Allison Foley, a freshman at Ridgefield High School, is part of the International Business Internship Program.
The International Business Internship Program, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, pairs teams of high school students with small businesses in Northern Nigeria.
"Our Ridgefield High School Team is currently working with a beauty salon," Foley explains. "The goal is to solve three significant issues that the business faces," she adds.
Obstacles to business growth may include weak advertising, keeping track of finances, lack of resources, among other problems. The Ridgefield High School Team conducts weekly Skype calls with their business partners in Nigeria to discuss current business problems and to provide innovative solutions.
"The program also comes with a lot of benefits for student participants. Internships and college assistance opportunities are offered in return for the work with the Nigerian businesses, as well as scholarships and college mentors," says Foley.
The Ridgefield High School Team's mission is to help Nigerian communities through our small business success strategies, while simultaneously learning more about Nigerian culture. The Ridgefield High School Team is about to launch a website where those who are interested can learn more about the initiative and participate.
Learn more about the International Business Internship Program here.