Costs and Funding

Internship Costs

You will be staying at Mufasa Backpackers Lodge during your internship. Depending on the housing option you choose, prices will range from $8-42/night. Mufasa is located in Area 3, which is incredibly close to great stores, internet cafes, restaurants, and is a short 20 minute walk to the bus station you’ll use to get to Chadika everyday.

Mufasa has 24-hour electricity (unless there’s a blackout), 24-hour guard service, beds with mosquito nets, included breakfast, access to a full kitchen, internet access (wireless or you can use one of their desktops), a restaurant and bar, hot showers, and access to a safe for valuables.

Anticipated Costs

One of the largest costs you will incur is the round trip ticket from the U.S. to Malawi. Fares may range anywhere from $1,700 to $2,500 depending on the season and airline. Book early to find the cheapest flights.

Some airlines may subsidize flights for those participating in volunteer activities. Talk to airline carriers as soon as possible to see if they will help with the cost of your flights.

Money Saving Tips

• Exchange US dollars instead of withdrawing from the ATM. You’ll avoid bank fees and get a better exchange rate.
• Bring larger bills to exchange: $50 and $100 bills will get your a better exchange rate than $20, $10, $5, and $1.
• Buy ingredients in town and prepare your own meals instead of eating at restaurants.
• Buy local! Check out the beautiful veggie market down the street from Mufasa house buying pricy veggies at the supermarket.
• Avoid imports: cheese, yogurt, and chocolate are more expensive in Malawi because they’re imported.
• Return empty soda bottles when you buy more to save on the deposit.
• Don’t be afraid to try cheaper substitues, like cooking with veggie oil instead of olive oil.
• Soak and cook dried beans, lentils, and chickpeas instead of buying the canned foods.

Colby Funding Resources

There are a number of funding sources available at Colby, interns should keep their eyes and ears open for new sources and apply everywhere – you never know where financial support may come from!

The Career Center offers funding for some internships abroad. Click here for more information. This internship applies to the Linda K. Cotter Fund, the David Strage International Internship, the Medalie Family Entrepreneur Internship Fund if you know you will be working with an entrepreneurial initiative at Chadika CBO, the Leslie Dougherty Biddle and George Biddle Fund, the Dr. Frank J. Malinoski and Judith A. Malinoski Fund, the Christine Peterson Fund if you receive financial aid, and/or the Thomas Tietenberg Environmental Studies Fund if you know you’ll be working on an environmental issue at Chadika.

Colby’s Goldfarb Center also offers funding for internships. Click here for more information.   Colby in Malawi interns are eligible for the Sandy Maisel Internship Grant, the Sandy Maisel Student Research Grant if you are incorporating a research component to your trip, and/or the Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant if you are working with faculty on a research component.

The Division Chairs and Dean of Faculty award grants of up to $500 every year to students participating in advanced work guided by a faculty member. If you are participating in this internship as part of a 300 or 400 level  Independent Study, Honors Project, or Senior Scholar project, you may be eligible for this grant. Click here to download the guidelines and application.

Some departments on Colby’s campus also offer internships if they are applicable to the department’s mission and goals. Look at your department’s funding guidelines to see if your internship applies. Those who anticipate an environmentally-minded internship should look into funding from the Environmental Studies department and government majors may apply for the Benjamin Ling Fellowship if the internship is clearly linked to your academic program and career goals.

Other Sources of Funding

There are a number of other ways to fundraise to cover the costs of flights, living, food, and travel. Consider a letter writing campaign where you send letters to everyone you know detailing what you’ll be doing and what you hope to gain from the internship. Also explain why you are traveling to Malawi and interested in working with a local CBO. Whether or not people send financial support, be sure to send a thank you card! It may also be a great idea to keep a personal blog during your travels to keep funders up to date on your activities.

You may ask people to sponsor you when you compete in an event such as a marathon or other physical test. Also consider teaming up with a local business where a certain amount of profits form one night will support your trip, then advertise like crazy!!