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Training Young Professionals for Sustainable Development
Changing the World – One Posting at a time
Be the Change you seek in the world – Mahatma Gandhi
"There's a big sign somewhere hanging from the heavens saying ‘You are brilliant, the earth is hiring.' You are desperately needed…Please dream, imagine and lead. Think fearlessly. You are the people you've been waiting for."
Ten years ago, IISD decided that our youth were going to be the force that would change the world towards sustainability. So every year since, IISD has sent approximately 30 young Canadian professionals overseas to work in UN organizations, small NGOs and research institutes, largely in developing countries. We now have an alumni of over 300 young Canadians with a lasting commitment to sustainable development. Each intern experienced six months of living, working and training in sustainable development issues. The knowledge gained by this experience has galvanized these young professionals. A recent review of this internship program reveals that 78 per cent of our internship alumni are now working in the area of sustainability, many of them through their work in large Canadian companies.
While each one of the 300 plus participants has gone on to make his or her mark on the world, we need to work with hundreds more – and not just Canadians, but with young professionals from other countries who face similar challenges in gaining entry to the forums where decisions are made, in order to learn and ultimately, to lead.
We cannot do this on our own. IISD will continue to engage, train and advance not just Canada's, but the world's best and brightest. Our aim is to find and support the decision-makers for tomorrow, today.
The Chair of our Alumni Campaign, Dagmar Timmer, believes strongly in the value of this program for future global decision-makers. By donating to the Legacy Fund through the Winnipeg Foundation, alumni are giving back to a program that jumpstarted their futures. Dagmar urges companies and individuals to contribute to the development of future sustainability experts through this unique matching funds project.
The Campaign Goal for this Program is $ 1.5 Million