Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, who bounced around foster homes as a child, has launched a paid internship program to uplift young people who find themselves in the familiar position.
The Girls Trip actress initiated the She Ready Internship Program on Tuesday, which seeks to connect transition-age foster youth with transformative experiences in the media, arts and entertainment industries, according to the program's website.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the program provides paid internships and mentoring for foster youth, allowing them to have opportunities in the aforementioned industries, and selected applicants will also have the opportunity to develop valuable skills within a network of industry professionals. The internship also offers stipends to cover transportation and other work-related expenses.
The comedian said she is aiming to bring more inclusivity to the entertainment industry with the launch of her new program.
“I believe that children that come from different cultures deserve a chance to work in the industry and I would like people that look like me to be able to represent me too in the industry,” Haddish said.
The inaugural program, set to kick off in 2021, is available to transition-age foster youth between the ages of 18 and 25. The interns who get accepted into the program will receive professional development training. Those who don't get accepted will receive consolation prizes, such as the chance to take part in career-readiness events.
In an interview with David Letterman last year, Haddish talked about the challenge of growing up in a foster home.
"You're dropped in these strangers' houses, you don't know these people, these people don't know you, you don't know if they're going to hurt you, if they're going to be kind, you don't have a clue what's going on," the Hollywood star said.
The 41-year-old actress also remembers a suitcase she received when she was young, which gave her a sense of purpose. Foster children often move from place to place with their items in garbage bags, as limited resources don't generally allow each child to have travel gear, like suitcases.
"I felt like I was a traveler like I had a purpose like I'm a person like I'm not garbage, I got this — it's mine, and my things are in here, and wherever I go I can take this with me and I'm going somewhere," she said.
Now, the former foster child is giving suitcases to the interns, which will carry the resources they need. The foster youth who aspire to have these opportunities can now apply on the She Ready Foundation website.
Last month, Haddish talked about her plans to help foster children.
"I just want to bring survival skills, share everything I know with them," the actress said, according to E! News. "I definitely want to either [help] foster kids or adopt and get them at [age] seven — where they know how to use the bathroom, they can communicate, tell you they're hungry."
