Each year for the next five years, this program offers young Canadians facing discrimination the opportunity to participate in three-month internships with partner organizations in 17 countries. The PSIJ also offers the option of 12-week remote internships for young people who are unable to travel abroad due to reasons such as disability, family responsibilities, or other special circumstances that prevent travel.

Who is this program for?

This program is specifically designed for young people facing barriers to employment: those who belong to or identify with a group that faces discrimination, such as people living with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, racialized youth, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

The 2024-2029 edition of the internship program allows selected young people to acquire:

• Professional experience abroad (or in some cases virtually) in the field of international development, education, and gender equality, as well as in the areas of communication, human rights, the right to education, environmental protection, action research, and advocacy development.
• Skills that prepare them for future employment or further education.

Procedure

Training courses in Montreal

Before leaving, selected candidates have the opportunity to participate in a 12-day pre-departure professional training course in French or in English, led by trainers who are recognized in their field, during which various topics will be covered. The IYIP also aims to help participants integrate into the job market when they return. As part of this, participation in the program includes workshops designed to improve interview skills and strengthen job search tools.

Duration of internships abroad and in Quebec

IYIP internships last three months (12 weeks if done remotely) at a partner organization abroad or virtually in Quebec, so that people with mobility issues or family obligations can take part in the program.

The International Youth Internship Program exists thanks to funding from Global Affairs Canada and the collaboration of Alternatives’ partners abroad, some of whom have been with us for many years. Since 1994, Alternatives has been working with partners in the Global South who specialize in defending their communities and their human, civil, political, economic, environmental, social, and cultural rights, in line with our organization’s mission.

Since its inception, Alternatives has enabled nearly 2,000 interns to complete internships with dozens of partners. As part of the International Internship Program for Youth, we have established partnerships with some 20 civil society organizations in Africa, South America, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

Pre-training
Before beginning their assignment abroad or remotely, selected interns must participate in a two-week pre-training course given by the Alternatives team and external speakers or organizations. This period is an opportunity to prepare young people for the various challenges and demands of their assignments, but also to give them the tools they need to better integrate into their host countries and acquire basic skills in several areas:

• Communication initiatives (writing articles, producing podcasts, video editing, Creative Commons licenses, etc.);
• First aid and CPR;
• Training on gender and intersectionality;
• Training in communication
  and advocacy techniques and internationalization of challenges in multilateral institutions;
• International development;
• Discrimination, gender-based violence: gender equality, social exclusion, marginalization, violence, and conflict;
• Presentation of internship countries.

Training for integration into the job market

The PSIJ also aims to help participants enter the job market upon their return. To this end, the program includes workshops designed to improve interview skills and strengthen job search tools.

Public engagement activities

Finally, after completing their assignments, interns must participate in activities related to the general public in Canada: organizing conferences, giving speeches, participating in radio shows, creating photo exhibitions, etc. The possibilities for activities are vast, but always with the imperative of reaching the general public.