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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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Aditi Nori
John P. Stevens High School
Class of 2024
Aditi Nori is a rising junior at J.P. Stevens High School. She is a sincere, hardworking individual who continues to do her best to excel in her AP/Honors courses.
Aditi Nori enjoys swimming and baking. At school, she is a member of JSA, a debate club, and has won several best speaker awards from conferences. She is also a part of her school's Key Club & enjoys volunteering regularly with local non-profits.
Aditi is excited to be participating in the International Business and Development Internship this year! She loves learning new ways to improve her strategic thinking and is certain that this internship will help her achieve this goal. In the future, Aditi wants to take the skills she has learned and help change the way business owners think and grow their businesses.
Aditi Sandhir
John P. Stevens High School
Class of 2024
Aditi Sandhir is a rising junior at John P. Stevens High School. Aditi is an enthusiastic and hardworking student who is enrolled in Honors and Advanced Placement courses.
At school, Aditi is on the Student Council Executive Board. She is also a part of HAWKS, a mentoring program in which the school leaders give their time to introduce JPS to all newcomers. Aditi has a passion for cooking, and she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Aditi is looking forward to participating in the International Business & Development Internship this year. She has developed an interest in business after taking several business courses her school offered, and she wants to pursue a career in marketing. Through this internship, Aditi hopes to gain more knowledge and experience regarding the business world.
Our Internship Team
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Sanchita Tendolkar
John P. Stevens High School
Class of 2024
Sanchita Tendolkar is a rising junior at John P. Stevens High School. Sanchita Tendolkar is a hardworking student who is enrolled in multiple Advanced Placement and Honors courses.
Sanchita enjoys singing and baking. At school, she is part of many Choir Clubs and is a leader in the Improv Troupe. She is planning on joining the debate team and has been inducted in the Thespian Honor Society. During her free time, Sanchita enjoys reading and listening to music.
Sanchita is excited to be participating in the International Business & Development Internship. She loves learning about the business world and hopes to pursue a career in the Public Relations field. Using this internship, Sanchita wants to implement the skills she has learned and make a meaningful impact on the business industry.
Ashna Karthik
John P. Stevens High School
Class of 2024
Ashna Karthik is a rising junior at John P. Stevens High School. Ashna is a dedicated honors student and is enrolled in many Advanced Placement classes and is in many clubs and extracurriculars.
Ashna Karthik enjoys singing and reading. At school, Ashna is a member of multiple clubs, such as DECA, Student Council and Model UN. During her free time, Ashna enjoys spending time with her friends and family and playing badminton.
Ashna Karthik is very enthusiastic to participate in the International Business & Development Internship this school year. She is very interested in the business sector of careers and hopes to have a successful job in business in the future.
Ram Gadhamsetty
John P. Stevens High Schoo
Class of 2024
Ram Gadhamsetty is a rising junior at John P. Stevens High School. He is a diligent student and is enrolled in Advanced Placement courses.
Ram is extremely interested in participating in Finance and STEM activities. Additionally, he is a part of Future Business Leaders of America; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; and Student Council Executive Board. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and other sports with his friends.
Moreover, Ram is excited to become an International Business & Development Intern because of his passion for Business. He is looking forward to collaborating with and aiding locals in Nigeria. Furthermore, he hopes to apply the lessons and skills that he gains from this internship to positively impact the people around him.
Our Business Partner
Isah Sani
Business Statistics
Mr. Sani was an apprentice under his boss for 5 years, and then went to school to study public administration and currently works as a shoe cobbler.
Mr. Sani was inspired to begin his cobbling business after watching his friends, who were also cobblers.
Isah Sani
About Isah
Mr. Sani does not compromise on the quality of his products, and believes that what the customers see is what they get. Through his exceptional customer treatment and timely deliveries, Mr. Sani works towards bringing a smile on every customer’s face. With his cobbling business, he hopes to recruit more employees/apprentices and produce them with learning opportunities to get onto their own feet and make their own money. In addition to this, he hopes to open another shop to display all his shoes and bags."
Isah Sani
Community Impact
Mr. Sani hopes to recruit and empower his apprentices in the future by providing them more learning opportunities and overall, hopes to benefit more people in his wider community.
Isah Sani
Our Partnership
Due to the recent pandemic and the financial situation in Bauchi, Mr. Sani had little time to spend expanding his business.
Accordingly, we have worked hard to design various logos, financial tracking systems, and methods of monetary organization to improve his business.
We hope to help him grow his business and help him put a smile on every customer’s face by providing them with high quality shoes and bags.
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
$75 RAISED
$675 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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