As part of the celebration of its 125th anniversary, Alcoa Foundation announced a US$1.25 Million Global Internship Program that will provide unemployed youth with the experience to start a manufacturing career.
According to the media release from Alcoa, 500 students from eight countries will benefit from the program, which is a community-wide initiative involving several manufacturing companies. The program will be managed by the Institute of International Education, an independent not-for-profit organisation that designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors.
“To educate and train young people well is fundamental for allowing them to create their own future. This is critically important for the individual as much as it strengthens the communities they live in,” said Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld.
“We are proud to work with our nonprofit partners around the world in bringing these opportunities to our Alcoa locations and offer attractive options for the youth to explore careers in manufacturing and engineering.”
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the United States, with assets valued at $460 million. The work of the foundation in supported by Alcoa, the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina.
“This program will provide student interns with valuable hands-on learning experience and teach the skills necessary for a career in advanced manufacturing,” said Tricia Napor, Vice President, Alcoa Foundation.
“In addition, local nonprofits will work with Alcoa locations to arrange volunteers to mentor interns, share manufacturing expertise, and host locations visits for all interns in the program.”
The heads of Alcoa in different countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Jamaica, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States will choose the non-profit organisations that will place students in paid internships with local manufacturers. Each organisation will receive US$125,000 to launch the internship program in its community.
