Canada World Youth

Published purpose

This project is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative. The internships focus on increasing the awareness, engagement, and participation of Aboriginal youth in international development, while providing them with opportunities to expand their employment skills. The IAYI initiative is funded through DFATD’s Global Citizens Program. Canada World Youth’s (CWY) Pathways to Aboriginal Youth Leadership provides 20 Aboriginal Canadians an internship in Colombia over a year and a half period. CWY works with Canadian partners such as the Nipissing First Nation, the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute, Nipissing University and McGill University, and in collaboration with local partner, Fundación Colombia Joven (FCJ), to provide interns with four months working overseas in four different communities. Ten interns are working on environmental and related projects, four interns are conducting food security and nutrition related projects, and six interns work on projects to teach basic life skills to youth and adults in local communities.