Internships at Any Age: Meet James
By Rachel Dragas
After spending 4 months at Project Chimps, James Haworth is proof that internships at any age have value. James celebrated a 60-year milestone birthday in October and is currently taking a year of sabbatical to volunteer with groups in animal care; Project Chimps was his first stop. James often ponders whether there might be more people like him, who have worked for decades but are ready to take some time off and perhaps willing to work with an animal rights or protection group. The experiences and skills accumulated from decades of work can often be a unique asset that younger interns might not otherwise bring with them.
James’ Background
James studied engineering in college before working on the modernization of the US air traffic control system for a decade. He then spent some time working in financial services at Capital One, and for the last 10 years, worked exclusively in the animal space. “My friends encouraged me to stay in financial services, make good money, and volunteer on the side for animal causes, but that didn’t quite scratch an itch for me.”
Prior to starting his internship at Project Chimps in July, James ran a therapy dog non-profit organization called People Animals Love in Washington D.C. for several years. When contemplating internships at any age, James says, “twice before, and coincidentally at the start of a new decade, I’ve taken a year off to do something that really feeds my heart and soul.”
A Day in the Life
James just wrapped up his internship at the end of October but when he initially reached out to Project Chimps, he knew he wanted to do work that was half manual and half mental. “I worked from Sunday to Thursday, and during the mornings, I worked with my hands either in chimp care or grounds maintenance. In the afternoons, I worked in the office and helped out with online fundraising. The blend was awesome, and I loved the variety.” Interns have access to free lodging and live on-site at the property. “There’s a lot going on so sometimes you can feel a bit overwhelmed, but evenings are quiet and peaceful.”
What’s Been Your Favorite Part of the Job?
Project Chimps resides on a fairly large property with over 200 acres of land, so when working in grounds maintenance, James would buzz around in a golf cart and collect what is called “browse” first thing in the morning. These are edible flowers, shoots, and leaves that are provided to the chimps for enrichment. “During the Fall, we’ve been collecting millet, sourwood, and tulip poplars, to name a few. I always enjoyed that part because it felt so different from my previous work, which were all desk jobs.”
Exploring Enrichment Activities
Every day there are one or two enrichment activities lined up for the chimps that tap into their instinctual behaviors and require them to invest some energy into figuring out how to obtain a particular reward. Care staff might place a tub of water with peanuts floating atop outside of the mesh fencing, for example. The chimps would then use a stick to pull the peanuts toward the edge of the fencing so they could reach through and grasp them.
As a member of the Enrichment Committee, James was also interested in exploring activities that could facilitate cooperation amongst the chimps to achieve a particular goal. “At Capital One, I used to run a New Products Group, so I take some pride in my ability to create new ideas and products.”
Fundraising Achievements
James and the team have seen some great advancements this year in peer-to-peer fundraising recruitment. An annual global campaign called “Giving Day for Apes” took place on October 11th. It’s an intra-continental fundraising competition for raising awareness and funds for ape sanctuaries around the world. “We invited our supporters to let us know if they’d want to do a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign and we secured around 15 people, which is great. And maybe next year this number can double or triple.”
How Would You Sum Up Your Internship Experience?
“I’ve learned so much and care deeply for these former research animals. I understand their plight and when you know more, you care more.” James encourages people who are a little older to consider interning and not assume that it’s just for younger folks. “There’s a place here for everyone.”
Want to get involved? Project Chimps accepts applications for internships at any age year-round. Check out current opportunities here!
