I have never really believed in destiny but sometimes, when I look back at how everything started, I almost change my mind. I remember that day as it was yesterday. I was walking around in my university in Milan and I run into two of my colleagues. It was winter but they already had clear ideas on how they would have spent the summer: applying for internships in corporate, traveling the world, enrolling to universities abroad and other amazing stuff. When they asked me what I was going to do I said “well, I’d like to do an internship in an environmental NGO”. That was everything I knew.

I started my internship working in the accounting department but then, I do not really know how and when, I started collaborating with the fundraising department and in the end, I stayed there. My days at work were never boring, I always had a lot to do in the office, from creating the donors’ newsletters to the inventory management. My supervisor has been a fundamental part of my internship; I have learnt so much working on her side, both from a professional and personal perspective. Because in the end Greenpop is also about discovering ourselves, our abilities and our limits that are never as close as we imagine them to be. During those three months, I have become more self-confident, improved my soft skills and built amazing relationships that I will never forget.
And then there is of course Cape Town. The most beautiful city in the world, where fun, extraordinary people, good food and stunning natural beauties meet. Everyday, there was something to do in and around the city: hiking Lion’s Head or Table mountain, watching the sunset at Signal Hill with some pizza and drinks, going out in Long Street at night, chilling on the beach, eating good food at The Old Biscuit Mill or just driving a car and exploring some of the many stunning national parks around Cape Town.

Women in Sustainability: Meet our Head of Programmes, Zoë Gauld-Angelucci
For this year’s Women’s Day in South Africa, we want to introduce a woman in sustainability who inspires us daily. After earning a Master’s degree in Development Studies, she joined Greenpop in 2014. When she is not heading up programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa, you can find her spending time with her family, tending to her garden, practising Italian, and searching for the best pizza in the Mother City. Get to know Zoë Gauld-Angelucci!
15 Things You Can Do To Make A Difference On World Environment Day
World Environment Day is organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been held annually since 1974. The goal of the day of action is to promote environmental awareness and draw attention to crucial concerns around our planet’s survival, that require active engagement and commitment. Today, the day represents one of the largest global platforms for environmental action, with millions of participants from around the world. Each World Environment Day focuses on a specific issue that reflects urgent problems and challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss or pollution.
How to Compost at Home, and Reduce Your Waste
Composting is surprisingly easy with these 4 steps – you can even do it at home, and don’t need a lot of space.
Greenpop Foundation NPC is a registered non-profit organisation. Registration Number (NPO): 151-411 NPO.