Info on IDS
Info on CRS
About Practicum
International Opportunities
About
International placements are available to both International Development Studies and Conflict Resolution Studies majors. Menno Simons College students have traveled to over 60 different countries and have recently returned from placements in Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, India, and Peru, among others.
All costs are the responsibility of the student, including airfare, accommodation, insurance, and immunizations. Some financial support is available for international practicums.
Pre-departure orientation and re-entry debriefing sessions are held for each MSC student who has traveled internationally. The Director of Practicum helps with logistical and cultural preparation for an international placement (see International Practicum Checklist).
Application for International Practicum
- Consult with the MSC Academic Advisor to ensure you have completed the prerequisites for a practicum.
- Do some research to find a suitable placement and present your idea(s) to the Director of Practicum for approval. Do this eight to 12 months prior to the placement.
- If you are having difficulty finding a placement, the MSC Practicum Director can provide you with some possible organizations and identify people to contact. Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to find a suitable placement.
- Submit an international practicum application form. For an international practicum, you also need to submit a proposal and budget form. Menno Simons College offers partial financial assistance to each International Development Studies or Conflict Resolution Studies student participating in an international practicum.
- Application Form:
- Receive permission from the Practicum Director to register for the appropriate practicum course and register.
Available Opportunities Asia, Thailand (IDS)
Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Echo Asia's goal is to serve as a resource for development workers and agriculturalists within Asia who wish to experiment with underutilized crops as they work to improve the lives of the poor. They maintain a collection of hard-to-find seeds that thrive under difficult growing conditions in the tropics and sub-tropics. Note: this is a structured three-month internship program, in which the student spends a month reading and learning about these issues while in Chiang Mai prior to a two-month rural placement. Students interested in sustainable agricultural development should consider this placement.
Ghana FLOWER
Ghana FLOWER (Facilitating Learning of Women in Emerging Regions) is a local women-led non-profit located in the town of Asamankese, two hours from Accra, the capital city of Ghana, Africa. Under the guidance of the founder and CEO, the practicum student would work with Girls’ Clubs, community outreach initiatives, and educational workshops that help young women reach their full potential. This is a wonderful opportunity to live and work with local Ghanaians and learn about the joys and constraints of working in a small African NGO. FLOWER has been hosting Menno Simons C
Available Opportunities
Echo Asia, Thailand (IDS)
Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Echo Asia's goal is to serve as a resource for development workers and agriculturalists within Asia who wish to experiment with underutilized crops as they work to improve the lives of the poor. They maintain a collection of hard-to-find seeds that thrive under difficult growing conditions in the tropics and sub-tropics. Note: this is a structured three-month internship program, in which the student spends a month reading and learning about these issues while in Chiang Mai prior to a two-month rural placement. Students interested in sustainable agricultural development should consider this placement.
Ghana FLOWER
Ghana FLOWER (Facilitating Learning of Women in Emerging Regions) is a local women-led non-profit located in the town of Asamankese, two hours from Accra, the capital city of Ghana, Africa. Under the guidance of the founder and CEO, the practicum student would work with Girls’ Clubs, community outreach initiatives, and educational workshops that help young women reach their full potential. This is a wonderful opportunity to live and work with local Ghanaians and learn about the joys and constraints of working in a small African NGO. FLOWER has been hosting Menno Simons College practicum students for many years.
ollege practicum students for many years.
Available Opportunities
Echo Asia, Thailand (IDS)
Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Echo Asia's goal is to serve as a resource for development workers and agriculturalists within Asia who wish to experiment with underutilized crops as they work to improve the lives of the poor. They maintain a collection of hard-to-find seeds that thrive under difficult growing conditions in the tropics and sub-tropics. Note: this is a structured three-month internship program, in which the student spends a month reading and learning about these issues while in Chiang Mai prior to a two-month rural placement. Students interested in sustainable agricultural development should consider this placement.
Ghana FLOWER
Ghana FLOWER (Facilitating Learning of Women in Emerging Regions) is a local women-led non-profit located in the town of Asamankese, two hours from Accra, the capital city of Ghana, Africa. Under the guidance of the founder and CEO, the practicum student would work with Girls’ Clubs, community outreach initiatives, and educational workshops that help young women reach their full potential. This is a wonderful opportunity to live and work with local Ghanaians and learn about the joys and constraints of working in a small African NGO. FLOWER has been hosting Menno Simons College practicum students for many years.
Estamos, Guatemala
The Estamos program is a semester of living, learning, and working in Guatemala with a cohort of other students. Estamos, run by Canadian Mennonite University, is an opportunity for students to travel together in community, experiencing Guatemala's generous hospitality, diverse ecology, and complex historical, religious, and cultural context. The group will explore topics of peace and justice, reconciliation and community, and much more. In addition to CRS/IDS credits, students will study Spanish and will earn practicum credits through a placement with a local organization or company. As Estamos is a program of CMU, students will need to apply for visiting student status and then transfer their credits back to the University of Winnipeg. Contact the MSC Director of Practicum for more information.
Resources and Travel Information
Helpful Websites for International Volunteering
NOTE: MSC does not necessarily endorse all activities of the organizations listed. Please do careful research when looking for a suitable organization!
- International Volunteer Programs Association: www.volunteerinternational.org
- GoAbroad Volunteer Abroad: www.goabroad.com/volunteer-abroad
Travel Information
- Consular Affairs for Canada and official government travel information: www.travel.gc.ca
- Passport Application Office
433 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB
Phone number: 1.800.567.6868
www.ppt.gc.ca
Health Information
- Travel Health & Tropical Medicine Services
Phone number: 204.940.8747
www.wrha.mb.ca/community/travel
Country-Specific Information
- Register online in the country you are visiting: travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration
- Centre for Intercultural Learning (go to “country insights”): www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai
For more practicum opportunities, including local placements and international placements, contact the MSC Director of Practicum.
- International Development
- Conflict Resolution
- Intersection of CR&IDS
- Timetables
- Tuition & Fees
- Scholarships & Bursaries
- Academic Advising
Practicum Reflections
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"The lessons I learned from Bolga have helped me grow in so many ways. I was nervous about a lot of things on my flight, especially that I would be so far from family and friends. But by the end of my trip, I had built so many strong connections with the community that it felt like I had my family and friends with me."
"By completing an international practicum I can say with certainty that I have a better understanding of what 'good development' and 'bad development' looks like. Perhaps, the most significant realization that I have had is how important it is to understand the needs of the community and include community voices in the decision-making processes."
"This practicum has been an incredible experience and something I will absolutely never forget. It is by far the best life experience I have ever received and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I am sad to leave but I am also excited for the adventures when I get back."
"Before practicum, I knew what mediation was, but wouldn't have known how to do it. Now, after practicum, it comes as second nature."
Lacie Munholland (CRS, 4 year)
"A practicum is an intense and powerful event for an individual, and through my observation I can say that it can most certainly guide or transform one's direction in life. My own practicum experience in the Eastern Region of Ghana this past May through to August has since guided me both professionally and personally. "
