Employability skill training and internships are crucial in preparing Mastercard Foundation Scholars for the workforce. Employers strongly value practical experience, exposure to real-world situations, and the chance these programs offer to build essential soft and hard skills. This report highlights the values of employability skill training and internship program in advancing Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ transition to work employability and career advancement.
Key benefits of Employability Skill Training and Internship:
Employability Skill Development: Mastercard Foundation Scholars can improve a variety of skills, including communication, CV writing, effective job application, and interviewing skill, with the aid of employability skill training. For the Mastercard Foundation Scholars to gain these benefits, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar organized a 3-day training for 40 newly graduated Mastercard Foundation Scholars and 8 non-Scholar students with disabilities at the University of Gondar.
After the training, the Program organized a one-month internship opportunity for the graduates in the sector of each graduate’s choice, fitting their fields of study. The internship program is a crucial part of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program’s strategy to help Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ smooth transition from university to the world of work. The internship program was carried out in different governmental and non-governmental organizations. Accordingly, the internship program enabled the interns to gain the following benefits.
- Practical Experience: Through the internship, Mastercard Foundation Scholars obtained real-world experience in the sector of their choice, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world circumstances.
- Networking Opportunities: The Internship opportunity provided Mastercard Foundation Scholars with the chance to build a network of contacts within the organization where they conducted their internship and stakeholders of the host organizations. This network may come in handy in the future while looking for employment opportunities and consulting with experts.
- Professional Development: The internship offered Mastercard Foundation Scholars the chance to develop their professional skills, work ethic, and industry knowledge, fostering personal growth and preparing them for the demands of a professional working environment.
In addition to the one-month professional service in host organizations, Mastercard Foundation Scholars have provided different community giveback services. These include:
- Providing tutorials for elementary school students
- Providing braille writing training for elementary school students with visual impairment
- Providing free legal support service for people who cannot afford the cost of an attorney
Aside from providing their regular services, some interns also raised funds from various organizations to purchase and provide stationery to students from low-income families. They also provided a six-month food aid for children exposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
