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VisionSpring Announces The Patricia Sagna Memorial Internship For Women of Color in Logistics
In loving memory of our dearly departed colleague, VisionSpring is establishing the Patricia Sagna Memorial Internship for Women of Color in Logistics.
The internship is named in honor of a former VisionSpring employee, Patricia Sagna, who skillfully managed VisionSpring’s global supply chain from 2018-2019 and touched the VisionSpring family with her humor, curiosity and friendship. Patricia’s untiring commitment to raising up others inspires us to serve her memory by creating an opportunity for promising students to build their international career experience.
VisionSpring is creating the internship in recognition of barriers that prevent qualified people, particularly for women of color, from entering careers in international development and progressing in the field of supply chain management. Internships in international development are typically unpaid, such that students and new graduates must self-fund their time with a non-profit. And, entry level positions often require overseas experience as a prerequisite. Both of these propositions are expensive and inaccessible for many candidates and result in elite capture of entry level opportunities. The field of logistics and supply chain management is primarily occupied by men (75%) and women hold just 5% of leadership positions.
The internship is designed to advance more women, particularly women of color, into the fields of international development and supply chain management with practical knowledge, global experience and mentorship.
This will be a full-time, paid summer internship, based in VisionSpring’s New York City office. Interns will have the opportunity to travel (at VisionSpring’s expense) to work with team members and partners in one of its key markets – India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia or Vietnam.
Interns will assist VisionSpring in maintaining a reliable supply of radically affordable eyeglasses to hospitals, vision centers, non-profits and government agencies serving low- income customers in emerging markets. Interns will participate in sourcing products and materials from manufacturers in China, managing third-party logistics providers, and supporting institutional partners with customs clearance. Interns will report to the Global Logistics Manager, work on a strategic project with the COO, and collaborate with finance and global sales teams. This will be an annual summer internship, with the first intern to join in the summer of 2021.
VisionSpring is dedicating $10,000 to fund the first year of the internship and seeks to raise an additional $90,000 to fund the internship for an initial period of 10 years. We invite foundations, corporations and individuals to contribute as a commitment to countering systemic bias in non-profit workplaces, and advancing diversity in supply chain professions.
To donate to the Patricia Sagna Memorial Fund for Women of Color in Logistics contribute online.
Alternatively, please contact Kristen Shaw at kristen.shaw@visionspring.org.