discover the global citizen program The international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL CITIZEN PROGRAM?....................3 WHY INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP MATTERS...............4 HOW WE CREATE LEADERS..................................................5 PROGRAM DETAILS..............................................................6-7 A) PROGRAM OVERVIEW
B) PROGRAM BENEFITS C) FEATURED OPPORTUNITIES
THE AIESEC ADVANTAGE......................................................8 NOTABLE ALUMNI.....................................................................9 HOW TO APPLY.........................................................................10
what is the global citizen program? Why we do what we do The vision of AIESEC is Peace and Fulfilment of Humankind’s Potential. We believe that creating responsible and entrepreneurial young leaders today is the best way to fulfill humankind’s potential. To achieve this, we send young people on global internships and provide companies in Canada with international talent through our Global Citizen and Global Talent programs. What is Global Citizen? AIESEC’s Global Citizen program is an intercultural internship program powered by AIESEC that gives university students and recent graduates the opportunity to take on an international volunteer experience. Internships are available in a variety of countries, in a variety of work settings, from NGOs, to universities, to small businesses. Internships last from 6 - 8 weeks and are designed to give you the personal development experience that will take you one step further in your career, while the experience of living abroad will allow you to grow as a person. Is the Global Citizen program right for you? We are looking for talented, proactive young leaders with a passion for learning from new experiences and a keen interest in developing their leadership potential personally and professionally. If you are interested in a global career, or even just looking for your next career direction and are passionate about travel, an AIESEC internship is a perfect place for you to jumpstart your future.
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why international leadership matters Leadership matter because it is, and always has been, what makes our world a better place. The world is changing fast and education systems are leaving young people unprepared to deal with the pace of economic, social and technological change. We need young leaders with the right skills and global mindset to improve our world. Why international leadership? Our world is becoming increasingly globalized--both individuals and organizations must learn to cooperate internationally in order to be successful. The ability to work with people across cultures, with varied cultural values, is extremely important and highly valued in organizations. The global mindset gained from experiencing a new culture is indesensible as well. Canada needs more leaders with an international skill set and perspective.
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how we create leaders
AIESEC’s programs run according to our Experiential Leadership Development model. AIESEC provides a platform for personal and professional growth by providing practical leadership experiences to tens of thousands of young people all over the world, where they have the freedom to fail and confidence to learn. The “Outer Journey” constitutes facing challenges, working with people and achieving results. By placing yourself in challenging environments, you force yourself to develop skills and discover things you never knew. The “Inner Journey” comprises of personal reflection and self-discovery, through which you better understand yourself and your personal values. Both components of the model are essential to creating better leaders with responsibility to the world.
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PROGRAM DETAILS
The Global Citizen program is an opportunity to develop yourself personally by making a direct, positive impact in communities abroad. The Process: 1. Contact your local university chapter to learn more about the program and how to apply. 2. After applying and passing the screening process at your local chapter, you will be directed to pay the program fee of $465 to start applying to internships. 3. After applying to several internships, you will match to one and accept a job. 4. Before departure, the local chapter will help prepare you for your internship. 5. While on your internship, the local AIESEC chapter in that country will support you with food and accommodations (varies by internship) and integrating into the local culture. 6. Upon your return to Canada, the local Canadian chapter will support you in reintegrating back into Canada and sharing your story. Benefits: Personal development • By volunteering in a new cultural environment and taking on challenges at your job, you will be challenged to grow and adapt, an invaluable skill for any workplace. Global mindset • You will be working in another culture, interacting with interns from all over world, and educating others about Canadian culture. This level of global interaction will challenge you to examine your own cultural values. And this kind of intercultural communication is a rare and valuable skill. Societal impact • By volunteering with an organization, you will be directly impacting communities abroad. You will be able to change people’s lives every single day, which is infinitely rewarding. You may even discover something new about yourself and your values.
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what do i do in the program? literacy In these internships, you will support NGOs, schools and other organizations in educating the community. This takes the form of teaching lessons and facilitating activities in a variety of subjects, including English language education. You will be able to directly impact an community. Students range from young children to university students to adults.
cultural understanding Exposure to new cultures is empowering for many communities. In this field, you will teach students about new cultures, with an emphasis on Canadian culture, to better their understanding of the world. Students range from young children to university level.
social entrepreneurship These internships will allow you to empower the community through social entrepreneurship projects. Depending on the internship, you will work directly with a social enterprise or teach skills needed for entrepreneurship, including financial, marketing and English skills.
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THE AIESEC ADVANTAGE With so many international internship opportunities out there, it can be tough to choose the right one for you. What sets AIESEC apart is the level of support you will receive from our members throughout your entire experience. Since AIESEC is an entirely youth-run organization, we are uniquely suited to help students like you through the challenges associated with going abroad. Many AIESEC members have gone abroad themselves and use their past experiences to provide students with the best possible experience.
Before you leave • • • • • • • • • • •
Support with finding the right opportunity for you Visa and invitation letter support Pre-departure cultural support workshops During your internship Accommodation provided or coordinated for you In-country orientation by local AIESEC members Social support in integrating into the local community Support in case of emergencies After you return Support with reverse culture shock Opportunities to share your story
Lifelong connection • New friends from across the world • Opportunities to pursue other experiences within AIESEC • Access to global network of over 1 million alumni
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NOTABLE ALUMNI blake goldring
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AGF Management Limited I believe the root of many of the world’s problems is misunderstanding and intolerance. So if I thought back in University the idea behind AIESEC was important then, it is ten times more so today. The relevance of AIESEC’s principles and values remains significant over the past fifty years. There was no better place to forge relationships critical to my personal and professional growth than in AIESEC. Unique coincidences and fortunate circumstances were stepping stones on my journey, but AIESEC was a conduit to many of these.
colin baril
Managing Consultant, IBM Global Business Services Recently I was asked to stand up in front of a crowd of student leaders and tell them why they should get involved with AIESEC. While I can honestly say that my years in AIESEC gave me the proper training for a situation like this, my most powerful tool at that moment was not a well-crafted speech. It was a little piece of paper I keep on hand that has written on it the names of seventeen individuals from my hometown of Edmonton who I am proud to say I helped send around the world on AIESEC internships.
TALLIE RABIN-CLAASSEN
Manager, Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies The beauty of AIESEC is it allowed me to take risks and discover things about myself I never knew I had in me. Project Little Schools taught me that I could start something from scratch. This experience invigorated me to run for President of the National Committee, an experience that truly was a ‘whole new world’. I never thought I would put myself ‘out there’ to be judged, but I am so glad I did as I came to know myself as a leader on a profound level.
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HOW TO APPLY
AIESEC.CA/REGISTER
get started at aiesec.ca/register
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