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The International Business Development Internship
Leadership Initiatives is working to end extreme poverty in Northern Nigeria through entrepreneurship and innovation. As part of the International Business & Development Program, Leadership Initiatives identifies small business owners who live under $1.90 a day, have little formal business education, and are struggling to provide for their family’s basic needs.
Once business owners have completed training, Leadership Initiatives pairs International Business & Development Interns with a business partner and business mentor. Interns are given the opportunity to help tackle major issues at the grassroots level by working directly with small business owners to support and incubate local entrepreneurs. Students will work with Leadership Initiatives staff over the course of nine months to provide income-generating solutions that focus on food supply, women empowerment, environment and sustainability, personal care, and mobility.
The International Business & Development Internship aims to introduce interns to the complexities and challenges of running a small business and working within community development. Interns will gain an understanding of the unwavering commitment, focus, and determination required to work within this field. From working with interns, local business owners will have new knowledge of entrepreneurial skills they need to create business opportunities that will contribute to socio-economic development and significantly transform their lives.
Our Internship Team
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Natalie Pugliese
Glen Rock Middle School
Class of 2027
Natalie Pugliese is a rising 8th grader who takes pride in getting good grades in school. She’s an honor student who is very active in the school and towns sports. She also finds great joy participating in many different plays at her local community theater.
Natalie Pugliese will never pass the up the chance to draw in her free time. Art is her muse, she finds her inspiration through many different forms of art. Natalie has recently gotten in to many activities like biking and waking which helps her find peace. Tennis,softball,basketball, and cheer which help her release energy. Through these activities she values the camaraderie of team sports.
Natalie Pugliese is very great full to have the opportunity to work with such amazing intelligent people her age. It’s an honor for her to be exposed to such different experiences and resources. She is mainly excited to explore her horizons and guide her to figure out her future career.
Sienna Beatrice
Glen Rock Middle School
Class of 2027
Sienna Beatrice is going into her third year of middle school. She is a member of the Junior National Honors society who participates in accelerated math two days a week. Sienna's family has always put school and service first. Her future goals for the future include remaining at the top of her class so that she is eligible for university scholarships.
Sienna took part in a semester of Track and Field, and uses a Peloton a couple days a week. She enjoys escape games because she like projects that require detail and logic. As such, Sienna is particularly interested in areas of the Leadership Initiative program where she can apply these skills. In terms of hobbies, Sienna likes to bake, read and spend time with her family and friends.
As the grandchild of European immigrants who came to this country for a different future, her family made sacrifices for herself and her brother, in the hope that they can have a better education than her parents and grandparents. Sienna is excited for this program because she hopes that this LI will give her the foundation and tools to succeed through what she learns and from the experts who will be teaching her. This way, Sienna will be able to accomplish what was difficult for her parents - coming from working class families, and she will be able to support herself and her future.
Our Business Partner
Salisu Abdullahi
Business Statistics
Some of Mr. Abdullahi main priorities are his family and church, he spends his mornings going to church and coming home to have a beautiful breakfast that Mrs. Halima prepares.
Salisu Abdullahi has worked in the carpentry industry for 12 years.
Salisu Abdullahi's favorite show is "The parliament". The parliament is owned by the government, people come together from all parts of nigeria to talk about the government and there different opinions.
Salisu Abdullahi
About Salisu
He starts off his mornings with a prayer and then goes to work at his shop. Mr. Abdullahi and his wife, Mrs. Halima hopes to give their only child the very best education for a better future and also enhance their family's social status.
The shop specializes in chairs, tables, beds, wardrobes, kitchen cabinet-making, and other types of work. He hopes to further expand the business bringing more people into the carpentry community!
Salisu Abdullahi
Community Impact
One of the main goals he has set for himself is to become a big name in the carpentry industry. Salisu also believes that more individuals will have the capacity to lessen or end the current state of poverty that community members, particularly young people, are experiencing.
Salisu Abdullahi
Our Partnership
Our Approach
FINANCIAL TRACKING
Financially literate entrepreneurs make growth-oriented financial and economic decisions for their savings, borrowing, and investments. Our team is working with Isiyaka Sa’ad to create an effective financial tracking system for his business finances, receipts, and daily costs.
OUR ADVERTISING
Our team identified target markets and key demographics to create a customer acquisition plan. We are working with Isiyaka Sa’ad to redesign his brand and create effective marketing campaigns.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENTS
Steady growth is a critical component of creating self-sustaining communities. Our team is working to identify key areas of opportunity for Isiyaka Sa’ad and design solutions with grant money to improve his business to foster growth.
Our Fundraising
$1032 RAISED
$468 NEEDED
$1500 GOAL
Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced some of the highest growth rates globally over the past 10 years. While this means that people in these nations have become more optimistic about their social and economic future, the region continues to face a myriad of historical problems. In order to continue steady growth and achieve a future of equitable conditions in the region, our International Internship Program team seeks to build stronger communities from the grassroots level through fundraising for community development.
Funds raised are used to implement community-based education programs, pay staff to run the operations on-site, and invest in training for local leaders. Leadership Initiatives uses fundraised money to develop a network of support for actionable change and accountability between our team, the Leadership Initiatives staff, and the community stakeholders we work with.
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