Project profile — Victoria International Development Education Association - International Internships 2013-2014

This project is part of CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP contributes to the YES by providing a large spectrum of Canadian graduates with valuable international development work experience abroad.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: i) increased awareness to female and male Canadian youth of the equal possibility of working internationally; ii) enhanced equal employability of female and male IYIP interns in Canada and in the field of international development; iii) improved capacity of female and male IYIP interns to contribute to international development in a gender sensitive way.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2014) include: coordinating twenty internships in four countries. The interns assisted local partners with activities to improve their programming capacity and long-term sustainability, for example: (1) improving the monitoring and evaluation of programs through the use of participatory methodologies; (2) improving communication capacities by enhancing web and social media presence; and (3) widening traditional and non-traditional partnerships. The interns acquired new skills and abilities that are increasing their employability such as: a better understanding of development theory and practice, particularly in regards to gender equality and cross-cultural skills, including adapting to a new culture in a work environment.