Time for an Internship is a paid internship programme for young adults leaving alternative care. The initiative, run by the Castorama Foundation and the Pankracy Foundation, was created to give young people a real opportunity to gain their first work experience, develop social skills and build independence.
Entering the job market can be difficult for any young person. For those leaving residential care facilities, foster families or family-type children’s homes, it can be an even greater challenge. They often lack not only work experience, but also support in preparing a CV, getting through a job interview, adapting to a new environment and believing that work can be the beginning of independence.
That is why the Good Internship at Castorama programme was created as part of the broader “Good Home. A Better Start to Adult Life” initiative. The programme brings together the Castorama Foundation, the Pankracy Foundation, the METAPOMOC Foundation and the Ukochani Foundation in support of children and young people in alternative care. One of its key pillars is helping young people transition into adulthood through real work experience.
Internships take place at Castorama stores across Poland and last up to three months. They are paid, giving participants not only an opportunity to learn, but also their first experience of financial independence. Internships offer flexible working hours, including full-time schedules or 25%, 50% or 75% of full-time hours, as well as weekend work, depending on each participant’s needs and availability.
Participants can gain practical skills in a range of roles, including sales advisor, logistics team member, interior designer, customer service assistant or visual merchandising and information team member. This allows young people to test their aptitudes and learn teamwork, customer service, work organisation and responsibility for assigned tasks.
A very important part of the programme is the presence of a supervisor. Interns are not left on their own. They receive support, feedback and the opportunity to learn in a safe, structured environment. This helps them identify their strengths, build self-esteem and set their first career goals.
The programme benefits not only interns, but also supervisors, teams and care providers. Employees develop mentoring, communication and organisational skills, while care institutions gain a practical tool for supporting young people on their path to independence. The partnership shows that preparing for adulthood does not end with talking about the future. It can mean opening the door to a first job.
We welcome applications from young people aged 18–25 who are leaving care and would like to gain work experience. No previous experience or defined career path is required. What matters most is a willingness to grow, openness to cooperation, responsibility and readiness to take on a challenge.
Applications are submitted through the recruitment form. Applicants should attach a CV and a recommendation from their carer or the director of their care institution. Participants who need support preparing their documents can contact the programme coordinator.
We believe a first internship can be more than a line on a CV. It can be the beginning of self-belief, an experience of responsibility and a first step towards a stable, independent future.