Interning Internationally at Project Chimps

By Marissa Pena

Finding a “home away from home” in Georgia’s beautiful Blue Ridge mountains may seem too good to be true, especially with the added difficulty of traveling to a completely different country! However, it’s exactly what Hannah St John-Mosse discovered after traveling more than 4,000 miles to arrive at what she calls a “once in a lifetime opportunity” interning abroad here at Project Chimps.

Studying Animals in the UK

Hannah is a student at the University of Plymouth currently studying Animal Behavior and Welfare. She’s always been passionate about helping animals, and when it came time for her placement year, she knew she wanted to spend it traveling someplace new.

“I started googling ‘animal rehabilitation internships abroad’ and some sanctuaries came up,” she says. “I wasn’t really looking for a specific animal, but I knew I wanted to work with mammals for sure. So when I found Project Chimps, it was quite cool.”

In the UK, a placement year allows undergraduate students the option to gain experience as part of their degree. It usually occurs after an undergraduate’s third year and can last anywhere from six to twelve months. But while Hannah knew she wanted to intern abroad, it was the mission of Project Chimps that drew her in.

“I liked the principles of this place and the fact that they took in retired research lab chimps. If you look at it from an animal wellbeing point of view, it’s quite nice to see. The fact that they had this not-so-great life before, and then they get to come here and have one that’s so much better… I really liked that.”

Working at Project Chimps

After accepting her official internship offer, it was off to the US to become a chimpanzee care intern! Although Hannah had been studying animal behavior and welfare since 2019, this was her first introduction to working with chimpanzees.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot so far,” she reflects. “About things like photo IDs, and the general running of a sanctuary and all the preparation and cleaning that goes into it. And chimp behaviors, like the positive ones, and about displaying, and their different noises and what they all mean.”

“I think (my favorite part) is getting to know the chimps on a personal level, like getting to know their little quirks and their unique behaviors. So how Nyia likes a blanket, Paul doesn’t like any peel on his food, and all their different noises. You can really hear when it’s Lizzy shouting because she does this little croak at the end. I really like getting to know each of them and their different personalities.”

Interning Abroad

Coming from the UK, there was a lot of preparation that went into Hannah’s journey to arrive at Project Chimps! Making the decision to intern in another country is a big commitment that can come with a lot of challenges.

Finding adequate housing is often one of the biggest barriers to interning abroad. Most internships range about three to four months, but many apartments won’t offer leases less than six to twelve months. Additionally, approximately 45% of Americans have no access to public transportation, meaning those flying in to an area with less options for public transit might also need to purchase a rental car to get around. When gas prices and utilities are factored in, it’s no wonder why many potential interns feel overwhelmed. 

Here at Project Chimps, we’re committed to giving everyone the same access to opportunities, regardless of where they’re coming from. We offer on-site housing to our interns, including a complete kitchen, living room, access to laundry, and internet. While interns are responsible for purchasing their own food, we do organize weekly grocery shopping trips for those without cars. We pride ourselves on creating a community where our interns can focus on learning and building relationships with like-minded individuals.

“They have a cabin that we get to stay in, so that’s really cool. I didn’t have to worry about that at all. I think the hardest part has probably just been the time difference. When I finish work, my family and friends are going to bed, so if I don’t talk to them at lunch then I kind of miss them. But I must say, the people here are really nice, and I feel like I’ve definitely settled in now. Except maybe the food,” she laughs. “But that’s because it’s America and I’m still trying to figure out what everything is. But other than that, it’s been really good.”

Interested in Interning at Project Chimps?

You don’t have to be a college student to intern with us at Project Chimps! As long as you meet our requirements and are interested in working with chimpanzees, we’d love for you to apply. Our interns are a vital part of the work we do here at the sanctuary. We’ve seen firsthand the hard work and dedication they put into caring for each chimpanzee, and we’re always grateful.

With more than six different internship areas available, there’s something for everyone to take part in our mission of care. Whether you live nearby, are coming in from out-of-state, or plan to intern abroad, we welcome applications year-round. And if none of our current programs fit your skills, we also accept proposals for programs not yet offered!

“If you’re thinking of applying, my advice would be to just take a shot, even if you aren’t sure. I didn’t have that much faith in myself, and I’d never actually been abroad before. But when I got offered the position, I thought, ‘I’d be an idiot to turn this down,’ because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to work with chimpanzees.”

“I definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone,” she reflects. “But I was glad I did it then, and I’m glad I’m doing it now. When I’m here, I feel like I’m making a difference in their life, like I’m just making it a little bit better.”

Both in her studies and time at Project Chimps, Hannah has shown just how dedicated she is to animal welfare. She has a bright future ahead of her, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where her passion for animals takes her next!

Would you like to be part of our mission to provide former research chimps with exemplary lifelong care? If so, check out current opportunities on our official internship page!