Launched in 2020, CSP’s internship program, in collaboration with the USAID-funded Higher Education Scholarships (HES) and Higher Education Capacity Development Program (HECD), offers students from 11 Lebanese universities internships across 12 USAID-funded projects. Hussein Yassin, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the Lebanese American University (LAU), completed a three-month internship at CSP, starting August 3, 2020, and ending on October 31, 2020. During his internship, Hussein delivered a training on the operation and maintenance of Olive Harvesting Bundles and Diesel Stove Heaters. The skills he has acquired in time management, communication, and research qualified him for a full merit-based master’s scholarship in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He is also pursuing his PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Scientific Computing. Recognizing the value of the experience he gained, Hussein led a virtual workshop on September 20, 2024, to 24 current CSP interns, titled “Mastering Communication, Professional Profiles, and Scholarship Applications,” where he shared practical strategies and personal insights on navigating scholarship opportunities and producing professional profiles. Hussein’s story exemplifies how the CSP internship program not only opens doors to future opportunities, but also fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and mentorship. To date, 239 of the 294 CSP interns have completed their internships, of whom 60% are females, and with 48% securing jobs. “Attending this workshop enhanced my ability to articulate ideas clearly and confidently in the workplace, while also equipping me with effective strategies to craft a winning CV as well as compelling scholarship applications”, said Khaled Yafawi, Economics graduate from Saint
Joseph University.