International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)
Jointly implemented by the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation and the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, the International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) offers youth the opportunity to gain valuable international work experience through four-month internship placements with partner organizations in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and Central America.
Where could your next job take you?
The International Youth Internship Program was launched in 1997, and has always focused on offering young people aged 18-30 from Canada the opportunity to gain skills and professional experience while travelling, living, and working abroad. Since its inception, IYIP has and sent over 7,000 youth to work with partner organizations and institutional abroad in the field of international development.
Cohort 4 Internship Placement Map
About IYIP
IYIP is part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and aims to prepare youth in Canada for future employment or further studies. The focus of the current 2023-2028 IYIP program is to provide meaningful and transformative opportunities to youth facing barriers to employment, such as youth with disabilities, Indigenous youth, racialized youth, and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
IYIP is a 5-month commitment that involves:
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1 month of pre-departure training (6 weeks virtually, 1 week in person),
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4 month international internship placement with a local partner organization,
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3 days of post-internship debrief in Canada.
The program costs are funded (including airfare, transportation costs, visa fees, pre-departure and post-internship training), and interns will receive a stipend while abroad.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this program, you must:
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Be 18-30 years old, at the start date of the internship
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Be Canadian citizen or permanent resident
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Not have previously completed an in-person IYIP Placement
This program gives priority to Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ interns and youth who have experienced barriers to employment due to COVID-19. This means the program will first select interns who hold those identities from the pool of applicants.
No education, work or travel experiences are required to be eligible and successful in this program. We welcome applicants with lived experience and expertise and invite applicants to reach out to us with questions if this program is a good fit for you.
Application Process
Step 1: Written Application
Your written application is completed through the application form online. The information and questions are simple and meant to help us understand why you’re interested in the program and the knowledge, skills, and interests that you bring. These applications are reviewed with three criteria: that you have learned about and looked into the program, that you indicate a good fit for one of the partner organizations or placement opportunities, and that you demonstrate one of the qualities most important to the program (curiosity, flexibility, adaptability, and open-mindedness). Applications not meeting these criteria will not be invited to step two.
Step 2: Introductory Interview
The Introductory Interview is completed with one of the program managers as a way to learn more about your skills, experiences, and interests. These are conversational interviews that have some planned questions. In this step of the process, we select candidates to move forward who demonstrate the qualities important to the program: curiosity, flexibility, adaptability, and open-mindedness.
Step 3: Placement Interview
The final step in the application process is an interview with international partners and/or subject matter experts. These are more formal, structured interviews led by our international partners and require preparation on the part of the applicant. Not everyone who completes a Placement Interview will be offered an internship position and in this final stage, the international partners ultimately determine who receives an offer.
Important Dates
Cohort 4
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July 27th - 31st: In-Person Pre-Departure Training
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August 3rd - November 21st: In-Person Internship Placements
Cohort 5
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Applications Open: August 10th
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Applications Close: August 30th
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Selection Process: Late August - Early October
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Virtual Pre-Departure Training: December 7th - January 29th
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In-Person Pre-Departure Training: February 1st - 5th
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Placements: February 7th - May 28th
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Re-Integration Training: May 29th - June 2nd
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Program Ends: June 3rd
Cohort 6
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Applications for Cohort 6 will tentatively open in February 2027
These dates are subject to change. Contact us for more information regarding specific dates.