CDRI’s internships for high school and college students are designed to enhance the capacity of young people to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of their communities while also providing them practical support as they prepare for their futures.

Training

Interns participate in training sessions using educational materials developed by La Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias (FUNDAEC), rooted in decades of community-based action research in Colombia. These materials help youth develop the knowledge, habits, and skills needed to promote the well-being of their communities.

Action

Each intern is assigned a specific program of action-research. Many interns are currently working in the areas of math and language education, while others contribute to adolescent and adult English-language acquisition. In the past, research projects have also focused on the health and economic lives of young people. Their efforts directly support the upliftment of their communities and generate insights that inform broader education and development efforts.

Mentorship

Every intern is paired with a mentor—professionals, graduate students, and university faculty who volunteer their time. Mentors guide interns in gaining clarity about the decisions before them and support their advancement in all aspects of life. Through this relationship, interns receive structured support navigating practical matters such as finances, health, family life, higher education, and work.

Scholarships for College Interns

To support their pursuits in higher education, college interns are awarded a substantial scholarship each year they participate in the program. This financial support offsets the need for menial work and enables them to continue their studies while dedicating meaningful time to service in the community.

A Transformative Experience

Interns consistently describe the program as life-shaping. As one participant shared:

“I understand now that my purpose and everything I do must be towards the objective of bettering humanity and helping as many people as I can.”