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ACIC’s programs bring people together to learn, connect, and take action on global issues. Through our membership, youth, and internship programs, we create opportunities to build skills, share experiences, and strengthen connections across Atlantic Canada and internationally. Explore our program areas below to learn more and find ways to get involved. ACIC Programs ACIC’s programs bring people together to learn, connect, and take action on global issues. Through our membership, youth, and internship programs, we create opportunities to build skills, share experiences, and strengthen connections across Atlantic Canada and internationally. Explore our program areas below to learn more and find ways to get involved. Membership Programs Our membership programs and micro-grants support members to strengthen their work, build connections, and engage communities across Atlantic Canada on global issues. Through funding opportunities, shared learning, and collaboration, we help members bring their ideas to life and expand their impact. Explore available programs and micro-grants below. Symposia Each year, ACIC holds our Symposium: a multi-day gathering full of transformative discussions, collaboration, and action. The Symposium brings together member organizations, partners, and practitioners from the international cooperation and Atlantic non-profit sectors to build capacity and learn from leaders and changemakers. We also host a Youth Voice stream at the Symposium for youth participants! The Youth Stream includes additional sessions and discussions tailored for youth in addition to attending the full Symposium. Information on the 2026 Symposium is coming soon. Safer Spaces ACIC’s Safer Spaces program creates opportunities for dialogue and learning around anti-racism, feminism, decolonization, and power within international cooperation. Through workshops, retreats, webinars, and more, ACIC and its members reflect on their practice and learn practical ways to make their work more equitable and inclusive. Members' Public Engagement Fund The Members’ Public Engagement Fund (MPEF) supports ACIC members in hosting public engagement activities through micro-grants of $1500. This long-standing program encourages members to develop creative and innovative events and plan with a gender lens. Many of these events build connections between global and local communities. Events are encouraged to take place during International Development Week, which takes place annually during the first full week of February. Partnership Enhancement Fund Through the Partnership Enhancement Fund (PEF), ACIC provides funding for organizations in the international cooperation sector to engage Atlantic Canadians as global citizens. Successful applicants receive a micro-grant up to $3500 to cover the travel expenses of an international partner they wish to bring to Atlantic Canada for public engagement events. Youth Programs Our youth and internship programs bring global citizenship and education to life through hands-on learning, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Participants explore global issues, build skills, and connect with communities across Atlantic Canada and internationally, discovering ways to take action on issues that matter to them. Explore our programs below to find an opportunity for you. Internships (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. Global Citizenship Youth Conference The annual youth gathering has taken many shapes over ACIC’s history, but it remains consistent in its goal to provide 15-17 year-olds the opportunity to think globally about social justice. Starting in 2023, ACIC has supported 2 youth storytellers — 1 videographer and 1 photographer — in sharing impact stories from their conference experiences. Re-Imagining Development Gathering The Re-Imagining Development Youth Gathering brings students and young professionals together for a weekend of learning, connection, and fresh perspectives on international development. Through conversations and activities with other young people, practitioners, and educators, participants explore global citizenship, share experiences, and build networks while re-imagining what development can look and feel like, locally and globally. PhotoVoices PhotoVoices connects young people in Atlantic Canada and internationally through photography and storytelling. Participants share perspectives on their lives, communities, and global issues, exploring themes such as identity, gender equity, and environmental sustainability. Through creative expression and cross-cultural learning, the program builds connections and deepens participants’ understanding of global citizenship. Symposium Youth Voices The Youth Voices stream at our annual Symposium ensures that young Atlantic Canadians (ages 19-29) have dedicated space to connect with their peers, learn about topics related to the symposium theme, and reflect on their own thoughts and experiences.

ACIC is proud to create spaces where youth can engage with global issues, the Sustainable Development Goals, and shared knowledge from their peers and experts. The annual youth gathering has taken many shapes over ACIC’s history, but it remains consistent in its goal to provide 15-17 year-olds the opportunity to think globally about social justice. Global Citizenship Youth Conference ACIC is proud to create spaces where youth can engage with global issues, the Sustainable Development Goals, and shared knowledge from their peers and experts. The annual youth gathering has taken many shapes over ACIC’s history, but it remains consistent in its goal to provide 15-17 year-olds the opportunity to think globally about social justice. Starting in 2023, ACIC has supported 2 youth storytellers — 1 videographer and 1 photographer — in sharing impact stories from their conference experiences. Conference videos and photo galleries are linked below! ACIC’s Global Citizenship Youth Conference brings young people from across Atlantic Canada together to explore global issues, share ideas, and build friendships. Through interactive workshops, creative activities, and conversations, participants connect issues in their own communities with wider questions of social justice and sustainability. This overnight gathering offers a welcoming space to learn about global citizenship, build confidence, and discover ways to take action, whether participants are new to these topics or already involved in their communities. Applications for GCYC 2026 have now closed. Applications for GCYC 2027 will tentatively open in Spring 2027 Contact Us Past ACIC Youth Conferences: Global Citizenship Youth Conference 2025 July 3-6, 2025 | Tatamagouche, NS Forty-three youth from the four Atlantic provinces attended the 2025 Global Citizenship Youth Conference, attending workshops and activities with topics like: Decolonial Joy, Cyanotype (photography printing), Photo Journalism talk with artist Ranz Bontogon, I Am From Poetry, Triangle of Oppression, Sustainable Development Goals, What’s Next Goal Setting, and Farmers’ Market Scavenger Hunt View Conference Gallery Global Citizenship Youth Conference 2024 July 11-14, 2024 | Tatamagouche, NS This gathering brought together 40 youth from across Atlantic Canada and included topics such as: Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel: Stories of Youth Engagement My Intersectional Self Art as Activism Decolonization as an Act of Love The conference also focused on the local-global connections to food security with the Tatamagouche Farmers’ Market and a scavenger hunt. View Conference Gallery Global Citizenship Youth Conference 2023 July 13-16, 2023 | Tatamagouche, NS The second Global Citizenship Youth Conference hosted 40 Atlantic Canadian youth. Workshop topics this year included: Intro to the Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel: Stories of Youth Engagement My Intersectional Self Social Justice & Mental Health The Decolonizing of Gender Avenues for Social Advocacy View Conference Gallery

ACIC’s Safer Spaces program creates opportunities for dialogue and learning around anti-racism, feminism, decolonization, and power within international cooperation. Through workshops, retreats, webinars, and more, ACIC and its members reflect on their practice and learn practical ways to make their work more equitable and inclusive. Safer Spaces ACIC’s Safer Spaces program creates opportunities for dialogue and learning around anti-racism, feminism, decolonization, and power within international cooperation. Through workshops, retreats, webinars, and more, ACIC and its members reflect on their practice and learn practical ways to make their work more equitable and inclusive. With expert facilitators, the program encourages collective learning and reflection. Participants in Safer Spaces events will be supported through challenging their assumptions of international cooperation. The events are designed to give participants a space to ask questions, learn, and grow. We adapt our Safer Spaces program year-to-year based on global context and participant feedback. On this page, you can learn about our upcoming events and take a look back to see what ACIC members have accomplished together so far. Highlights Safer Spaces 2026: Three-part learning series In 2026, led by ACIC member organization Wisdom2Action, the Safer Spaces program ran as a three-part learning series with in-person and virtual elements. Workshop: Understanding Solidarity through an Anti-Racist Lens (hybrid) Webinar: Power and Perspectives on Solidarity (virtual) Retreat: Reflection and Application (in-person) These three elements built on each other to create a journey of learning. Starting by building a foundation for trust and meaningful dialogue allowed participants to bring questions and their own lived experiences to the program. Ending with an in-person retreat strengthened the connections made from the first two sessions and created space for participants to take their insights and turn them into concrete personal, relational, and organizational action. The program also made space to center youth participants, their voices, and their experiences. Safer Spaces Retreats In 2023 and 2026, ACIC hosted in-person retreats as part of the Safer Spaces program. These multi-day events allowed participants to be present in a physical safe space with their peers as they worked through learning, unlearning, and setting goals for how to implement their takeaways in their personal and professional lives. ACIC Anti-Racism Education Strategy In 2022, ACIC staff and members brought together two years of learning from the Safer Spaces program to inform the ACIC Anti-Racism Education Strategy. This process was a dialogue between staff and members, including a workshop at the 2022 ACIC Symposium that focused on the strategy, the work done to date, and how the work can strengthen the learnings of ACIC’s membership through ongoing learning and community networks. Training and Webinars Training activities have been an integral part of the Safer Spaces program since its inception. Through webinars and online training events, the program has opened and maintained dialogue around anti-racism, feminism, and decolonization within the international cooperation sector in Atlantic Canada. Topics have included: Safer Spaces and Young Women’s Civic Participation Safer Spaces: Human Rights and Innovation

Through the Partnership Enhancement Fund (PEF), ACIC provides funding for organizations in the international cooperation sector to engage Atlantic Canadians as global citizens. Successful applicants receive a micro-grant up to $3500 to cover the travel expenses of an international partner they wish to bring to Atlantic Canada for public engagement events. Partnership Enhancement Fund Through the Partnership Enhancement Fund (PEF), ACIC provides funding for organizations in the international cooperation sector to engage Atlantic Canadians as global citizens. Successful applicants receive a micro-grant up to $3500 to cover the travel expenses of an international partner they wish to bring to Atlantic Canada for public engagement events. The PEF strengthens existing partnerships between organizations through sharing perspectives, cultures, and ways of knowing while also creating wider awareness and understanding of international cooperation. Recipients of the fund also regularly create pathways for future collaboration and expansion. Previous iterations of this fund were called the Global Voices Fund and the Southern Speakers Fund. The names were changed to decolonize our language and to reflect the focus on global partnerships. Highlights UNB School of Leadership Studies (SLS) & Sherubtse Student Leadership Program (SSLP) The University of New Brunswick brought their partner from Bhutan to host public engagement events throughout Atlantic Canada. UNB SLS facilitated a number of events, including a Bhutanese Open House that connected current and past partners, an in-class engagement at the University of New Brunswick, a visit to the East Coast Leadership Academy where SSLP faculty shared perspectives on the Sustainable Development Goals and Gross National Happiness, as well as informal and community-based activities such as sledding, visits to local sites and a gathering with alumni. The visit also included meetings with SLS faculty and university leadership to strengthen and advance the ongoing collaboration between the two programs. Connecting to Africa and the International Council for Immigration, Entrepreneurship, and Employment (CIIEE) ACIC member organization Connecting to Africa received the fund to support a visit from Bright Fiaga of CIIEE during International Development Week. Due to visa processing delays, Bright was unable to travel as planned, but contributed his perspective to the event "A Journey into the Unknown: Trans-Mediterranean Migration" in Halifax, NS, through a pre-recorded video message. LifeSchoolHouse and Fundación SHARE LifeSchoolHouse received PEF funding to bring Verónica Escalante of Fundación SHARE to a gathering at the Coady Institute for Asset-Based Community Development practitioners. Participants discussed their approach of sharing resources, knowledge, and tools to allow organizations to expand their work. Verónica shared this model at the ACIC Symposium. Venture 2 Impact and The Forest Stewardship Council-Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) Atlantic Canadian organization Venture 2 Impact brought FSC-IF from Panama to the ACIC Symposium. Fredy Duque spoke at the Symposium on the importance of Indigenous-led climate solutions and met with V2I members to co-develop a skills-based volunteering program in Panama City. The Cooper Institute Gabriel Allahdua, a member of The Cooper Institute, spoke on an ACIC Symposium panel on decent work and economic work activity. Gabriel spoke about his experience as a migrant worker, his perspective on Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and his advocacy work for improved working and living conditions for those brought to Canada through the program.

ACIC is a network of organizations, institutions, and individuals working across international cooperation, education, research, community development, social justice, and sustainable development. About the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation Established in 1975, the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) has spent more than 50 years connecting people and organizations from Atlantic Canada to the wider world. Today, ACIC is a network of organizations, institutions, and individuals working across international cooperation, education, research, community development, social justice, and sustainable development. Through our programming, partnerships, and public engagement, we aim to help our members in building a more just, sustainable world through global cooperation. Mission The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation is a coalition of individuals, organizations and institutions working in the Atlantic region to build and model just, equitable and sustainable communities, locally and globally. ACIC connects leadership across generations by strengthening members and partners, bridging dialogue and building networking and learning opportunities. ACIC also represents and amplifies the voice of Atlantic Canada and connects the Atlantic with other provincial, national and international stakeholders. Vision Leaders of tomorrow partner with leaders of today for more just, equitable and sustainable communities. Our Values We aspire to be an organization that not only addresses local and global challenges but transforms them. We embody the core values we believe are needed as the foundation upon which we build and model more just, equitable, and sustainable communities. At ACIC, we value: Courageous and Difficult Conversations Decolonization, Anti-Racism, and Feminism Intersectionality Cultivating Care, Joy, and Connection Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Lived Experience in all its Forms Radical Ideas and Transformational Actions Lifelong Reflection and Learning Justice Through Particiaption Accountability and Transparency Who We Are At ACIC, we are a dynamic collective. Our strength lies in the diversity of our community, each group contributing a unique perspective, experience, and passion to our shared mission. As a coalition, we are made up of, and aim to consult, serve and impact the following groups, while also co-creating our work and imagined future together - they are our Communities of Focus: ACIC Members Youth and Program Alumni Partners and Collaborators ACIC Staff ACIC Board of Directors Atlantic Canadian Public Our Strategic Directions Our work over the coming five years is focused on fostering just, equitable, and sustainable communities, both locally and globally. Guided by this vision for the present and the future, our core values will guide us in our relationships, planning, programs, and operations. Our strategic directions will be achieved alongside, and in service to our Communities of Focus and those centred in our work. Decolonization & Anti-Racism Advocacy and Public Policy Nurtured Partnerships Coalition Capacity, Connection and Collaboration Public Engagement and Activation Storytelling & Impact Organisational Strengthening We engage Atlantic Canadians in issues related to international development, global solidarity and social justice. Through our public engagement work, we aim to give Atlantic Canadians the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to become active global citizens. Our rich and vibrant coalition is united by a strong commitment to build a more just, equitable and sustainable world. Read our Full Strategic Plan Board and Staff ACIC Board of Directors Board Chair & New Brunswick Rep. Kendall Kadatz UNB School of Leadership Studies Kendall is the Experiential Education Coordinator at UNB, School of Leadership Studies (formerly Renaissance College). Kendall has a strong commitment to global citizenship, equity, and community-engaged learning. With a professional background grounded in experiential education and international cooperation, Kendall works to create meaningful learning opportunities that connect local communities to global issues. His work emphasizes collaboration, reflective practice, and cultivating inclusive space for diverse perspectives. Through teaching abroad, leading and supporting student education abroad initiatives, and serving on a multicultural association board, Kendall brings a diverse range of perspectives across the internationalization sector. Kendall brings to the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) a passion for strengthening networks across sectors and supporting the impact of members engaged in global development and social justice. Secretary & Member-At-Large Ryan MacRae Latin American Mission Program Ryan MacRae is the Migrant Worker Program Coordinator at Cooper Institute, a popular education center in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He also works to support various organizations and coalitions like the Migrant Rights Network, the PEI Fight for Affordable Housing, the National Tenant Organizing Fund, Islanders for Proportional Representation, and the Charlottetown Darkroom. Ryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Mount Allison University and a Master’s Degree in Global Affairs from UPEI and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. He spends his free time on hiking and camping trips, taking pictures, playing music and beating his friends at various board games. Ryan currently sits on the ACIC board as the Secretary and as the chair of the Membership Committee. Treasurer & Member-At-Large Jenny MacDonald Coady Institute Jenny joined Coady Institute in 2018 and has rich experience in marketing and communications, digital media, and social entrepreneurship. Jenny has a deep interest in communities, people, and their stories, as well as the roles of technology and entrepreneurship for social good. In 2024, Jenny joined the Engage! Women’s Empowerment and Active Citizenship team as Impact Officer, translating and disseminating knowledge outputs from the Engage project for policymakers, practitioners, graduates, and the public. This includes coordination of content from five local country partners (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Tanzania), analysis of project data, and developing engaging content for distribution and strategic communication channels. Prince Edward Island Representative Eliza MacLauchlan Individual Member Eliza MacLauchlan is a recent graduate of the Master of Arts in Island Studies program at the University of Prince Edward Island. A former human rights accompanier with Breaking the Silence in Guatemala, her most recent work and research has focused on the experience of migrant workers in Prince Edward Island. In her spare time, she can generally be found biking, running or curling up with a book. Member-At-Large Fauzia Matyas-Jamal Individual Member Fauzia Jamal is a global development strategist with over 15 years of experience advancing inclusive development, economic mobility, gender equity, and organizational capacity. Currently serving as an Associate Partner at Dalberg Advisors, she collaborates with community organizations, philanthropic foundations, public institutions, and private companies to drive strategic change, amplify impact, and foster meaningful partnerships. Originally from Kenya and having lived and worked internationally, Fauzia brings a global perspective rooted in local realities. Her work has spanned designing and leading ambitious, community-grounded initiatives—including a $50M employment initiative in Rwanda, advising on global early childhood development scaling strategies, and supporting public-private collaboration models for digital skills across sub-Saharan Africa. Member-At-Large Jennifer Elms Aga Khan Foundation North America Jennifer Elms (she/her/elle) is a global gender specialist with 15 years working within East Africa, Southeast Asia, Australasia and North America. She is currently the Gender Equality Advisor at Aga Khan Foundation North America. Jennifer is passionate about working with partners to create innovative, intersectional, and sustainable gender-transformative change, with particular focus on women’s economic empowerment, gender-responsive learning systems, climate resilience, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Jennifer earned a Master of Human Rights and Democratization at University of Sydney (Australia) and a Bachelor of Arts (Joint Majors Psychology and English Literature) at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Member-At-Large Arturo Ezquerro-Cañete Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking The Silence Network Arturo currently serves as Interim Latin America Program Coordinator with MiningWatch Canada and has spent the past four years as Maritimes Coordinator with the Maritimes–Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS), an ACIC member organization. In these roles, he has organized educational programs, human rights delegations, public speaking tours, advocacy initiatives, and partnerships involving Canadian and Latin American organizations, Indigenous authorities, community leaders, and human rights defenders. Arturo holds a PhD in International Development Studies and has taught courses in political science, geography, and international development at Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, Acadia University, and the University of New Brunswick. His teaching and research focus on international development, global political economy, environmental justice, human rights, and social movements in Latin America. Member-At-Large Paola Gutierrez Individual Member Paola is a development economist from Ecuador with two master’s degrees and over 10 years of experience in strategic planning and program implementation, with a strong focus on gender, diversity, and inclusion. She worked as a gender and inclusion consultant for UN Women and the Inter-American Development Bank, and with governments and NGOs on economic and social inclusion initiatives. For the past two years, she has worked with the Government of PEI in both the Ministry of Health and the Health Authority, gaining a solid understanding of PEI’s healthcare system. ACIC Staff Executive Director Jennifer Sloot Jennifer@acic-caci.org Jennifer is the Executive Director of the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) and leads this network of over 70 organizations, institutions, and individuals in the international cooperation sector. As a member of the Inter-Council Network (ICN), Jennifer also collaborates with Canada’s eight Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation to advance collective priorities for more than 350 diverse civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Canada. Prior to her work with ACIC, Jennifer held previous roles as a community organizer with the United Way and worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva. Jennifer holds a Master’s in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific, a Bachelor’s in International Development from the University of Guelph, a diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Chulalongkorn University, and a certificate in Feminist Leadership from the Coady Institute. Program Director Lee-Anne Lavell Lee-Anne@acic-caci.org As ACIC's Operations Director, Lee-Anne leads the development and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for the organization and supports ACIC's finance, communications and grant-writing processes. Lee-Anne has worked in international cooperation and project management for 15+ years with large and small non-profits across Canada and internationally. She holds a Masters of Social Work from McGill and speaks English, French and Spanish. Lee-Anne loves reading, going to live music and hiking with her dog on Nova Scotia's beautiful trails. Membership and Operations Manager Raushni Abraham Raushni@acic-caci.org Curious about the ways we speak of and strive for social justice, Raushni brings a love for connecting with and helping changemakers to her role as ACIC's Membership and Operations Manager. Holding a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media and Communications, Raushni has lived in India, and studied in the UK, before moving to Canada. Over the past decade, Raushni has worked on skill-development and entrepreneurship programs for rural youth, on supporting high-quality, policy-oriented, social-science research in developing and transition countries, with social-justice oriented organizations on their communications and branding strategy, helped highlight the stories of immigrant communities and local nonprofits, before joining ACIC and working on our membership training and public engagement activities. Outside of work, Raushni enjoys reading, writing, and is actively trying to reduce her phone-screen time to live a more mindful life. Communications Officer Mateo Gomez Angulo Mateo@acic-caci.org Based between Halifax and PEI, Mateo works in communications and storytelling, supporting ACIC’s communications, public engagement, digital content, and efforts to connect members and communities across Atlantic Canada. He has more than five years of experience in non-profit communications, with a focus on helping organizations and individuals share their stories. Before joining ACIC, Mateo worked with the Inter-Council Network, supporting bilingual communications and public engagement across Canada’s provincial and regional councils for international cooperation. He has also worked as a communications consultant with organizations and nonprofits around the world, alongside experience supporting youth-led grassroots movement building and engagement initiatives. Internships Program Manager Katie Horton Katie@acic-caci.org Katie was born in BC, grew up internationally, and has spent time living on both coasts of Canada. She has spent many years working alongside youth in various capacities in both BC and Nova Scotia. She has spent the last ten years in BC supporting various youth engagement projects in the context of BC youth health and wellbeing. She has developed and led workshops and focus groups on various health promotion topics for both youth and adults, and coordinated a youth employment program for youth in BC with experience of the government care system. She has co-authored community-friendly reports as well as academic articles and has presented at several international conferences. Finance Manager Nancy Kuang Nancy@acic-caci.org Nancy brings experience in accounting, financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with leadership teams to support sound financial decision-making, strengthen organizational processes, and promote accountability and transparency. As Finance Manager at ACIC, Nancy supports the organization’s financial operations and is committed to ensuring resources are managed responsibly to support ACIC’s mission. She is excited to join the team and contribute to ACIC’s work in advancing equity, global solidarity, and sustainable communities. Program Coordinator Choyce Chappell Choyce@acic-caci.org Choyce is ACIC's PEI Provincial Coordinator and IYIP Program Coordinator. Born in Nova Scotia and (mostly) raised in PEI, she's a lover of all-things Atlantic Canada. She has two degrees from the University of Prince Edward Island, a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences, but mostly from indoors, as she moonlights as a mosquito magnet. Youth Program Manager Jackie Dowling Jackie@acic-caci.org Internships Program Associate Erin Cunningham Erin@acic-caci.org Internships Program Associate Corrinne White Corrinne@acic-caci.org

The Members’ Public Engagement Fund (MPEF) supports ACIC members in hosting public engagement activities through micro-grants of $1500. This long-standing program encourages members to develop creative and innovative events and plan with a gender lens. Many of these events build connections between global and local communities. Events are encouraged to take place during International Development Week, which takes place annually during the first full week of February. Members’ Public Engagement Fund The Members’ Public Engagement Fund (MPEF) supports ACIC members in hosting public engagement activities through micro-grants of $1500. This long-standing program encourages members to develop creative and innovative events and plan with a gender lens. Many of these events build connections between global and local communities. Events are encouraged to take place during International Development Week, which takes place annually during the first full week of February. What does it mean to plan with a gender lens? A “gender lens” does not necessarily mean an MPEF activity must be centered around issues of gender and intersectionality, although that is a strong way to include a gender lens. Planning an activity with a gender lens means considering how to include gender equality in developing your event. You might ask yourself: What are the gendered impacts of the topic we’re addressing? Are we including diverse perspectives in the planning process? How can ensure this event is inclusive to a diverse audience? How do we pursue equity in our mission, and how can this event reflect that? Recent MPEF events: BIPOC Youth Creatives Summit Hosted by the Black Business and Professional Network Forty-two Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth participants explored themes of identity, belonging, leadership, and global responsibility over this two-day summit. Through storytelling, arts-based expression, mentorship, and dialogue, the event highlighted the role of youth leadership, inclusion, and equity in global development. African Dinner: Food, Storytelling, and Global Connection Hosted by the Nova Scotia Gambia Association The NSGA brought together 72 participants to engage with cross-cultural understanding, gender equality, and community engagement. Through Gambian cuisine, storytelling, performances, and a film screening, the event highlighted the longstanding Canadian-Gambian partnerships and promoted global solidarity. Xinka delegation to Atlantic Canada Hosted by Breaking the Silence Two Xinka women leaders gave four public talks about their Indigenous community’s resistance to the PanAmerican Silver’s Escobal mine in southern Guatemala. Through these public talks and multiple gatherings with community members, Indigenous groups, and civil society groups, the delegation spread awareness of the harms of Canadian mining abroad and the strength of Indigenous-led resistance. Learn about past recipients of the fund here: International Development Week Workshops Hosted by the University of New Brunswick’s School of Leadership Studies February 1-7, 2026 | Fredericton, NB UNB’s School of Leadership studies held three in-person workshops during IDW to engage high school students and youth participants on community development, concepts of power, inclusion, and collaboration. Approximately 67 students attended each session to discuss and reflect on engagement. International Cooking Class Hosted by Dalhousie University February 7, 2025 | Truro, NS Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus partnered with the Colchester Food Network to host a community cooking event celebrating global cultures and food security. Framed around SDG 2: Zero Hunger, the event emphasized cooperation across local and international levels by linking Dalhousie Agricultural Campus’s global food security work with the food bank’s local efforts. Over 60 participants attended, sharing food, cultural knowledge, and conversations that highlighted community connection and inclusion. The event fostered public awareness of global development themes, with a focus on food insecurity, demonstrating how local partnerships can strengthen international solidarity and act as an entry point to engage the public on global issues. Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace and Vulnerability of Temporary Foreign Workers Hosted by The Cooper Institute and the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Centre February 6, 2025 | Charlottetown, PEI This panel conversation brought community groups together to discuss the gender-based violence that some temporary foreign workers may face while working in PEI, compounding factors that exacerbate the situation, and what some potential solutions could be. Attended by 40 individuals from the nonprofit sector, government, and the general public, the event created space to discuss structural inequalities in the temporary work permit system, global migration systems, including credible reports of workplace abuse and precarity. Pathy Foundation Fellowship Presentation Hosted by the Coady Institute Virtual The Coady Institute, a leadership education and collective action organization, hosted their Pathy Fellows, young Canadian leaders who participate in a year-long community development fellowship, in a virtual discussion of their work across the world. The audience of 66 people heard about the Fellows’ environmental and feminist work in Pakistan, Nigeria, and West Africa. Design Thinking Bootcamp for Non-Profits Hosted by Venture 2 Impact February 9, 2024 | Halifax, NS This one-day bootcamp led 16 non-profit workers through Design Thinking, an approach that uses a human-centered approach to problem-solving, to work through the challenges of the non-profit sector. Through immersive learning, participants left feeling empowered to apply the tools and knowledge from the bootcamp into their organization’s work. Celebrating Cultural and Connections Hosted by Youth Art Connection February 11, 2023 | Halifax, NS This unique event profiled young, African Nova Scotian artists and highlighted their positive role in establishing community linkages and developing inclusive, safer, and sustainable communities in Canada and overseas. The event showcased African Nova Scotian musicians and artists while also providing an opportunity for international cooperation-themed networking for over 200 attendees. Broken Crayons: Telling the Story Hosted by Farmers Helping Farmers This project centred on a book launch and development of educational videos for schools in PEI and twinned schools in Kenya. The book “Broken Crayons” tells the story of a pre-service teacher whose experience at a Kenyan school challenged her assumptions and led to global connections.

Each year, ACIC holds our Symposium: a multi-day gathering full of transformative discussions, collaboration, and action. The Symposium brings together member organizations, partners, and practitioners from the international cooperation and Atlantic non-profit sectors to build capacity and learn from leaders and changemakers. ACIC Symposia Each year, ACIC holds our Symposium: a multi-day gathering full of transformative discussions, collaboration, and action. The Symposium brings together member organizations, partners, and practitioners from the international cooperation and Atlantic non-profit sectors to build capacity and learn from leaders and changemakers. ACIC’s annual Symposium creates space for people working in international cooperation and Atlantic Canada’s non-profit sector to learn together, exchange ideas, and build relationships. Through workshops, discussions, and shared learning, members, partners, and practitioners explore challenges facing the sector and develop practical approaches to strengthen their work. A dedicated Youth Voice stream offers additional sessions for young people alongside participation in the full Symposium, connecting perspectives across generations and making room for youth to help shape the conversation. Information on the 2026 Symposium is coming soon. Past Symposium Themes and Topics From Aid to Action: Celebrating 50 Years of Solidarity and Global Cooperation June 18-19, 2025 | Halifax, NS In 2025, we reflected on shifts in international cooperation, explored the future of foreign aid, and deepened connections through panels, workshops, and networking sessions. With a strong focus on shared learning and collaboration, the Symposium highlighted diverse voices and practices, encouraging participants to exchange insights, build relationships, and strengthen collective approaches to global solidarity. Days of Learning November 15, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE March 18, 2025 | Saint John, NB ACIC organized two mini-symposia in lieu of one 2024 symposium. We connected with people in New Brunswick and PEI through single-day events touching on Storytelling, Equity, and Change, and the Cost of Living Crisis, respectively. The Gloaming: A Transformative Gathering for Storytelling, Equity, and Change March 18, 2025 | Saint John, NB “The Gloaming” brought together students, community members, Elders, and practitioners in dialogue about critical social issues, including global equity, social inclusion, and justice. Rooted in intergenerational exchange, this event brought us together to share knowledge, reflect on barriers to equity, and explore pathways forward. Conversation topics included: Global equity The backlash against DEI Community-driven solutions to social issues Confronting the Cost of Living Crisis: from PEI to the World November 15, 2024 | Charlottetown, PE Hosted as a partnership with the Cooper Institute, this mini-conference explored the local and global realities of the cost of living crisis, including the impact upon residents of PEI, with an emphasis on under-served communities, and the role that Canadian policies play in shaping the local and international economic landscape. Topics included: Global financialization of farmland as it relates to housing in PEI The effects of the cost of living crisis on under-served communities The economic factors contributing to the crisis, as well as potential solutions Cost of Change: Championing Social Justice, Health and Well-Being For All October 2023 | Charlottetown, PEI The 2023 symposium explored the web of factors that shape our society and the role money and resources play in both creating disparities and elevating poverty in the world. Speakers and workshops focused on the contexts of climate change, power relations within international cooperation, gender, and decent work. Keynote address by Rabi Adamu Musa, founder of the Mcrissar Foundation spoke to the importance of menstrual health for women and girls in Nigeria and its long term impact on education and decent work. Panels and workshops included: Cost of Power and International Cooperation, Cost of Action and Climate Change, Decent Work and the Cost of Exploitation, The Power of Planning for Community Impact Peace Through the Looking Glass October, 2022 | Halifax (Hybrid) This symposium brought focus to the UN International Year of Glass and the ongoing crises in Ukraine, Haiti, and Sudan. Participants learned how justice, equity and institutions are at the core of sustainable development and can both support and hinder peace-building efforts around the world. Keynote speaker, Irene Santiago, a venerated peace negotiator from the Philippines, spoke about the role development organizations play in restoring global peace and emphasized the role of women in peace and security. Panels and workshops included: Peace and Education, Peace and Justice, Peace and Environment, Peace and Institutions, Empowering Climate Change through Communications, Philanthropic Support for Grassroots Changemaking, Asset-based community-driven development in Cameroon From Obstacles to Opportunities: Harnessing the Momentum from a Global Pandemic to Inspire a More Resilient and Just Future October, 2021 | Virtual Emerging from the pandemic and looking to the future, the 2021 symposium drew on parallels between past crises to discuss opportunities, momentum and cooperation in this transitional time. Topics included: Creating Change: Overcoming Obstacles and Implementing Opportunities, The impacts of COVID on vulnerable communities and systems, The implications of COVID for the future Just Climate Action: Gender, Democracy, and Local Movements October, 2020 | Virtual The 2020 symposium was the first to be held virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Dr. Ingrid Waldron’s keynote presentation on environmental racism, and three sessions breaking down how to create just climate action, participants stayed connected to each other, the world, and the future of international cooperation. Gender Equality: the Power of Storytelling to Build Relationships and Collaboration October 2019 | St. John’s, NL The 2019 symposium provided training through capacity building workshops around the theme of gender equality, ranging from Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy to Understanding Sex Work and Sex Workers’ Needs to supporting refugee women and girls in Canadian models of sponsorship and resettlement. Keynote: Sister Lissy Chacko of the Good Shepherd Sisters, Bangalore (MPEF)

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. 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 Click here to view the full internship placement list for Cohort 5. Applications for Cohort 5 have now closed. Applications for Cohort 6 will tentatively open in February 2027 Contact Us 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: 1 month of pre-departure training (6 weeks virtually, 1 week in person), 4 month international internship placement with a local partner organization, 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: Be 18-30 years old, at the start date of the internship Be Canadian citizen or permanent resident 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 July 27th - 31st: In-Person Pre-Departure Training August 3rd - November 21st: In-Person Internship Placements Cohort 5 Applications Open: August 10th Applications Close: August 30th Selection Process: Late August - Early October Virtual Pre-Departure Training: December 7th - January 29th In-Person Pre-Departure Training: February 1st - 5th Placements: February 7th - May 28th Re-Integration Training: May 29th - June 2nd Program Ends: June 3rd Cohort 6 Applications for Cohort 6 will tentatively open in February 2027 These dates are subject to change. Contact us for more information regarding specific dates. "I had many life changing events happen that I'm so grateful and blessed to have experienced. I had the opportunity to go to Kenya which helped me grow and I now have an amazing connection with the people I stayed with and met which will last a lifetime" 2018-19 Internship Program Participant Questions? Get in touch! 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Research & Publications Medicine Wheel Evaluation Framework Through our First Voices project, ACIC developed the Medicine Wheel Evaluation Framework as a participatory evaluation tool to help us better evaluate the project's impact. This guide is intended to introduce the reader to the Medicine Wheel, outlining its history and uses, and to show how the Medicine Wheel can be used as an evaluation framework. Download Responding to the Changing Global Development Context: How Can Canada Deliver? In this report, we highlight key messages in areas that resonate strongly with Canada’s new strategy. This includes the landscape of development is changing, and so are the politics, leaving no one behind and focusing on the poorest presents new challenges and a new normal for donors and Canada’s approach to risk and risk tolerance, and pragmatism about resources, time-frames and results are key factors that will determine the success of its feminist international assistance policy Download Sustainable Development Goals Data Hub Statistics Canada is responsible for the collection, collation, analysis, presentation and dissemination of data for regular monitoring of Canadian progress against the global indicators and has developed this on-line data hub for disseminating Canada's SDG data. Download Engagement canadien pour éliminer la pauvreté dans le monde L’engagement canadien pour éliminer la pauvreté dans le monde, un sondage commandité par le Réseau de coordination des Conseils (RCC), explore l’efficacité de l’engagement sur les enjeux liés à la pauvreté au Canada. Mené en 2012 par Vision Critical, le sondage offre une meilleure compréhension des connaissances, opinions, attitudes et comportements des Canadiennes et des Canadiens en lien avec le travail sur la pauvreté mondiale, tout en montrant la valeur que les Canadiennes et les Canadiens accordent à cette question. Download Atlantic Resilience The purpose of this study was to understand the creativity, adaptability, and challenges of ACIC’s members during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to share learnings, resources, and best practices that have emerged. Members include non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and individuals across all four Atlantic Canadian provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia), doing community work both domestically and in international partnerships. Download ICN Submission to the Canada Revenue Agency's Consultation on the Political Activities of Charities This submission is based on data from a joint survey conducted by the ICN and CCIC. It sets out 4 overarching recommendations that highlight the important policy work done by charities and the unique challenges that the current regulations impose on Small and Medium-Sized Organizations (SMOs) as well as charities that work internationally. Download Books Beyond Borders Books Beyond Borders is a tool created to help people interested in starting globally focused book clubs in their own communities. It offers suggestions on how to set up a book club, a recommended reading list of some of our members' favourite books, and ideas on how you can get involved locally in some of the issues you read about. Download Canadian Engagement on Global Poverty Issues The Inter-Council Network (ICN) commissioned poll, Canadian Engagement on Global Poverty Issues, explores engagement effectiveness on global poverty issues in Canada. Conducted in 2012 by Vision Critical, the poll offers a deeper understanding of Canadian’s knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and behaviours on global poverty work, while demonstrating the value Canadians place on the subject. Download Your Voice Matters ACIC Project Your Voice Matters offers a snapshot of what Atlantic Canadian youth think about the SDGs, and how they are already being engaged in work, conversation and leadership opportunities for sustainable development. We spoke with over 100 youth and youth-supporting professionals across Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island), reaching the greatest diversity of communities that we could during the two-month time period of the project. Download Canadian Perspectives on International Development This public opinion poll was commissioned to gain an understanding of Canadians’ knowledge of, opinions on, and engagement in global poverty issues in 2015. It builds on similar polls conducted in Canada, such as the 2012 Canadian Engagement in Global Poverty Issues poll by the ICN, and those conducted in other G7 countries through The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Narrative Project. Download Global Citizen's Guide This guide outlines a number of ways we can all get more involved with our local and global communities. It offers tips on volunteering, ethical consumption, engaging in democracy, organising events, internships, and much more. It also profiles a number of Atlantic Canadians just like you that are working to make the world a better place. Download The South through the Northern Eye ACIC coordinated project The South through the Northern Eye explored issues around the images of the developing world found in the media and advertising. This report examines some of the tensions around how images are used in NGO fundraising, what they represent, and the debates on changing the way we use images depicting the Global South in the field of development. Download Maximizing Development Impact of Canada's DFI A policy paper on how Canada can draw on international best practice as it shapes its new. Download Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy recognizes that supporting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is the best way to build a more peaceful, more inclusive and more prosperous world. To do this, it supports targeted investments, partnerships, innovation and advocacy efforts with the greatest potential to close gender gaps and improve everyone’s chance for success. Download Submission of the Inter-Council Network on The Civil Society Partnership Policy of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada The ICN has submitted comprehensive comments on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada’s Draft Civil Society Partnership Policy. In this report, the ICN stresses that adherence to human rights-based principles, commitments, standards, and approaches be explicit preconditions for partnership, that the expertise brought by CSOs, in particular, should be the focus of the policy, and that DFATD should ensure the conformity of the meaning of the French and English versions of the text of the policy. Download 1 1 ... 1 ... 1

PhotoVoices Stories are powerful: they weave people and experiences together and shape how we see the world. Knowing the impact and value of a well-told story, ACIC’s PhotoVoices Program empowers youth to share the narratives they want to tell through photos.  Through the program,  Atlantic Canadian youth and youth from the Global South use photos to share their stories, build skills, explore the Sustainable Development Goals, learn from experts in the field, and so much more. ACIC's PhotoVoices Program enables youth to share the narratives they want to tell through photos, and connects youth from Atlantic Canada and the Global South in an experience of storytelling, skills building, providing them a space to explore social justice, while learning from experts in the field. To apply for the next iteration of our PhotoVoices Program, click here . If you are an organization interested in partnering with us, click here . Dream Africa (2025) This year’s cohort, Dream Africa, brought together young people from Ghana and Atlantic Canada to reflect on the experiences of Black and African diaspora youth—amplifying voices that challenge inequality and celebrate resilience, creativity, and connection. In partnership with Connecting To Africa and Algo Peers . View Gallery You, Me, and the SDGs (IDW 2025) Youth from Maple Ridge Elementary explore the SDGs through photography, sharing their visions for a better world. View Gallery PhotoVoices 2024 Twenty-two youth from Atlantic Canada and Cameroon unite to share the lived realities in their communities. In partnership with ACIC and Local Youth Corner Cameroon . View Gallery PhotoVoices 2023 Explore experiences, perspectives, and communities near and far. A cross-continental collaboration between 30 young women from Atlantic Canada, Malawi, and Nigeria. In partnership with ACIC, GENET (Malawi), and Mcrissar Foundation (Nigeria). View Gallery PhotoVoices 2022 Explore experiences, perspectives, and communities near and far. A collaboration between youth recruited by ACIC, Connecting the Dots Foundation (Nigeria), Nova Scotia Gambia Association (The Gambia). View Gallery Atlantic Youth Weavers (AYW) Photovoice Project Explore experiences, perspectives, and communities near and far. The AYW Photovoice Project was a joint initiative by Inspiring Communities , WeavEast , and the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation. Financial support was additionally provided by The McConnell Foundation and Global Affairs Canada . View Gallery

The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation is a coalition of individuals, organizations and institutions working in the Atlantic region to build and model just, equitable and sustainable communities, locally and globally. Connecting & Strengthening Atlantic Canada’s Global Changemakers Explore Opportunities What We Do We are a coalition of individuals, organizations, and institutions working in the Atlantic region, committed to achieving peaceful, just and sustainable communities, locally and globally. Read our Strategic Plan Our Programs ACIC empowers individuals and organizations through international internships, youth programs, and membership support, fostering global citizenship and strengthening Atlantic Canada’s role in international cooperation. Membership Join a thriving community of changemakers! Access exclusive resources, funding, and collaboration opportunities to amplify your work. Internships Gain hands-on experience through funded international placements. Build your skills, expand your network, and make a global impact! Youth Explore global citizenship through leadership training, experiential learning, and cross-cultural exchange. Connect with peers and build skills for a more just world.