Dakar
INTERNSHIPS IN
Dakar, Senegal
Jutting out of the western coast of Senegal into the Atlantic ocean, the capital city of Dakar is edged with beautiful beaches, filled with bustling open-air markets, and enlivened by mbolox music once the sun sets. Dakar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in West Africa for its colorful colonial architecture, remote beaches, and rivieras teeming with wildlife just outside the city.
While the official language of Senegal is French, there are over 30 indigenous languages spoken, the most common being Wolof. Dakar has seen enormous economic growth over the past several years as an accessible port and hub for traditional industries like manufacturing and food processing in West Africa. But modern economic sectors exist as well, with Dakar acting as a fashion capital of West Africa as well as a top tourist destination.
Internship Duties & Sectors
Internship assignments vary and are highly customizable. Explore the dropdowns below to learn more about the unique characteristics this location has to offer for internships in each sector.
Art + Design
As the birthplace of famed singer, musician, and politician Youssou N’Dour, Dakar stands out as a musical paradise. The city does come alive at night, but also offers art and cultural history museums as well as fascinating colonial architecture and even high-end fashion design.
Business + Accounting
Senegal has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, having been the second African country to pass the Start-Up Act in 2019. It also has a relatively new and innovative finance sector, with the government allowing foreign investment and creating platforms to promote international entrepreneurship that makes starting a business easier. For Sports Business interns, there’s no better place to immerse yourself in world of soccer.
Data Science
Data Science is a field of ever-growing importance across industries. The need for workers in this field is growing exponentially, and students will be able to work at any number of businesses and organizations that will need research and analytical work performed.
Education + Teaching English
Education and English-teaching internships in Dakar provide interns with the opportunity to learn from a different pedagogical style, culture, and curriculum in a country where nearly half of the population is under 14 years old. There are many types of schools and organizations with English-teaching internships.
Environment + Sustainability
According to the UN, around 46% of Senegal is classified as semi-arid, which makes it susceptible to climate change. in 2014, the nation adopted the Plan Senegal Emergent, which sought to create infrastructure around a green economy to both meet the needs of its people and develop sustainability. Interns will be able to contribute to this field and will likely work for organizations with goals of sustainability, conservation, and the protection of biodiversity.
Journalism + Communications
The mass media and communications scene in Dakar may surprise people — it’s one of the most unrestricted and diverse in the region. Locals get their news from more than 20 daily newspapers and an incredibly influential network of radio programs. While some topics are off limits, internet access is unrestricted and the constitution guarantees freedom of information.
NGO + Nonprofits
As a lower middle income country, Senegal is working to address issues related to poverty, women’s education, food and water security, sustainability, human rights, conservation, and more. Interning in an NGO or nonprofit in Dakar will provide fulfilling and impactful work experience.
Social Sciences
Dakar, Senegal has a rich culture with unique societal and historical characteristics. It has a majority Muslim population, became independent from French colonizers in 1960 and has since experienced three peaceful transitions of power, and does not depend on oil, gas, and minerals like many surrounding countries.
STEM + Healthcare
Senegal has very recently established platforms and policies that make creating a business easier, which has brought foreign investment to the tech start-up space. Dakar’s entrepreneurial spirit makes it a hub in West Africa for tech innovation. The healthcare system is a mix of public and private with significant rural/urban disparities in health services, making public health a vital sector for Senegal’s success.
*Please note that not all STEM and Healthcare-related internship placements earn 12 credits or last for 8 weeks.
Questions?
Please contact Yifang Zhang, GlobalWorks Program Manager
Email: globalworks@uoregon.edu
Phone: 541-346-5088
West Africa
GEOGRAPHIC REGION
3.1 million
2020 POPULATION
French
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
8 weeks
PROGRAM LENGTH
Homestay
HOUSING