Nipissing First Nation youth intern goes to Peru

March 10, 2020
Summer Fisher, youth from Nipissing First Nation, pictured with her Peruvian host family during her six-month internship through Canada World Youth.

By Summer Fisher

NIPISSING FIRST NATION— Nipissing First Nation youth Summer Fisher was accepted into an International Aboriginal Youth Internship with Canada World Youth, to go volunteer in a community for four months.

Summer was assigned to the Mato District, one of 10 districts of the Huaylas Province in the Ancash Region in northern Peru. While working in Peru for four months, she focussed a lot on environmental sustainability and gender equality. The work projects she did in Mato include community gardens, positive message murals for the local school, English classes, eco-kitchens for families in need, community engagements with the community and recycling campaigns.

Summer had the privilege to live with a Spanish-speaking host family in Mato which has given her the opportunity to become very strong in their language, learn their way of living, and learn their Indigenous culture.

“The International Aboriginal Youth Internship with Canada World Youth was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Just like every other program or internship, you will have your good days and bad days. However, Canada World Youth has helped me to understand other parts of the world from a new and more personal perspective. This internship has helped me to focus on myself and my future. I am very grateful for this experience and I hope my experience can get more youth to go out and experience the world like I did.”

The International Aboriginal Youth Internship with Canada World Youth is a six-month international development internship, including four months abroad, this year was Peru. Through participation in overseas development projects and access to training and mentorship, youth participants increase their capacity to address international development issues overseas in their own communities while exploring educational and employment opportunities. For the 2019-20 intake, Canada World Youth recruited 34 Canadian Indigenous Youth between the ages of 18 and 26 who had completed high school but not completed post-secondary studies and were available for the full internship duration between July and December 2019.

For more information, go to canadaworldyouth.org and apply for the greatest adventure of your life!