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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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Sriya Singh
Centennial High School
Class of 2024
Sriya Singh is a junior at Centennial High School. She is a committed and hardworking student who is enrolled in honors and Advanced Placement Classes.
Sriya is the Congressional Debate captain for her school's debate team. She has qualified, placed in elimination rounds, and championed tournaments at the local, state, and national level. She is also a DECA Texas state finalist and international qualifier in a finance competition event. Outside of school, Sriya is a talented Bharatanatyam dancer and has been training for over 9 years. In addition, she is the co-founder and President for her school's Female Financial Force club, where she leads girls at her school to compete in investing and economic research competitions. Some things she enjoys are spending time with friends and family, as well as watching Netflix!
Sriya is looking forward to participating in the International Business and Development program to support small businesses around the globe. She is fascinated by the business world and hopes to one day make progress in the finance field using the skills she acquires.
Shrimayi Mulukuntla
Centennial High School
Class of 2024
Shrimayi Mulukuntla a rising junior at Centennial High School. Shrimayi is a dedicated honor student who is enrolled in Advanced Placement and Honors classes. She enjoys baking and at school, she is in Band, DECA, Robotics, and the National Honor Society.
Shrimayi Mulukunta is excited to be participating in the Business Development program this year. She loves learning about Business and wants to learn more about it in the future.
Poorvja Joshi
Frisco High School
Class of 2024
Poorvja Joshi is a junior at Frisco High School. She is a hardworking honors student who is a part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
At school, Poorvja is a member of her school's Days for Girls club, an active member in her schools orchestra, and a class representative of her orchestra leadership team. She has also received high distinction in UIL Solo and Ensemble music competition for the past four years. During her free time, Poorvja like reading, playing music, and making origami.
Poorvja is looking forward to participate in the International Business and Development Internship Program. Poorvja aspires to be an Architectural Engineer in the future and hopes to use the skills she learns through this program to help design infrastructure for developing nations.
Our Internship Team
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Vibha Immedisetty
Liberty High School
Class of 2024
Vibha Immedisetty is a current Junior at Liberty High School. Vibha is a motivated honors student, enrolled in honors and AP courses, and fine arts such as band. Over her time in the fine arts, she has won multiple awards in the TMEA, ABRSM, and UIL region and solo competitions, highlighting her individual and group skills.
Vibha enjoys playing instruments such as the oboe, piano, saxophone, violin, and English horn and is always working to learn more. At school, she is a competitor in HOSA, DECA, mock trial, part of her school news program, and participates in her school marching band. During her free time, Vibha enjoys spending time with her friends and reading Grisham novels.
Vibha is excited to be participating in the International Business and Development Program this year because she loves learning about business administration and hopes to someday have an impact on small businesses around the globe. She believes that her participation in this internship will bring awareness to developing businesses in Bauchi and expand them to help the community they serve.
Kaustubh Duddala
Centennial High School
Class of 2024
Kaustubh Duddala is a current sophomore at Centennial High School. Kaustubh is a hard-working honors student, enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, and fine arts such as band and other extracurriculars. He has been a part of multiple speaking groups. Kaustubh enjoys playing the flute and making music. Kaustubh has also participated in HOSA, placing 4th in his region for the PSA competition in 2021. During his free time, Kaustubh likes to read and play online with his friends. Kaustubh is excited to be participating in the IIP Program. Kaustubh hopes to use the skills he learns throughout his career.
Tanvi Tokala
Centennial High School
Class of 2024
Tanvi Tokala is a junior at Centennial highschool who is enrolled in many AP classes to broaden her understanding and challenge herself.
Tanvi is involved in band and DECA. She enjoys reading in her free time and volunteering.
Tanvi wants to become a business lawyer in the future and sees this program can help in the business aspect of learning new skills. Tanvi wants to use what she's learned about the program and use the experience as a stepping stool in her career path.
Our Business Partner
Rose Sylvester
Business Statistics
Rose Sylvester
About Rose
Rose owns a business that makes petroleum jelly and vaseline products to moisturize skin and protect it from the harsh weather in Bauchi State. It also helps to keep skin hydrated, soft, and healthy for those who use vaseline everyday after bathing.
Rose's future goals are to provide her children with high levels of education, to own a shop in a strategic area to increase her profit, and to train other women in the community in vaseline-making."
Rose Sylvester
Community Impact
Rose Sylvester
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
$209 RAISED
$541 NEEDED
$750 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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