INTERNSMART® is a youth initiative of MasteryWorks. This program is the result of five years of research into how we can help build a healthy workforce for the future. After extensive study of school-to-work initiatives around the country, how youth develop in their understanding of the world of work, and business trends, we concluded that internships and related experiences like service learning and volunteering, are an ideal place where meeting the needs of youth and businesses come together.

The purpose of INTERNSMART® is to create and enhance internship experiences for those invested in this unique learning and business opportunity -- interns, supervisors and educators. The objective is to create a "win-win" situation for all involved. To do this we:

• Teach participants how he or she fits into the world of work as a larger system,
• Know what counts in making the internship experience a success, and
• Provide the framework, process and tools for facilitating a valuable experience.