For six weeks over summer, we welcomed two interns join the Synchronicity Earth team: Juno Hassan and Taymar Robinson. They each had the opportunity to work across our Programmes, Philanthropy, and Communications teams – taking on tasks ranging from crafting social media posts to producing regional analysis reports.
At the end of their internship they came together for a reflective Q&A, sharing their highlights, challenges, and insights from their time at Synchronicity Earth and working in the conservation sector.
Juno: So Taymar, how does it feel being a young person of colour navigating conservation and the environmental sector?
Taymar: It can be tricky. It's hard to find your footing in a sector that's predominantly white, and that sometimes can make you feel alienated or out of place. But my love for nature and determination to see young people of colour, especially from London makes me want to be in this sector even more and diversify it! Everyone deserves access to nature and the opportunity to work in a field they are passionate about.
Collaborating and sharing ideas. © Geanie Cresswell
Taymar: My turn, Juno. Tell me, did this internship meet your expectations?
Juno: Honestly, I was so nervous coming into this internship. It was my first time working in an office environment, and I was anxious about whether I'd be able to meet the expectations. But it has truly been such an incredible experience. I've learned so much and felt really supported throughout. It's solidified my passion for conservation and made me even more committed to pursuing a future in the environmental sector.
A team day out at the More Than Human exhibition. © Nina Seale
Juno: What was your highlight from the internship?
Taymar: Meeting staff from one of our partners Madagasikara Voakajy was one of the highlights for me. Hearing about their challenges and their incredible work on the ground – like the moving up of the golden mantella frog on the IUCN Red List from Critically Endangered to Endangered was fantastic, and it made me realise how connected conservation action is globally.
And obviously, having Agrita as my line manager has been such a pleasure! She has been super supportive and kind throughout the experience.
Taymar: Next, what was your favourite task and why?
Juno: I enjoyed quite a few tasks! But if I had to choose, it would be a tie. I found creating social media posts using Canva such a great outlet for creativity, and the Communications team really gave me the space to express my artistic vision, which I really appreciated.
I also loved working on a country profile for the Programmes team. It involved researching and writing a regional analysis for Indonesia, to provide context for our work there. I found it so fascinating to do a deep dive into the environmental and political landscape of the region.
Brainstorming sessions that spark creativity. © Geanie Cresswell
Juno: Were there any challenges you had faced throughout your journey here?
Taymar: The first week of the internship was a challenge, navigating a new space and type of work was tough and I found it difficult to acclimatise. But by the second week, thanks to the amazing team and catch ups with my line manager, I was more confident, comfortable, and happy with my work and abilities.
Taymar: If you were to pick one of the animals from the programmes, which one would you be and why?
Juno: That's such a difficult question, Synchronicity Earth's partners work with so many incredible species! But if I had to pick, I'd choose the Okapi. They're also known as the "forest giraffe" and are endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo. They're currently Endangered, but the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) works to conserve the rainforest and wildlife of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, supported by the Congo Basin Programme.
Such stunning and resilient species!
Juno: How about you?
Taymar: Honestly any frog! But big shout out to the admirable redbelly toad and the golden mantella frog, both are so fascinating and adorable.
And that's a wrap! It's been a pleasure and such a wonderful opportunity, I am so grateful for the time spent and skills learnt. I will never forget Synchronicity Earth or you Juno, you're such a star and been amazing to work alongside with.
Juno: Thank you so much Taymar, it's been amazing working with you too! So excited to see where you end up!
Our Summer Internship programme takes place from July-August and we would like to thank Generation Success for helping us in recruiting Juno and Taymar. The internship is advertised in Spring (around March-April) on our Careers page and social media, and we only accept applications for internships within this period.
However, if you are interested in starting a career in the environmental sector and would like some guidance for how to get entry-level opportunities, as well as reading blogs about the experiences of our interns (see Johnathon’s and Jessica’s too), we have answered some Frequently Asked Questions from people new to the sector:
