South–South cooperation
The lab · The Southern Compass Lab
The Southern Compass Lab turns our attention to the realities and solutions of the Global South. The lab rigorously documents the issues that shape the daily lives of young people in Africa and beyond: water, agriculture, jobs, governance, local economies.
Discover the labAssignments
- Follow the lab’s topics in your country: water, agriculture, jobs, governance, local economies
- Propose local case studies and document them with The Southern Compass Lab’s method for gathering and analysing information
- Gather first-hand accounts from young people and from those working on the ground, with their consent
- Check every fact and every figure before passing it on to the lab
- Write field pieces and analyses for submission to the editorial board
- Review the lab’s briefs on your country before publication
- Compare your findings with other correspondents at the network’s online meetings
Tools to master
- Microsoft Teams: online meetings of the correspondents network
- Claude or ChatGPT: preparing interviews and translating sources, every result checked
What you will deliver
- Local case studies documented with the lab’s method
- Field pieces ready for the editorial board
- Careful reviews of the briefs on your country
Profile we are looking for
- First-hand knowledge of the realities of your country
- Investigative curiosity and respect for the people you interview
- Rigour in gathering and checking information
- Confident writing in English or French
A volunteer role, open to young people
Every role we offer is fully voluntary. The experience we ask for can come from a course, a student project, an internship, volunteering or a personal project: every skill counts, wherever you gained it. Our roles are designed first and foremost for young people, and we weigh your motivation and potential as carefully as your track record. Want to be part of something big? Apply.
Nice to have
- Command of one or more of your country’s languages
- Studies in journalism, social sciences, economics or geography
- Experience in a non-profit or in reporting
What this role gives you
- Training in The Southern Compass Lab’s method for gathering and analysing information
- Field pieces and analyses under your name, once accepted by the editorial board
- A network of young correspondents and researchers across the Global South
Applications open until 15 January 2027
YouthShare reserves the right to close this listing before that date, as soon as the right person is found. We therefore encourage you to apply now.
The one-year commitment
A non-profit project is built over time. Every volunteer therefore commits for at least one year: time to settle in, carry the assignment through and pass on what they have learned. The weekly time depends on the role and is given in each role description.
How selection works
Online application
You choose a role, present your background and attach your CV. A confirmation email gives you your reference.
Profile review
The Talent team reads every application, matches it with the needs of the role and sends you a first reply by email within three days on average.
Video interview
A conversation to get to know each other and shape the assignment together.
Decision and arrival
You receive our answer by email, followed by a welcome to the team and access to its tools.
Know the right person?
Recommend this role to them: they receive an email from YouthShare that presents it, with your name and the link to apply. You can also share the listing on your networks.