International Youth Internship Program
Eager to gain skills and work experience that may lead to employment or further education? Consider joining the International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)!
Program Overview
Thanks to the support of Global Affairs Canada, the purpose of IYIP 2024 is to prepare youth in Canada for future employment or studies. The current focus is on supporting youth ages 18 to 30 who are Indigenous, racialized, living with disabilities and/or 2SLGBTQI+ and face employment barriers.
The program allows individuals to acquire meaningful international work experience through a four- to six-month internship with partner organizations in Africa and South America, thanks to a collaboration between YMCA GTA and YMCAs in Cali, Medellin, Bogota, and Ghana.
The 12 interns in our second cohort will become part of the global YMCA network of 120 countries. The work they do during the program will focus on the pillars of World YMCA’s Vision 2030:
Community well-being
Meaningful work
Sustainable planet
Just world
- Who Can Participate
- Eligibility
- Application and Participation Process
- Key Dates
IYIP is intended for youth who:
- Want to apply their knowledge and talents in impactful ways abroad
- Have encountered challenges in finding meaningful employment
- Wish to develop new skills and gain professional experience internationally
- Are curious, adaptable, and open-minded
As part of the internship experience, participants will be challenged by situations such as a change in climate, local customs, transportation, and altitude sickness.
Applicants should be able to:
- Adjust to new environments and conditions quickly and effectively
- Recover from difficulties or stressful situations
- Learn and understand different cultures, practices, and perspectives
- Handle unexpected changes and pivot plans as needed
- Take initiative and work independently, even in unfamiliar settings
- Identify issues, think critically, and devise practical solutions
- Build and maintain positive relationships with others
- Remain calm and composed in the face of delays or frustrations
- Maintain an optimistic outlook, even when handling challenges
To be eligible for this program, you need to be:
- 18- to 30-years-old when the internship begins
- A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
This program prioritizes Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and those who have faced employment obstacles due to COVID-19. Accordingly, priority will be given to applicants with these identities.
Work experience or formal education is not a requirement for this program. If you have questions about whether the program is a good fit for you, please contact the IYIP team at Internationalinternship@ymcagta.org.
Attend an Information Session
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
IYIP is a seven-month commitment involving three weeks of virtual training, one week of in-person pre-departure training, a four to six months in-country internship placement, and a week-long reintegration training, accompanied by YMCA Career Planning and Pre-Employment Support.
- Application form: Fill out all the required information on the form.
- Screening call: Expect a phone call at the number you provide within seven days after applying.
- Interview: After a successful screening call, the next step is an interview with us.
- Provide semi-professional/professional references: We'll contact your references if your participant candidacy continues after the interview.
- Provide a police reference check: Successful candidates must be willing to provide the IYIP team with a Vulnerable Sector Check police report.
- Onboarding process: After being chosen as a participant, you’ll undergo an onboarding process that includes visa applications, travel clinic visits, and more.
- Pre-departure training: Before departure, you must attend all virtual and in-person workshops and training.
- Departure: You will depart for the four- to six-month placement abroad.
- Public engagement activities: During the program, you will work on an individual project with the intention of sharing your experience as a participant with the public.
- Re-orientation sessions: When you return to Canada, you will be expected to participate in a week-long re-orientation process.
- Pre-employment services support: You’ll receive support from YMCA Employment Services for three months after you return.
Applications for our January 2025 cohort are open now.
Application deadline: September 22, 2024
Pre-departure training: November 2024
Departure date: January 7, 2025
Return date: June 16, 2025
Reintegration training: June 17 to 20, 2025
Applications for the next cohort will open in March 2025.
What IYIP Includes
- All flights
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Required vaccinations and travel medicines
- Allowance for in-country food, transportation, and communications
- All accommodations
- Food and accommodations for in-person pre-departure training and reintegration training
- Spanish classes
- Employment services
*We cannot reimburse costs associated with passport renewals and applications.
Please ensure you meet all of our criteria before applying.
Arriving in Colombia
Interns with volunteers
Interns working in the garden
Orientation
Training and pre-departure orientation
Working with children
Contact Us
Email InternationalInternship@ymcagta.org for more information.
