Our Work

reSource Internship Program

Over the last 12 years, Samaritan’s Purse Canada has equipped and sent a total of 89 young Canadians to serve as interns in nearly 20 developing countries. This unique program is offered in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

These university graduates apply to work in some of the neediest communities alongside local partners, focusing on relationship-building and community participation. Historically, internship positions have focused on the implementation of the Household Water Program in communities with little or no access to safe water sources. In 2010, Samaritan’s Purse Canada is excited to launch a pilot Women’s Initiatives Track with four positions in addition to eight positions in the Water Track.

Interns in the Water Track will be equipped to support our local partners in a variety of aspects of the Household Water Program based on specific needs identified by the partners. This includes constructing and installing BioSand Water Filters, assisting in the development of monitoring tools, computer and database development for local staff, teaching health and hygiene principles, as well as providing other education to communities. Interns are often also involved with evaluation and follow-up, and other important aspects of the Household Water Program.

Interns in the Women’s Initiatives Track will contribute to Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s women’s projects that aim to build capacity and create opportunities for women in the developing world to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation. Interns will be involved with research and collecting baseline data to help our partner organizations involved in tackling these issues, in addition to assisting in the development of a curriculum geared toward building the capacity of grassroots practitioners involved in women’s development projects in Africa and Asia. This curriculum will encompass areas such as: effective community outreach models, organizational development, counseling, and income generation activities.

Experience and Training

Samaritan’s Purse has partnered with CIDA since 1998, and has sent Canadian interns to work on projects in 19 countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In preparation for the important role interns will play in their diverse projects while working overseas, a heavy emphasis is placed on internship training. Interns participate in a three-week, in-depth training course at the Samaritan’s Purse Canada head office in Calgary, AB prior to departure.

Internship Program Details

Internship Placements

• Applications are being accepted until Monday, March 15, 2010 for the following internship placements:
  • reSource Interns – Water Track (eight positions – Bolivia, Cambodia, El Salvador, and Ethiopia)
  • reSource Interns – Women’s Initiatives Track (four positions – Ethiopia and the Philippines)

• Read more about Internship application

Length of Internship

• The 2010 internship program will run from May to November 2010. Training lasts approximately three weeks and begins on May 3 in Calgary. Interns will depart for their overseas placements near the end of May and will return to Canada at the end of October for two weeks of debriefing.

Training

• Training includes, but is not limited to, workshops on project management, community health and wellness, HIV/AIDS, safety and security, communication on the field, and cross-cultural adaptation. Specific in-depth training on the BioSand Water Filter technology as well as on issues affecting women in the developing world will be conducted with the Water and Women’s Initiatives interns respectively.

Costs

• Samaritan’s Purse will arrange and pay for travel overseas, in-country accommodation, and a monthly stipend to assist with expenses.
• Interns must provide for overseas food expense, personal spending, and vaccinations (unless regionally specific).
• If an individual is from outside of Calgary, he or she must also cover living expenses associated with accommodations during training and debriefing. Room and board can be provided if requested.
• Read more about Internship application

Internship Application Guidelines

• Interested applicants must fall under the requirements set by Samaritan’s Purse Canada and CIDA.
• Application deadline for 2010 internship placements is Monday, March 15, 2010.
• Read more about Internship application

Background

• The internship program began in 1998 and 89 Canadian interns have participated so far.
• Interns have worked in 19 countries including Kenya, Uganda, Niger, Mozambique, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Honduras, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Ways You Can Help
Pray Please pray that God will continue to provide direction to Samaritan’s Purse, as we respond to people’s needs, share the love of Christ, and serve the church worldwide.		Give The need is urgent. A child is dying every 20 seconds in the developing world from diarrhoeal diseases caused by polluted water. Donate Here.