International Internships

Human Rights Internet (HRI) works in conjunction with agencies in the Canadian government to send Canadian youths (under 30) on international internships. The six-month placement with an international non-governmental organization allows interns to gain work experience in the field of human rights, health, education, legal systems and culture.

International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)

This program is part of a continuing partnership since 2004 with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The program empowers human rights organizations in developing countries by sending young Canadian graduates to work with organizations for a period of six months. The program also provides interns with practical work experience in an international setting.

Host organizations are very enthusiastic about the program and this past year HRI placed interns with NGOs in Kenya, Botswana and Malaysia. Interns from have gone on to secure positions at the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development, the City of Toronto, and the Aboriginal Justice Directorate at the Canadian Department of Justice.

NetCorps Program

NetCorps is a coalition formed in partnership with Industry Canada consisting of nine Canadian volunteer-sending and development organizations that implement international information and communication technology internships in developing countries and countries in transition. Interns participate in six month placements with host organizations and provide technical support such as creating web pages and developing databases to help facilitate information dissemination and sharing.

In the past year, HRI has posted NetCorps Interns in the following countries: Hungary, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, India, Malaysia, Namibia, the Philippines, South Africa, Kenya and The Gambia.

As with the IYIP Program, the NetCorps Program empowers the host organization by providing technical support and training to the employees, and empowers the intern by providing an international work experience and hands-on training in the field of information technology.