Youth Initiative Program Internships 2019

Hello everyone! We are 25 young people from 14 different countries participating in the International Youth Initiative
Program (YIP). YIP is a societal entrepreneurship training, offering a holistic educational program that promotes an expanded global and personal awareness. YIP aims to strengthen young people’s capacity to take initiative in the face of current global challenges.

In February 2019 we begin the internship bloc of the program as we travel across the world on international internships.  We will broaden and deepen our awareness and knowledge of other cultures and systems while gaining first hand experience of working as part of local initiatives creating positive change. Our internships are in the realms of sustainability, education, agriculture and sociological challenges.

To make these internships possible we are asking for financial support. The funds we raise will enable us to give our time to these organisations, receive the gifts of their wisdom and take inspiration from the work they are doing. 

Aside from our gofundme campaign, we have also hosted a craft stall at a local fair, Open Mic musical evenings and silent auctions. If you would like to learn more about our fundraising efforts and see our budget, please email Rachael : [email redacted]. 

Are you curious about where we are going and who we will learn from?

Five of us will travel to Nepal where we will be staying at The Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco-Foundation (KRMEF ) which is an NGO established in 2008 in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Their aim is to create a healthy, sustainable environment that embodies eco friendly practices for the well-being of local communities. Activities include building eco homes, working in the permaculture garden, and helping out in the kindergarten. We will also travel and visit other initiatives,  working with education, care-work, sustainable agriculture, organics and permaculture. The money we raise will go towards paying for our food, accommodation and travel. The money invested in food and accommodation goes directly to the organizations we are working with and we will volunteer our time and service to support their projects and initiatives. 

Eight of us from will be traveling together through the Philippines for our internship. Beginning in Baguio where we will be working with a Waldorf School and youth facilitation organizations like YNOT, we will then move to Bayawan where we will have the opportunity to engage with the various initiatives connected to MISSION, a three-folding organization taking steps towards improving the lives of people in the Philippines through different social movements. Our plans then lead us to Cebu where we will work to support initiatives centered on local food and growing farmers markets in the area, and finishing our time with Nicanor Perlas to look more closely at three-folding and the emergence of organic farming and food in the Philippines. We are ready and excited to see where the eight of us can put our power into action. With your help, the money we raise will go towards supporting our journey in engaging with the people and culture of this place. The money will allow us to support the various initiatives and hosts that have helped us to organize our internship and who we will be learning from and working with in the Philippines. It will also be used to pay for our food, accommodation and travel while there.


Four of us will travel to the vibrant and bustling city of São Paulo, Brazil which will become our home as we visit social initiatives of  people who have put their passion for a better world into action. These include Elos Institute and Dream factory, where  local people make community dreams come true through processes of social engagement such as the Oasis game. Later we will practice the Oasis game with a rural farming community. Another week we will be based at Monte Azul , an anthroposophically inspired community-school in the local favelas, where the educational focus is the development of the human being. The money we raise will go towards our hosts, food, accommodation, transportation, and supplies for projects.


Five of us will travel to the north of Brazil and venture into the Amazon rainforest on a learning journey exploring the relationship between humans and nature. We will be staying with local hosts in two Amazonian communities, Maues and Tumbira, where we will participate in local life and experience a different way of being. In Maues we will learn from and support projects related to midwifery, music, culture and local food such as guarana. In Tumbira we will be in a Rio Negro (Black River) protected area learning from community leaders about sustainability practices, natural textile production and forest conservation on an individual and collective level. This internship costs 1300 euros per person. We will be self funding 800 euros per person. We need help with the remaining 500 euros. Money raised will go our local hosts in Sao Paulo, Manaus, Maues and Tumbira, as well as contributing towards a portion of our food and accommodation costs throughout our journey.


Three of us will travel to SEKEM  in Egypt. The SEKEM Initiative was founded to realize the vision of sustainable human development. Its mission is the development of the individual, society and environment through a holistic concept which integrates economic, societal and cultural life. In 1977, Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish started the SEKEM Initiative on an untouched part of the Egyptian desert (70 hectares) 60 km northeast of Cairo. Using Biodynamic agricultural methods, desert land was revitalized and a striving agricultural business developed. Over the years, SEKEM became the umbrella of a multifaceted agro-industrial group of companies and NGOs. Today, SEKEM is regarded as a leading social business worldwide. While we are there, Eun-woo will work in the different schools, Yona will work in the different arts departments, and Camilla will work in NatureTex textiles, and partially also in the school. The money we raise will go towards our accommodation costs for 50days (300 euro per person) including meals and transport to SEKEM.