Interested in Applying for Cohort 3 in January 2026?
Global Citizenship Training (GCT) developed by McMaster University's Dr Lydia Kapiriri, is provided in an online, self-paced format. The learning platform provides guidelines and support from the course facilitators. GCT must be completed prior to commencement of in-person Pre-Departure Training. The topics covered by GCT include:
IYIP orientation
Motivation for going abroad
Where on earth am I going? (Ghana and Liberia context)
Diverse Global traditions (Focus on Ghana and Liberia)
Institutions and agreements (Focus on industry students will be working in)
Relevant Canadian policy (Focus on Ghana and Liberia)
Fostering cultural humility
Understanding Histories and decolonizing learning
Global Ethics
Intercultural communication
Reflection Strategies (story-telling)
Climate change and the environment
Voluntourism and better approaches
Identifying and challenging biases and assumptions
Addressing needs and improving efficiency using innovative thinking
Pre-Departure Training (PDT) consists of 5 days of in-person workshops at Empowerment Squared's Offices in Hamilton, and covers the following topics:
Safety abroad and risk mitigation
Host team interactions via virtual connections
Financial management abroad
Students to develop an action plan aligned with the students' next career development steps
IT Training (Google docs and tools)
Health and travel insurance
Review of liability forms and compliance information (e.g. contracts)
PDT is also the Cohort's first opportunity to really get to know each other in person and start building the relationships that will form a key part of their support structure over the duration of their placements. Also, there may be volleyball...
Acclimatization Training (AT) spans the first week of interns' placements in Ghana and Liberia and is delivered by the local teams. It is the first opportunity for Cohorts to connect their theoretical learning on culture and space to the lived experience and get the essential guidance they need on navigating their new homes for the next three months. AT includes the following:
Introduction to the Country and Culture
Language Basics and Communication
Practical Information for Daily Living
Health and Wellness Guidelines
Safety and Security Protocols
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Legal and Compliance Overview
Understanding Local Communities
Cultural Sensitivity Training
Community Engagement Strategies
Research Methodology and Data Collection
Immediately following their international internship placement, interns will participate in Reintegration Training (RT), with activities spread over approximately 10 days of flexible activity, with 3 scheduled group sessions built into the program. RT aims to:
Support interns in unpacking, contextualizing, and integrating their international experience
Provide the opportunity to begin sharing their experience in a supportive environment with their peers
Synthesize the professional and personal aspirations they've worked on (mapping future plans and identifying steps involved)
Using their internship placement as a ‘launch pad’ for future plans (resume review and informational interviews)
Offer networking opportunities
"The most valuable part of the training for me was the ice breakers and the opportunity to get to know each other before diving into the session. I was initially concerned about how we would connect as a group, so having that time to build rapport before reaching our destination helped ease that worry."
"The most valuable part of training was going through our career goals and LinkedIn profiles."
"Identify areas of support early and who you want to connect with; LinkedIn is a great tool for engagement with non-profit work."
"My key takeaways were to be open to the cultural experience and be open to the heat."
"Learning how to conduct yourself in-front of different people (elders vs youth) and in different settings (i.e rural vs urban)."
"Self care is important, support one another, boundaries are OK, learn how to skillfully remove yourself from uncomfortable situations."
"Bias that we have regarding certain social situation, phrases that are used in daily life which I can recognize now when spoken, emotional intelligence in terms of how to deal with people or to even question am I disrespecting a norm?"
"Qualitative and quantitative research go hand and hand."
"When the facilitators guided us through role-playing exercises on how to interact and conduct ourselves while collecting data from the community.?
In addition to the Training outlined above, interns benefit from virtual connections before travel, through Information Sessions (see our most recent info session slides to the left). You can also request a connection.
While in Africa, virtual connections include:
Intern Team Meetings
1:1 Individual Coaching Meetings
Virtual Coffee Chats to connect interns to their supporters back home
Scheduled Group Mentorship Sessions