Minister Oda announces International Aboriginal Youth Internships

OTTAWA, Ontario―To celebrate National Aboriginal Day, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced the eight organizations selected to deliver the first round of internships under the International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative

“Aboriginal youth have extensive knowledge, experience and skills that can contribute to the success of international development projects,” said Minister Oda. “These internships will enrich the lives of Aboriginal youth from across Canada by providing them with opportunities to increase their awareness and understanding of international development issues, while enhancing their skills for employment.”

Joined by representatives from the Canadian organizations selected under the IAYI, national aboriginal organizations and a number of Aboriginal youth, Minister Oda invited Aboriginal youth from across Canada to join international development efforts by applying for internships in developing countries with the selected organizations.

“Our government is committed to supporting the development and growth of Aboriginal youth,” said the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. “I welcome today’s announcement on National Aboriginal Day. It will be a great opportunity for youth to gain unique insights and international experience”.

Up to 63 Aboriginal youth from across Canada will have the opportunity to work abroad this year, enhancing their knowledge of issues that touch people in developing countries, while increasing their ability to promote international development work here in Canada.

This initiative is a component of CIDA’s new Global Citizens Program launched in July 2010, which aims to engage and mobilize Canadians as global citizens to participate in international development initiatives.

The Government of Canada’s investment in the internships announced today totals $941,331.

Members of Parliament Lois Brown, Rob Clarke, David Wilks and Senators Nancy Greene Raine and Con DiNino joined the Minister for the announcement.

For more information on the initiative, please visit the International Aboriginal Youth Internships initiative section of CIDA’s website.

Information: 

Justin Broekema
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238

Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
Email: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca

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Backgrounder

The International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative is a component of CIDA’s new Global Citizens Program launched in July 2010. The IAYI initiative, developed in consultation with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Canadian Heritage, and a number of national Aboriginal organizations, aims to increase the awareness, engagement and participation of Aboriginal youth in international development, while providing them with opportunities to expand their skills for employment.

The 63 interns participating in the initiative will spend two months in Canada, which will include briefing and debriefing sessions, and four consecutive months in the field with a developing country partner.

Through the first IAYI call for proposals launched February 2011, eight Canadian organizations were selected to implement internship projects with their developing country partners. Internships will take place in Bhutan, Bolivia, Chile, Ethiopia, Guyana, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The eight Canadian organizations selected to implement IAYI projects are:

Canada World Youth 
Project title: Rising Spirits in International Development
Countries: Nicaragua, Peru, Tanzania
Number of intern spots: 10

Canadian Urban Institute
Project title: International Aboriginal Youth Internships Program
Countries: Ethiopia, Jamaica, Philippines
Number of intern spots: 6

Canadian Institute of Planners
Project title: WorldLink: International Internship Program for Planners
Countries: Guyana
Number of intern spots: 10

Aide médicale internationale à l’enfance (L’AMIE)
Project title: Projets pour l’amélioration des conditions de vie des jeunes autochtones, au nord comme au sud
Countries: Bolivia
Number of intern spots: 10

Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
Project title: ACIC Aboriginal Youth Internship Program
Countries: Bhutan, Chile, Peru
Number of intern spots: 6

Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development
Project title: International Aboriginal Youth Internships
Countries: Jamaica, Uganda
Number of intern spots: 5

Victoria International Development Education Association
Project title: Walking Together: Futures for Youth
Countries: Uganda, Zambia
Number of intern spots: 10

Comité de Solidarité de Trois-Rivières
Project title: Femmes autochtones des Amériques : prendre l’avenir en main
Countries: Bolivia, Nicaragua
Number of intern spots: 6

Over the course of the summer, these organizations will post internship opportunities on their websites. CIDA will also post available internship positions submitted by the selected Canadian organizations in the IAYI initiative section of its website at http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cidaweb/cpo.nsf/vLUWebMainPageEn/InternationalDevelopmentProjectBrowserMain.

The Government of Canada’s investment in the internships announced today totals $941,331.

For more information on the initiative, please visit the International Aboriginal Youth Internships initiative section of CIDA’s website.