Internships for Sustainable Development

  Argentina

• All Other Regions of Argentina: 
La Plata

  Bolivia

• Other Cities in Bolivia: 
Cochabamba

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Ambato

  India

• Other Cities in India: 
Udaipur

  Kenya

• Other Cities in Kenya: 
Kakamega
• Mombasa: 
Mombasa

  Nicaragua

• Other Cities in Nicaragua: 
Managua,  Masaya,  Jinotepe,  Matagalpa,  Ciudad Sandino

  Peru

• All Other Areas in Peru: 
Puno

  Uganda

• Other Cities in Uganda: 
Mbale

Term: Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter 

Description: The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) provides hands-on, service-learning internships for those looking to gain international development experience and make a genuine impact on a local community. Participants spend their time working directly in the community, experientially learning sustainable development solutions, and implementing their own project work. In the end, interns acquire skills in international development, project design and implementation, grant-writing, and language. Interns also have the experience of a lifetime and make long-standing relationships with their host families, host organizations, and the communities they serve.

Programs are available in Argentina, Bolivia, Kenya, India, Nicaragua, and Uganda. Choose from 160 different host organizations that work to better their communities through Microfinance, Youth and Education, Health, Environment, Women's Empowerment, and Human Rights.

Individual projects are designed specifically by interns in collaboration with the FSD in-country support staff. These projects allow interns to directly apply their skills and knowledge in a creative, supportive environment where impact is immediately observable.   FSD provides grant-writing competitions that enable interns to gain additional funding for their project work.   

Highlights: FSD's mission is to maximize students' learning experiences along with the impact they achieve with the host organizations. This is accomplished through our highly adaptable programs which involve:

* Total Immersion: Only one FSD participant at a time works for a host organization. Similarly, each participant is the only English-Speaking foreigner with their host family. This allows interns to more efficiently learn and adapt to the community they are serving.

* Support: Participants are assisted by a web of FSD support staff which includes a Direct Supervisor, a Country Director, and a United States-born Program Assistant at the site of the program. Each staff member works in tandem with interns to ensure a comfortable and productive work environment.
      
* Organization Selection: Participants' experience, interests, and skills are thoroughly evaluated and matched with a host organization that best utilizes their abilities and project interests. To search through our database of host organizations, please visit our website.
      
* Individual Project Implementation: Beyond assisting with a host organization's existing sustainable development projects, students are highly encouraged to create and implement their own projects with the financial backing of FSD and the collaboration of their host organization. Interns begin their work with USD 200 in seed money and can gain additional FSD funding through the grant competition.

* Grant-Writing Experience: Interns can compete in grant competitions funded by FSD to receive up to USD 1,000 additional capital toward their individual projects.

* Values and Sustainability: Participants experientially learn that development solutions must first recognize the delicate nature of the culture and community there are working within. Disrupting the existing system with temporary solutions or hand-outs can often do more harm than good. FSD strives to empower participants with a sustainable approach to their project work that recognizes the long-term impact and viability of their efforts. This is done through much collaboration with the local community, whereby participants listen and learn from the community before acting on its behalf.
      
* Career Development and Language Training: FSD programs feature grant writing courses, development lectures and readings, intensive language training, project development and evaluation, country and organization orientation, and direct hands-on work experience.
         
* Peer Development: Veterans of FSD programs often go onto graduate school and/or careers in international development. Program participants are free to contact our large network of past veterans to learn about their projects with FSD, how they got into a graduate program, or how they landed their job.

* Scholarship: FSD is partnered with several university programs that offer scholarships for international internships. If financial assistance needed, call FSD to make sure that you're utilizing all the resources around you.

Cost in US$: varies depending on country

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network

Foundation for Sustainable Development's Mission Statement: FSD supports the efforts of grassroots organizations in the developing world that are working to better their communities, environments, and the economic opportunities around them. We believe community development is only sustainable if it empowers the people to effectively use and cultivate their own resources in a conscious manner. Through our programs, we aim to raise international awareness of the economic challenges in developing countries and to support cross-cultural communities in finding more effective solutions to development issues.

Year Founded: 1995