Project profile — Comité de Solidarité/Trois-Rivières - IAYI Internships 2011-2012

Results as of the end of the project (August 2012) include: Interns who participated in the pre-departure training were introduced to international development issues, as well as specific contextual issues related to their work mandate in the country of destination. In Bolivia, they completed 264 hours of presentations to children in four health centres, 48 hours conducting workshops about violence towards women and child abuse, and 65 hours of public presentations during five community festivities. In Nicaragua, they completed 240 hours manning a tourist information kiosk to promote the activities of the Puerta del Sol Cooperative; designed, printed, and distributed a promotional brochure for the cooperative; and gave French courses (36 hours) for the cooperative’s tour guides and English courses (20 hours) for stakeholders of the Los Ramos community. On the employability front, interns developed their capacities to live and work in teams with proven efficient communication skills, while working in an intercultural environment. At the end of their internship, interns were able to enter the labour market and one intern will be returning to full-time studies. In terms of public outreach, interns communicated part of their experience abroad with their community (parents, friends, young Aboriginals) through updates to their personal Facebook page.