Foreign Internships - Host Organizations

Click here if your organization is interested in hosting an intern.

Current Host Organizations

The Inter-American Development Bank, Bolivia

Established in 1959, the IDB is today the main source of multilateral financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as for regional integration. It provides loans, grants, guarantees, policy advice and technical assistance to the public and private sectors in its Latin American and Caribbean borrowing member countries. The IDB is owned by 47 member countries, including Canada, the United States, 16 European countries, Israel, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

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Junior Chamber International, USA and Hungary

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a federation of young professionals and entrepreneurs with over 6,000 chapters in more than 100 nations. Its mission is to contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, fellowship, and entrepreneurship necessary to create positive change.

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Ronald A. Chisholm Limited, Russia

Ronald A. Chisholm Limited (Chisholm), established in 1938, is one of the world’s leading independent agrifood dealers, providing market information to major participants in the meat and dairy industries and food ingredient producers, manufacturers, exporters, importers and distributors located in all major markets around the world. Headquartered in Toronto, Chisholm has offices in Montreal, Denver, Tampa, Moscow and Busan.

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Fundacion Paraguaya , Paraguay

The mission of the Fundación Paraguaya is to achieve sustainable development through the promotion of entrepreneurship. Its programs include microfinancing, business incubation, training programs promoting sustainable agriculture. The Fundación Paraguaya operates the Junior Achievement program.

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Colectivo Integral de Desarrollo, Peru

The Collectivo Integral de Desarrollo (CID) is a non-governmental organization founded in 1990 which specializes in the development of entrepreurship through the provision of information, orientation, capacity-building and access to business consultants as well as assistance for the management of credit. The CID is the representative in Peru of the network INFOJUVE - UNESCO.

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Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir, Mexico

The Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir (ILSB) is an organization formed in 2000 that provides women and youth leaders practical and theoretical-conceptual tools that permit them to rediscover and reaffirm traditional models for leadership and which contributes to the generation of leaders conscious of the social fabric and respecting cultural differences. The organization work with clients between the ages of 18 and 29.

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International Institute for Development of Citizenship, Brazil (Fix link)

The Instituto Internacional para o Desenvolvimento da Cidadania (IIDAC) was formed in 1998 with a mission to promote sustainable human development. In cooperation with international organizations, public institutions, as well as private and civil society representatives, IIDAC promotes citizenship, technical cooperation, and the participation of the local population, especially youth and adolescents in the process of development.

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To become a Host Organization

The DiversityCanada Foundation's Career Enhancer Foreign Internship Project is part of the Young Professionals International Internship Program (YPI) program. The YPI is funded by the Canadian federal government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Airfare, health insurance, and a living allowance are provided by the internship program and are thus covered by the Canadian government.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade contracts organizations such as the DiversityCanada Foundation to implement the program. The DiversityCanada Foundation is a non-profit organization that links employers with highly qualified candidates. Our role is to provide support for interns and host employers. This includes selecting interns through a competitive process; pre-departure orientation tailored to the internship site; briefing interns on internship and host employer expectations, health and safety issues, cultural differences and logistics; providing visa information; and mentoring.

As a host, the selected organization will be responsible for providing a meaningful work experience that develops transferable skills to enhance the employability of a young Canadian.

The host organization is not required to make any financial contribution to the internship, but preference will be given to those that can help arrange accommodation (eg homestays).

What Will Your Organization Gain From Hosting an Intern?

Interns can be a dynamic and profitable addition to companies and organizations of all sizes. Not only are most interns highly motivated and quick learners, but they can bring fresh ideas and the latest trends in technology. Hosting an intern can be a positive experience for your organization. Some of the benefits include:

the services of an academically qualified individual who approaches projects with new insight and a high level of enthusiasm and motivation
a very cost-effective (subsidized) temporary employee
the perspective of current academic knowledge in specialized fields
an opportunity for future managers to practice their supervisory skills
the opportunity to share in the preparation of future members of a profession

Your organization will have the opportunity to utilize a qualified Canadian university graduate to assist with the daily operations, special projects or assignments that may not have been completed due to time constraints or lack of staff.

Interns generally want to be treated as a new entry-level employee is treated. They are eager to help in any way they can and can make a significant contribution to the success of the projects they work on.

Through your intern's connections back to the university, you may also be gaining new access to informational and technical networks and resources, faculty expertise and research facilities.

But the greatest benefit of hosting an intern is likely to be the educational benefit for both you and your intern. As a full, active partner in setting learning goals and helping your intern achieve those goals, your organization operates as the kind of learning organization that trend-watchers say private, public and non-governmental organizations will need to be in order to be successful in the global information economy.

What Are Your Responsibilities as the Host Organization?

As a Host Organization, your organization would be expected to:

ensure that the participant is provided with adequate supervision and guidance throughout the placement;
provide a full-time, meaningful work experience for the intern;
provide the necessary office space and equipment (eg., telephone, computer);
help obtain the appropriate visa for the participant, if needed;
assist the intern in finding appropriate accommodations (eg homestay arrangements) or, where possible, provide reasonable compensation towards accommodations if no salary is provided;
provide a basic introductory orientation to the participant so that he/she can function in the new environment;
report to the DiversityCanada Foundation every three months during the placement and according to report guidelines
allow a DiversityCanada Foundation work site visit during the internship, if this is scheduled
advise the DiversityCanada Foundation immediately of any unresolved difficulties
complete the evaluation forms sent by the DiversityCanada Foundation

Who Are The Interns?

Interns are graduates of universities and colleges across Canada. They would have applied and competed for the intern postings, so they are motivated and committed. They have demonstrated a desire to get international experience and have an interest in your region. It is the DiversityCanada Foundation's duty to ensure the interns meet your posting criteria in order to be placed at your organization.

What You Have to Do to Participate?

In order to participate as a Host Organization, you need to supply the following information:

general company/organization profile, indicating size, type of business, products or services offered, markets (domestic and international) and strategic objectives
brief job description for the internship indicating responsibilities and expectations
(See suggested job descriptions below)
contribution in kind if any (accommodations, transportation, meals, etc)

This information may be sent by completing the Host Organization Application Form and faxing it to 7085-848-6194, extension 5.

The Host Organization Application Form includes a section requesting a description of what the intern will be doing. Here are sample responses. If these match the internships your organization can provide, please feel free to copy this information. Internships, however, can be in any field your organization requires and the intern's duties should be designed to suit the particular needs of your organization.

MARKETING INTERN:

Duties and Responsibilities:

assist with the coordination and implementation of marketing campaigns;
help maintain corporate sales contacts, e-mail and key customer databases, assist in the distribution of corporate marketing materials;
assist in the creation and editing of brochures and other material promoting the organization, its products and services;
proactively seek out ways and means to enhance the awareness of the organization;
assist in reporting and contributing to the development of marketing strategies
assist in preparation of various research and presentations, conduct consumer client research, assist in analyzing data;
provide marketing support to distributors and customers;
participate in the online marketing process, including implementation of online marketing plans, awareness campaigns for the organization, and the application of new technologies to fast forward marketing campaign;.
assist Marketing Department head with administrative duties;
other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

SPECIAL EVENTS INTERN:

Duties and Responsibilities:

assist in drafting media alerts, public service announcements, fact sheets, backgrounders;
assist with copy writing and graphic design for brochures and flyers;
assist with planning, promotion, marketing, and management of special events, represent the organization at community events, serve as information officer for special projects;
assist in developing proposals to corporate sponsors, contributors, etc;
perform administrative duties such as answering the phone, developing correspondence, assisting with the preparation for meetings, and direct mail coordination;
maintain contact lists for marketing programs, potential sponsors, volunteers, media and event participants;
assist in producing and updating web site content;
compile and assemble post-event reports for organization, sponsors and partners
other support duties as assigned.

ACCOUNTS INTERN:

Duties and Responsibilities:

entering records and running monthly balance sheets to verify accuracy
preparation of audit including preparing files, updating cash receipts and cash disbursement journals, etc.
verification of department month end reports to month end financial figures
other financial/accounting duties as needed