Women in Progress (WIP)
Job Location: Cape Coast, Ghana
Employment Date: Semester Long
Work Schedule: Full-time
Salary: Unpaid
Organization Description:
Women in Progress
works to achieve economic independence of women and alleviate poverty at
a grassroots level in Ghana through the sustainable growth of small
women-owned businesses and at the same time establishes mutual
understanding among people of diverse cultures. Their philosophy is that
the best way to improve the standard of living for those living in
poverty is by assisting in the development and expansion of women-owned
businesses in order to generate new jobs and increase income levels of
women. Empowering women through income generation enhances both their
self-esteem and their ability to participate in decisions that affect
them within the home and community. Playing the central role in ensuring
the social and economic well being of their families, women who are
presented economic opportunities ensure the basic survival of their
family through increased access to food, housing, security, healthcare,
education, and justice.
Women in Progress
programs support the development of micro and small woman-owned
enterprises through workforce training, new technology, and in-depth
projects that focus on improving internal efficiencies, competing more
effectively in existing markets, gaining access to new markets, and
engaging in international trade.
Additional information can be found at the Women in Progress web site: http://www.womeninprogress.org Orientation to the organization and project materials will be provided for interns upon arrival in Ghana.
Job Description:
· Interns
will be matched with women-owned businesses where the intern's skill
set fills a need and in an area where the intern expresses interest.
Interns generally work in teams with local staff, volunteers and other
students, in order to bring a more diversified and complete skill set to
each client. Interns will be assigned to 1-3 clients and assist them
with various business development areas. Interns may also provide
one-on-one support to drop-ins at the Women's Technology Center.
Students should indicate which project areas they are interested when
they apply for an internship with Women in Progress.
· Areas in which the organization could use the assistance of an intern:
•Web site design, creative design
•Business
-- marketing, accounting, management (business plan development, market
research -- searching out companies in Europe or the US that would be a
good fit with Women in Progress products; goal is to help women's
businesses become self-sustaining)
•Grant proposal writing
•Computer skills transfer -- spreadsheet, bookkeeping, letter writing
•Crafts, clothing, jewelry design, marketing and production
Qualifications:
Academic tracks that are well suited for an internship are Business,
particularly Imports/Exports, Micro-enterprise Development, Marketing,
Adult Education, Information Systems and Technology, Computer Training,
Graphic Design and Grant Writing.
Knowledge
of social issues and micro-enterprise development strategies in Africa
is helpful. Interns must demonstrate some or all of the following
skills: Computer Applications (Word, Excel, database design, e-mail,
etc.), Internet research skills, Business Planning and Management,
Marketing, Web page development, or International Business and Trade.
Language Ability Needed: English
Duration of Internship: 3 months