Douglas College

Published purpose

This project is part of DFATD’s International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), which is within the Career Focus stream of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP is designed to offer young Canadian post-secondary graduates the opportunity to gain professional experience through international development work. Douglas College provides 40 interns with the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and develop skills in a variety of health, community, and social service positions in the Masaka District of Uganda. Eight local non-profit organizations provide outreach placements during the two years of the project in the following areas: six maternal /child health, eight orphan and street youth, four physical and mental disabilities, six health literacy, and 16 community based education. Intern learning and integration of knowledge are supported by Ugandan partner supervisors, Canadian based mentors and the Douglas College project team. When interns return they receive assistance with transitioning their skills to the Canadian workplace and have the opportunity to tell Canadians about their experience.