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Our Internship Team

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Lucy An-Lee

The Mary Louis Academy

Class of 2025

Lucy An-Lee is a sophomore at The Mary Louis Academy. Lucy is enrolled in all honors and A.P. classes. She is a part of various activities such as her school newspaper, Mariel and Girl Scouts.

Lucy is a member of her school's soccer and badminton teams. During her first year of high school, she completed over 80 hours of service for her school, parish, and community. In her free time, she likes to draw, read, and spend time with her loved ones.

Lucy is enthusiastic to be working with Leadership Initiatives. She aims to learn and achieve great things through this program.

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Sarah Brito

The Mary Louis Academy

Class of 2024

Sarah Brito is a student at The Mary Louis Academy. She is a rising junior there. She is in all honors and AP classes. She is a part of her school's english diploma designation. She is very academics oriented and focused on school work.

Sarah Brito takes part in multiple extracurricular activities. She is a part of her school's speech and debate club. She also takes part in her schools theater program. She had been involved in theater for many years before that. She enjoys reading a writing in her free time.

Sarah Brito is very excited to be a part of the International Business and Development Program. She is very interested in what this program has to offer. She is also interested in the experiences that it will provide her. She is excited to begin working with her team.

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Alexandra Opre

The Mary Louis Academy

Class of 2024

Alexandra Opre is a rising junior in The Mary Louis Academy school. Alexandra Opre is an honors student and is very dedicated towards her grades.

Alexandra Opre is on the track team and in robotics. Alexandra enjoys running and making new things. She likes to hang out with friends, play video games and learn new things on her free time.

Alexandra Opre is excited to do the Business and Leadership internship this year. Alexandra wants to be an engineer when she gets older and she hopes that this program will help her be able to make a business with that passion.

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Sophie Longchamp

The Mary Louis Academy

Class of 2025

Sophie Longchamp is a fresh sophomore at The Mary Louis Academy. Sophie Longchamp is a talented student inrolled in her schools art designation program.

Sophie Longchamp enjoys doing sports at her school, such as cross country and track and field. When she is not on the track, Sophie enjoys drawing, listening to music, and origami.

Sophie is excited to be participating in the International Business & Development Internship this year. She wants to learn better leadership skills, and appreciates what college benefits it will give her.

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Anastasia Sutton

Saint Mary's College Preparatory

Class of 2024

Anastasia Sutton is a junior attending Saint Mary's High School. Anastasia is a committed hard-working honors student that is enrolled in Advanced Placement courses.

Anastasia has a passion for playing the piano and takes part in her school's Lacrosse team. She also participates in the school's musicals and plays over the school year. She helps to run fundraisers for her church and sings in the Chamber Choir. During her free time, she likes to read and play with her little sisters.

Anastasia is very thrilled to be able to do the International Internship Program - Business Development this year. She has always been very interested in the art of entrepreneurship as her aunt runs a small business which has inspired her to have an interest in the business. She is very excited to have real-world experience of what it is like to help develop a business and to help the people in Nigear by growing there buniesses.

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Our Business Partner

Shamsuddeen Bala

Business Statistics

Mr. Shamsuddeen learned tailoring for 2 years and runs his own shop for 13 years since 2009.

Not only does Mr. Shamsuddeen offer quality service, he also has taken on numerous apprentices. So far, he's had 10 people learn tailoring work skills from him.

Shamsudden makes sure to keep up with the latest changes in fashion as that is a large component to succeeding in the tailoring business.

Shamsuddeen Bala

About Shamsuddeen

Shamsuddeen Bala is a 30-year-old young man who lives with his parent and his siblings in the community of Federal Low-Cost in Bauchi. He just got married in September 2022 and is passionate to start a family of his own.

Everyday, he wakes up early to get ready for morning prayer, then prepares to work in his tailoring shop. Shamsuddeen supports his parent with the income he makes from his business to ensure they are able to live a safe and comfortable life. Also, Shamsuddeen pays for his younger siblings school fees so that they can experience a good education.

As Shamsuddeen is known for his quality, diligence and had work, he is a beloved member of his community. Shamsuddeen wants to extend his business and make the world around him a better place.

Shamsuddeen Bala

Community Impact

Through his business, Shamsuddeen supports his parent's so that they can live in better conditions. He also funds his younger siblings tuition for school.

Because of his apprenticeship program, he has had 10 people trained in certain skills needed for employment so that they can succeed. He wants to make clothes affordable and comfortable for everyone.

Shamsuddeen wants to be a tailoring business which exemplifies professionalism and quality.

Shamsuddeen Bala

Our Partnership

Mr. Shamsuddeen is enthusiastic and happy to work with Leadership Initiatives' International Leadership and Business Interns.

Due to a lack of electricity for his equipment, Mr. Shamsudden's business could not reach it's maximum potential. While it is succeeding locally, he wants to expand his business further than his community.

Mr. Shamsuddeen wants his tailoring business to be a diverse and professional company. Further, he wants to be able to support others who wish to enter the field by taking on apprentices.

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

$62 RAISED

$688 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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