m a communications intern who reports on all the programs that Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International helps fund. So I am going to visit all the schools, clinics and biodiversity programs and interview those involved.
Hi Sarah. Just read your entire blog this morning here in San Francisco. Brought back alot of emotional memories for me about being in the DRC. I was there in 2005 and was fortunate enough to trek into the Virungas on the DRC side. I am about to start a masters program in conservation biology and eventually would love to work at Karisoke. Do you plan to go back? I just met Dr. Lilly 2 weeks ago here in SF at a wildlife conservation expo. Too much to write….email me if you can….would love to swap stories and hear more about your trip.
Thanks.
gypsyjourney (at) wildmail (dot) com
Hi Sarah,
I am a student at a University in the United States. I was wondering how you were able to obtain the internship that you had. Are there certain internships offered every summer? I am a biology major with a passion for biodiversity conservation and research, especially great apes and even more especially gorillas. I spent the past summer volunteering in Cameroon with a wildlife sanctuary working with bushmeat orphans of several species including western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, but unfortunately I never got to see any in the wild. My dream internship would be doing research with an organization like DFGI where I would be able to go into the bush and observe the gorillas. Please email me back with any information if you can! It would be so greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Chris Krupenye
ckrupeny@conncoll.edu
Hi Sarah,
I am a student at a University in the United States. I have always been fascinated by mountain gorilla’s and my dream is to someday see them in their natural habitat. I was wondering how you were able to get an internship with the DFGI. It seems like it is a great experience. If there was anyway you could give me any information about it, or someone to contact, that would be amazing.
Thank you for your time,
Hannah
Hi Sarah,
I am the Research & Instructional Assistant at the Trustee Library of Brenau University, and we are official educational partners with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund this year. As part of this partnership, we are developing an exhibit on Dian Fossey and the gorillas and also a web presence for relevant materials (which can be found at http://libguides.brenau.edu/gorillas).
Our scheduled speakers include Dr. Erika Archibald, Dr. Pierre Kakule, Dr. Tara Stoinski, Ms. Clare Richardson, and Mwami Alex Kalinda. The speakers are featured on our LibGuide for the project, and we would like to get your permission to use some of your photos in the site.
I am particularly interested in the pictures of Dr. Kakule (at http://www.flickr.com/photos/13276506@N04/2670613725/) and the TCCB University (at http://www.flickr.com/photos/13276506@N04/2670685375/in/set-72157606232363868/).
If you allow us to use some of these pictures in the LibGuide for the DFGF, we will credit you with the photos, and we would also like to post a link to your blog – you’ve made an excellent resource from your time in Rwanda!
Many thanks,
Bethany Havas
Research & Instructional Assistant
Trustee Library of Brenau University
500 Washington St SE
Gainesville, GA 30501
bhavas@brenau.edu