Internship Connections II Program

The Internship Connections II Program, based in Pretoria, South Africa, is co-implemented by the Center for International Exchange and Visitors (CIEV) and the Academy for Educational Development (AED). It is a unique civil society development program combining traditional technical and leadership training with intercultural exchange and immersion.The program is designed for young international leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, and Nepal working in the fields of health, social work, education and the environment.

The two week exchanges give participants the opportunity to learn how colleagues in different professional contexts address issues in their field and share technical skills and professional best practices.Mentors provide professional leadership and guidance, as well as in-depth technical assistance. Participants learn about the field hands-on through experiential learning gained in organizational site visits where they view a vibrant civil society sector at work, as well as explore theoretical applications through technical workshops.English is the common language for the program and language instruction is provided as needed to strengthen participant language skills.  

The program is intended to increase mutual understanding and the development of capacity through sharing of technical knowledge and best practices.The Internship Connections II Program is funded by AED, CIEV, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).