Project profile — Humber Institute – Stages PSIJ 2015-2016

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access by Canadian interns (young men and women) to Canadian labour market opportunities, including in the field of international development; and (2) increased engagement of Canadian interns (young men and women) as global citizens in supporting international development in Canada and abroad.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2016) include: (1) 20 interns (16 females and 4 males) have been recruited and sent abroad for a 6months internship in the areas of increasing food security, securing the future of children and youth, and stimulating sustainable economic growth. Prior to departure, interns have received training on multiple operational aspects, including mental health, empathy, personal safety and intercultural communications; (2) interns have accomplished many activities while in the field to support local organizations, including pre-departure workshops facilitated for youth and staff attending the ‘Children Lead the Way’ international conference in Canada; the creation of a handicrafts artisans’ profile and payroll tracking database and teaching two employees to update the system; and an impact study developed and conducted on the organization’s earthquake response projects in the livelihoods sector in Southern Lalitpur (Nepal); (3) out of the 20 interns, 15 interns (13 females) successfully completed their internship. Seven local partners (100%) reported that the interns made a significant impact on their development efforts; (4) upon their return to Canada, 15 interns participated in debrief and re-integration sessions. These sessions included activities to contextualize their learnings and make them actionable; to enhance their skills in communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, negotiation, emotional intelligence and empathy; and additional counseling opportunities; (5) 15 interns facilitated public engagement activities in Canada and abroad, including public presentations, short films, guest lecturing in Humber College’s classrooms, interviews on radio shows and articles for community forums; and (6) at the end of their internship, 15 interns reported an increased level of confidence in their ability to secure employment post- internship and are actively seeking employment opportunities in the international development field in Canada and/or overseas.