Have you ever wondered what your professional journey would look like without internships or mentoring? Internships have proven to be a critical step in providing young people with the opportunity to gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and create networks that can open doors for future employment opportunities. At STAR-Ghana Foundation, we recognize the potential of young people to contribute to development, and we believe that internships are effective ways to harness this potential.
We offer two types of internships: the Career Internship program, focusing on post-national service first-degree holders, and the Junior Internship program, supporting teenagers from junior or senior high school to the undergraduate level.
As a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting active citizenship, social inclusion, and the development of a vibrant and responsible civil society in Ghana, nurturing the next generation of leaders through internships is one of our key strategies.
The Foundation offers internships to students and recent graduates in various fields, including governance and democracy, peace and security, gender equality, social justice, and community development. Through these internships, young people are exposed to real-world challenges and given the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical situations. For instance, two of our most recent interns are students who have just finished their basic education. Too young, you think? We say, why not? What better way to nurture these young minds to understand the concepts of active citizenship and community engagement?
A unique aspect of STAR-Ghana's internship program is its emphasis on mentorship. Interns are paired with experienced officers who provide guidance and support throughout the internship period. These mentors help interns understand their roles, navigate the office and project environment, offer feedback and advice, and help them build their professional networks.
The Foundation has received positive feedback from both interns and their mentors. Many interns have reported that their internship experience has been transformative, helping them gain a deeper understanding of development work. They have also highlighted the mentorship aspect of the program as invaluable to their personal and professional growth.
Interns work on meaningful projects that have a direct impact on communities in Ghana. They engage in research, data analysis, policy advocacy, and community engagement activities. Through their work, they contribute to the Foundation's mission of promoting active citizenship and social inclusion.
Henry Wood, a 15-year-old who recently sat for the Basic Education Certificate Exams, is one such intern. While awaiting his results and enrolment in a second cycle institution, Henry chose to spend his free time interning with the Foundation. He is interested in software engineering, business and communications. "Since I started working at STAR-Ghana Foundation, I have learned how to post items on a website from the back-end, put together content and make newsletters, and design flyers for social media posts and websites. I am also learning how to do media monitoring for activities or an organization," Henry, who is now a fist year student at Accra Academy, one of the prominent Senior High Schools in Ghana shared. Mr Wood spend some of his school breaks withthe Foundation in the spirit of continuous improvement.
Similarly, Jazmine Okine joined the Foundation during her school’s summer break. Though she primarily worked with the Administration and Operations workstream, she also provided support to other areas. Among her achievements, Jazmine contributed to the development of a Social Media Plan for the Foundation, offering valuable feedback on reaching different demographics outside the Foundation’s primary audience.
Awurakua Dankyi, a first-year student at a senior high school in the Eastern Region of Ghana, spent a few weeks interning before starting school. She was exposed to the world of advocacy and development, providing admin support and contributing ideas for the Social Media Plan. She also joined a team to Parliament to engage officials on the Foundation’s scheduled Speaker’s Breakfast Forum. Ms Dankyi also spend some of her school vacations with the Foundation to support and learn from the dedicated and willing staff.
Overall, STAR-Ghana Foundation's Junior and Career Internship programs play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders in Ghana. By offering young people the chance to gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and work on meaningful projects, the Foundation empowers them to become active and responsible citizens who can contribute to the development of their communities and the nation. The Foundation is considering formalizing the Junior Internship program with clear parameters, including age limits, roles, restrictions, and reward mechanisms.
