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Business Development and Microfinance Internship in Latin America

The most common issue affecting many communities throughout the world is a lack of economic opportunity. Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) works to support communities throughout Nicaragua, Argentina, and Bolivia with the tools they need to acquire employment and build successful businesses. Our community work focuses on strengthening programs that build economic wellbeing within communities.

While working with FSD, you will have the chance to support financial inclusion through self-help groups - groups that enable men and women to build savings and credit, and form linkages with banks; financial literacy education; microfinance/microenterprise support; and community-based trainings, including locally applicable vocational skills, business plan development, bookkeeping and business management, and marketing/outreach. Training is offered through various methods such as workshops, individual counseling, peer networking, and mentoring programs.

Internship Highlights

  • Interns will work directly in community organizations to support business development, microfinance, and microenterprise in Nicaragua, Bolivia, or Argentina.
  • You will have the opportunity to develop a truly sustainable project during your time in-country. Our site teams will help support your project development and give guidance as needed.
  • All interns have the opportunity to write a grant proposal through the FSD Grant Writing Competition (optional). For interns interested in a career in nonprofits, proposal writing is extremely helpful
  • Our in-country site teams provide in-depth training on development topics and 24-hour support for anything you may need during your stay abroad.
  • Interns live with host families to foster community integration and cultural understanding.
When interns arrive in the field, FSD in-country teams will lead an orientation, providing each intern with invaluable guidance and insight that will help them throughout their program. Orientation is a blend of theoretical topics such as FSD’s asset-based community development model and community-based research and day-to-day details such as how to navigate the local transit system, safety, and security. Through the orientation process, interns are introduced to the people who will be their support network while they are in country: FSD staff, their project supervisors, host organizations, host families, and other interns serving in the area.

FSD internships are designed and structured for university students and recent graduates. A strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning, meaning that interns are learning through the implementation of key phases of work in their internship. FSD site teams conduct training and reflection sessions to assist interns during their cultural integration and during their project planning and development work. We strive to ensure relationships of reciprocal benefit, meaning that both the community and intern benefits from the experience.