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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
CLICK EACH MEMBER TO LEARN MORE.
Mason Charkatz
The Bullis School
Class of 2026
Mason Charkatz is a rising freshman at The Bullis School. Mason is a dedicated student who strives to do the best he can in school and at home. Mason Charkatz will be in three honors classes this year. Honors, biology, geometry, and language arts. Mason Charkatz enjoys technical theater at his school and has been evolved since sixth grade. He wants to participate in the National Honors Society this year. During his free time he enjoys baking and working on physical health. Mason Charkatz is thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the International Business & Development Program this year. Mason Charkatz hopes to be an entrepreneur and start his own business one day. Mason will use the skills and knowledge taught to him during this internship to help him succeed in his goals.
Jinho Yoon
The Bullis School
Class of 2026
Jinho yoon is a rising freshman at the Bullis School. Jinho yoon is taking part in 2 honors classes this year and plans on expanding to more. Jinho Yoon is excited to participate in the business IIP program this year. He wants to gain an array of skills that can be useful in his future and is trying out different things. He someday hopes to become skilled in computer sciences with a basic knowledge of business. Jinho Yoon is excited to participate in the business IIP program this year. He wants to gain an array of skills that can be useful in his future and is trying out different things. He someday hopes to become skilled in computer sciences with a basic knowledge of business.
Noah Yablonsky
The Bullis School
Class of 2026
Noah Yablonsky is a rising ninth grader at The Bullis School. Noah was accepted into the National Junior Honors Society while in middle school and will be taking all three of his schools offered honors classes in ninth grade. Noah enjoys playing golf and tennis with friends. He also enjoys working in his school Tech Crew where they build sets and props for the school play. Noah plans on participating in the program throughout high school. In his free time, Noah enjoys hanging out with friends and making short videos. Noah is excited to participate in the International Business and Development Internship this year. He has been extremely interested in how businesses work for many years and hopes to one day own his own business. After the program, Noah would like to apply his learnings to his own life and work.
Chase Arends
Quince Orchard High School
Class of 2026
Chase Arends is a rising freshman at Quince Orchard High School. Chase is an honor student pursuing a specialized degree in project lead the way and piano. He is enrolled in advanced placement classes. Chase Arends enjoys playing the piano, biking, and engineering. Chase is excited to be entering high school and is looking forward to participating in the many clubs they offer. He volunteered this past summer as a counselor in training for Gaithersburg camps. During his free time, he enjoys exercising and hanging out with friends. Chase Arends is excited to be participating in the international business and development program this school year. He enjoys solving problems and working with friends. In the future, Chase Arends wants to use the skills he learns during the IL program and use them to run his own business.
Our Business Partner
David Richard
Business Statistics
David hopes to help other young people escape poverty by hiring them to his company.
David's target audience is for anyone over 18 so he works with a wide range of people.
David Richard
About David
His family is very important to him. He has worked very hard to provide for his family. He has had his business for 20 years and plans to be his own company.
David Richard
Community Impact
David also works very hard to provide for his family and bring food and shelter.
One day David wants to be able to help others escape poverty when he starts a company, he will employ young people so they will never have to know what it is like to face poverty.
David Richard
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
$615 RAISED
$135 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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