In 2025, CNIB launched a new professional development opportunity for youth ages 18 to 30 who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. Running through 2029, the International Youth Internship Program will create more than 115 virtual internship opportunities for young adults to gain professional experience in an international setting.
With the support of Global Affairs Canada, the program connects participants with blindness advocacy organizations in Africa and the Caribbean for 12-week virtual internships across a range of sectors. Through these placements, participants can build practical skills and gain work experience.
- Interns begin the program with two weeks of training to develop knowledge on topics like disability and inclusivity, accessibility in the workplace, and cultures abroad and their influence on disability.
- After completing the training phase, interns transition into a nine week virtual placement with a partner organization.
- The program concludes with an internship symposium where participants can network and share the results of their work.
Partner organizations and internship projects
CNIB has partnered with many organizations across Africa and the Caribbean for intern placements, including:
- St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association
- Jamaican Society for the Blind
- Guyana Society for the Blind
- Caribbean Council for the Blind
- International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
- Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association
Below are a few examples of participants’ accomplishments during previous placements, and a snapshot of how future interns will support and carry these projects forward:
- Interns placed at the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association helped secure $300,000 in grant funding to strengthen program delivery and client services.
- In Guyana, interns developed and launched an inclusive workforce research project focused on persons with disabilities. They conducted a comprehensive literature review, developed the research methodology, and created a survey that is currently collecting responses. Future interns will build on this work by analyzing the data and using the findings to inform advocacy campaigns aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Guyana.
- Other interns in Guyana developed a digitally accessible smartphone application for people with sight loss, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Caribbean. Future interns will continue developing the application, which will provide accessible educational materials to support the delivery of rehabilitation services in Guyana.
Our interns have overwhelmingly reported that their placement experience provided them with greater confidence and new skills, leaving them better equipped for success in the workplace and beyond as a result of their experience.
Apply for an international internship
To be eligible for the CNIB International Youth Internship program, you must be:
- Blind, Deafblind, or have low vision; or have a sensory, print or perceptual disability.
- Ages 18-30.
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Highly motivated, independent and able to demonstrate a reasonable level of personal achievement.
If you’re interested in learning more about the program or applying for an international internship, please send an email to Michael Trolio, Program Manager, International Youth Internships at michael.trolio@cnib.ca or call 613-449-0466.
Become a host organization
We are continually partnering with new host organizations interested in accessing the benefits of internship placements. If your organization serves the sight loss community in the Global South, please contact Michael Trolio, Program Manager, International Youth Internships at michael.trolio@cnib.ca or call 613-449-0466.