Julia Smith is lucky enough to have been accepted to the Canadian Co-operative Association’s Youth Experience International Internship Program. This coming September she will begin six months in Nairobi, Kenya, working for the International Co-operative Alliance as a Gender and Development Officer.

While there, she hopes to gain an understanding of the gender issues experienced in Kenya co-operatives, raise awareness of the negative impacts of gender inequalities on the co-operative movement, provide useful educational material and help those who wish to implement changes.

“Since spending a year in South Africa in 1998/1999, I’ve wanted to return to the African continent,” says Julia. “I’m thrilled to do so now while working on issues (gender and co-op development) that I began to research during my undergraduate studies and my work at BCICS. I’m sure living in Nairobi and taking on this position will be a thrilling challenge.”

The Canadian Co-operative Association is sending nine other interns to various locations in Africa and India to also do work on gender, as well as on youth co-operatives and HIV/Aids education. The Youth Experience International Internships is partly funded through the Canadian International Development Agency. More information on the program is available at www.coopcca.com/coopdevelopment/internationaldev/youthexperience/