International Youth Internship Program

The program is designed to enhance the interns’ employment opportunities and leadership capacity and provide them with invaluable international experience. The internships focus on gender-empowering educational research and inclusive growth. By participating in this program, interns acquire professional skills, engage in meaningful work with partner organizations in Liberia and Ghana, and significantly contribute to these organizations’ missions. This program is a gateway to broadening their horizons and fostering a global perspective. McMaster University further enriches the experience by providing participants with pre-departure training to equip them with the skills required. The program provides funding to participants facing historical and system barriers to participating in global exchange initiatives.

• The IYIP includes six cohorts across the duration of the program. Each cohort is four months long.
• Each cohort consists of 12-20 participants split between Ghana and Liberia.
• Participants spend a month preparing through in-person and virtual sessions with McMaster University, Empowerment Squared, and Schools of Dreams.
• Half the participants go to Liberia with the Empowerment Squared team members.
• Half the participants go to Ghana with the Empowerment Squared and Schools of Dreams teams.
• The interns work on specific research projects during the internship period:
  • The research project in Ghana aims to create better educational environments and facilities in rural areas, focusing on women and girls.
  • The research project in Liberia, the research project aims to Empower grassroots organizations to combat substance abuse, drug addiction, and mental health challenges.

McMaster University (Office of the International Affairs, Student Success Center, Black Student Success Center) work on the delivery of the program in collaboration with Empowerment Squared and Schools of Dreams, as well as local, international, and community organizations.  McMaster University will lead the recruitment activities and deliver pre-departure training to equip the participants with the skills required for the internship.

• The internship is open to all youths between the ages of 18 and 30 living in Canada, including students (undergraduate and graduate) and alumni of post-secondary institutions.
• Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Willingness to commit to a 4-month stay in the destination country.

Priority is given to participants from:

• Equity-deserving groups
• Indigenous communities
• Racialized minorities
• Applicants with disabilities
• Applicants from low-income backgrounds
• 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals

The IYIP is a funded internship program that provides travel, accommodation, health insurance, and a monthly allowance for the interns. Interns who participate in the program receive a stipend of up to a maximum of CAD 4,500 over the four months of the internship program. Additionally, Empowerment Squared will cover the following expenses:

• Travel costs: International round-trip airfares from Canada to Africa; regional round-trip airfares and transportation within Africa related to program activities; domestic travel costs within Canada to participate in workshops, training, and internship activities; meals and incidentals during program-related travel.
• Accommodation: Short-term accommodation necessitated during travel, e.g. overnight stays; The cost of local accommodation for all program-required activities for the duration of each cohort
• Travel administration: Costs associated with health insurance, visa processing, courier services, and vaccination fees.