Exciting Internship Opportunities Await Mastercard Foundation Alumni

One of the core activities of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar is to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars in their transition to the world of work by bridging the gap between what they learn and what awaits them after graduation. The Program has so far facilitated various opportunities for its Alumni to land jobs and internships, and create their own businesses.

The Program is approaching partner institutions such as Light for the World with the aim to collaborate and secure more internship and employment opportunities for Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni. On that account, Light for the World offered paid internship opportunities for 20 Mastercard Foundation Alumni this year.

The internship program aims to empower Mastercard Foundation Alumni by offering them a valuable opportunity to gain real-world experiences in their fields of study and exposure to real-world challenges within their fields. The Alumni will have the chance to create awareness about disability inclusion, make a positive impact, expand their professional network and secure permanent employment.

To kick off this exciting initiative, a consultative meeting with NGOs that operate in Gondar city and showed interest in accommodating the Mastercard Foundation Alumni, was conducted on August 13, 2024 in Gondar, in the presence of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Co- director, Dr. Molalign Belay and Career & Transition Service Coordinator, Mr. Muluken Jegnie, Disability Inclusion Advisory Unit Manager at Light for the World, Mr. Melaku Teklie and the organizations’ personnel. During the meeting, host organizations’ expectations, overview and objectives of the internship program, roles and responsibilities of Mastercard Foundation, Light for the World, partner organizations and interns and their continued engagement were entertained.

On the next day, Ms. Tesfanesh Talew, Inclusive Employment Officer at Light for the World, hosted an orientation and refresher training sessions on job searching, networking, interviewing skills and work ethics. The sessions were intended to introduce Mastercard Foundation Alumni to the internship program and prepare them for their internship experiences. The session served as a platform to familiarize them with common company culture, values, and expectations. It also provided them with an overview of the projects they will be working on, as well as guidance on how to make the most of their internship experience.

Overall, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar along with Light for the World and the host organizations is working proactively to get an agreement signed and get the internship program underway. Currently, 13 of the 20 Mastercard Foundation Alumni have started their internship.