Global Citizens for Global Health

General Description

The Global Citizens for Global Health program will arrange and oversee short and long-term placements on an as-requested basis with overseas partner organizations, including international and national health organizations, Canadian and overseas NGOs, UN agencies and foreign Ministries of Health. The focus of the program is Health Systems Strengthening (HSS). The program goal is: to contribute to global equality in health by making strategic improvements to the health systems and capacities of developing country governments, international health organizations and development NGOs, while providing young Canadians with education in global health and opportunities for involvement, overseas work experience and possible entry into the field.

CSIH intends that the Global Citizens for Global Health program (GCGH) will:

• help address the gap between the large number of young health and development professionals in Canada looking for international work experience and the shrinking number of paid internship opportunities available;
• offer an alternative to other fee-based international internship programs not focused on global, public health, or which do not necessarily provide the kind of work experience promised, adequate preparation and support, or safety and security measures.

Having operated the International Youth Internship Program (YIP) and Young Professionals Placement Program (YPPP) for more than ten years and managed the overseas work experience of nearly 400 young Canadians in more than 100 organizations, has the networks and expertise to arrange valuable work experience to meet the specific needs of young health and development professionals. CSIH also has the experience and expertise required to properly monitor placements, ensure that learning objectives are met, adequately prepare interns, offer training in global health, and collaborate with overseas hosts to protect interns’ safety and security.