The International Youth Internship Programme (IYIP) offers young Canadians and permanent residents the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience through international development work.

This offers the Canadian youth the chance to:

• To gain work experience abroad in the field of international development.
• To gain skills; which will prepare them for future jobs or give them the opportunity to study further.

It provides the Canadian Youth the opportunity to promote Canada’s International Development efforts both in Canada as well as abroad. Although, it is also important as it can increase employment opportunities by promoting awareness among Canadian organizations about the benefits of employing and including young Canadians in their structures and programs.

Internships last at least 6 months and include pre-departure and re-integration training. The interns are able to start a career while at the same time contribute to poverty reduction and help Canada progress.

To be considered in this Program, the eligibility criterion is as follows:

• The candidates must be Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must have the legal right to work in Canada
• Must be between the ages of 19 and 30 years old
• Must have completed Degree or Diploma
• Has not previously participated in International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)

Internship are offered through variety of sectors such as; Gender Equality, Communications, Education, Social Services, Human Rights, Agriculture, Marketing, Law, Technology, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Small Business Development, Environment.

Benefits in Canada for the participants:

Young professionals who participate in this program will have an excellent chance of experiencing a refreshing start to their careers. This is because they are expected to return home with much needed employability skills, seeking better job prospects. Furthermore, it is a great way of enhancing one’s resume.