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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.
Reeshi Patel
Henrico High School
Class of 2023
Reeshi Patel is a rising senior at Henrico High School. Reeshi is an all A honor roll student who is enrolled in all International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses since freshman year.
Reeshi loves playing basketball and plays volleyball on the varsity level for his school. At school, he was the treasurer in his junior year for his school’s Key Club. He also is a member of the Technology Student Association (TSA), Mock Trial, and National Honor Society. Outside of school, Reeshi had a summer job at Frost Gelato and interns for Data Concepts ( an IT Consulting Company) over the summer. Reeshi is actively giving back to his community by volunteering at his local YMCA to coach 5-9 year olds recreational soccer league. He also raised over 3000 dollars with his team for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), where he in total raised over 750 dollars.
Reeshi is excited to be participating in the International Business and Development Internship throughout the school year. He has also participated in the International Leadership and Business Internship over the 2022 summer. He loves the idea of operating a business and what comes with starting one and marketing it. Someday in the future, he hopes to use his skills he has learned about businesses and leadership to create a business that affects the world for the greater good and/or become a CFO of a large corporation.
Gavin Brunhofer
Bishop Moore Catholic School
Class of 2023
Gavin Brunhofer is a rising senior at Bishop Moore High School. Gavin is a dedicated high honor student who takes both Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes.
Gavin enjoys coaching youth sport teams and helping out his local and international community. Gavin is an officer for Catholic Relief Services, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, English Honor Society, and Best Buddies.
Gavin is excited to be participating in the International Leadership and Business Internship. He loves having the ability to help people and transform communities. When I am older, I hope to either be a businessman or lawyer.
Ahmed Ali Ikli
United Nations International School
Class of 2023
Ahmed is excited to be participating in the International Leadership and Business internship this summer. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs and help them develop strong business plans.
As a rising senior at United Nations International School, Ahmed is a dedicated student enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Ahmed is involved with multiple non-profit organizations. He is the marketing manager of Funding Bright Futures. Ahmed is also an intern at New Neighbors Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping refugees settle in NYC. Aside from volunteering, Ahmed ikli is a part of the Finance Club at his high school. He has been a senior member for 3 years and hopes to become vice president in the future. Ahmed is a part of the high school varsity soccer team, and also plays competitive club soccer in NYC.
In the future, Ahmed hopes to study economics in the United States. Ahmed is interested in the study of economics due to its innovative ways of solving socio-political problems. Ahmed is particularly passionate about how economic policies affect domestic stakeholders. He hopes to work in a field related to economics, whether that be at the federal reserve, or on Wall Street.
Our Internship Team
CLICK EACH MEMBER TO LEARN MORE.
Antonio Athias
United Nations International School
Class of 2023
Antonio Athias is grateful and excited to have the opportunity to participate in the International internship program this summer. He is looking forward to helping entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa to be successful in their endeavors and to be able to help their community economically. Furthermore, he is also looking forward to learning important life lessons and skills from these entrepreneurs.
A rising senior at the United Nations International School (UNIS) in New York City, Antonio has lived in Istanbul, Turkey for five years and in San Salvador, El Salvador for three years. He is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and he has strong roots in Brazil and Sri Lanka, where his parents are from. Antonio is a hardworking student who is enrolled in the IB diploma program at UNIS. Antonio is the proud leader of UNIS-UN, a club that hosts an annual student-led conference at the UN General Assembly. Outside of school, Antonio is an avid debater and soccer player and practices Muay Thai.
Antonio would like to study law, international business, economics, and international relations. He would like nothing more than to study economics and business in different countries and build the skills to affect his community and the world positively.
Joseph Dorsey
Bishop McNamara High School
Class of 2023
Joseph Dorsey Jr is a rising senior at Bishop McNamara High School. Joseph is a dedicated student-athlete who was inducted into the National Honor Society and enrolled in honors courses.
Joseph is also very proud of his participation in Project P.R.I.D.E and Wind Ensemble (Band) as a trombonist. He also plays and starts on his high school’s varsity baseball team and enjoys working out.
Joseph is excited to be participating in the International Business & Development Internship program. He loves learning about business management and hopes to have his own business in the future.
Johnny Maloney
Bishop McNamara High School
Class of 2023
Johnny Maloney is an aspiring finance major currently as a senior at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Johnny Maloney is a dedicated student with the current dream of attending the University of Notre Dame. Johnny has a rigorous schedule filled with Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment and honors courses.
Johnny also loves playing football, baseball and golf. He plays football and baseball for his school and loves it. He is in the athletic honors society and social studies honor society at his school. During his free time Johnny plays lots of golf with friends and family.
Johnny Maloney is excited about being in the IIP business internship with his friends throughout the year. Johnny is passionate about finance and would love to learn more about what makes a business successful. In the future, Johnny wants to use his finance background to make an impact in the sport world.
Aidan White
Knoxville Catholic High School
Class of 2023
Aidan White is a graduating senior at Knoxville Catholic High School. Aidan White is an honor student enrolled in five Advanced Placement courses.
Aidan White enjoys playing football and basketball recreationally. At school he is a track runner and a founding member of the chess club. He loves to read, write, and spend time with friends in his spare time.
I am very excited to partake in the Business Leadership Initiatives Program, because I hope to make a real impact on real communities. I wish to one day join into the business field and hope to culminate the skills required through the program throughout the school year.
Our Business Partner
Adamu Musa
Business Statistics
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Adamu Musa
About Abubakar
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Adamu Musa
Community Impact
Adamu Musa
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
$1125 RAISED
$375 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.
CLICK BELOW TO VIEW OUR GLOBALGIVING PAGE
