Projects,
Partnerships, &
Engagement

Eco-Leadership Journey - Chantiers Jeunesse

“Le concept des chantiers existe depuis près de 100 ans. Nés en France en 1920 après la Première Guerre mondiale, les chantiers visaient la reconstruction des villages. Cette initiative avait aussi pour but de montrer que la coopération internationale était encore possible et pouvait aider à rétablir la paix mondiale. Au fil des ans, un chantier est également devenu un projet éducatif pouvant contribuer au développement personnel et social des participants”.

—

“Volunteer projects have existed for almost a century. The idea started in France during the 1920s, just after World War I. At that time, the goal was not only to rebuild devastated villages, but also to show that international cooperation was still possible and could help restore world peace. Over the years, volunteer projects have also become educational projects that contribute to participants’ personal and social development.”

Eco-Leadership Journey: The Eco-Leadership Journey offers youth the opportunity to carry out a project that has significant environmental impact in their community. Participants receive support and funding for an urban biodiversity or cleanup project. From the initial analysis stage of local analysis of social and environmental needs, to the creation of a project budget and communications strategy, this program supports eco-leaders through each step.

Created in 1980, Chantiers jeunesse is a non-profit organization focused on fostering the development of young, active, and socially engaged citizens while assisting in community development to allow communities and individuals to reach their full potential. They organize volunteer projects in different regions of Quebec for young people between the ages of 15 and 30. Every year, around 150 young volunteers become engaged in various projects organized and assisted by Chantiers jeunesse.

2020-2021 Project:

In 2020 Chantiers jeunesse partnered with WWF Canada to provide support for youth volunteer programming. We are proud that this initiative allowed for Canada Solves to be created! We worked with youth of various ages to plan this resource for Canadians of all ages who are focused on reaching sustainability goals as described by the UN. The PlastiCanada podcast was also supported with this resource and guidance from CJ and WWF. We are truly grateful for this opportunity to connect with local youth and meet others across Canada who are creating sustainable change in their communities!

Learn more about the Eco-Leadership Journey.

Apply for their program!

Find out more about WWF Canada initiatives too.

Also, check out the job offerings, volunteer opportunities, and Internships provided by Chantiers Jeunesse.

Ocean Bridge Ambassador

“Ocean Bridge connects Canadian youth and young professionals from coast to coast to coast empowering them to take action for ocean conservation. Each year 160 young people (ages 18-30) form a national team engaged for eleven months in co-creating and delivering ocean and waterway service projects for their home communities.”

2019-2020 Project:

As an Ocean Bridge Ambassador for the 2019-2020 cohort, Cordelia has been fortunate to have participated in ongoing educational programming, an immersive remote Learning Journey, as well as a diverse virtual Urban Learning Journey. PlastiCanada, the educational podcast that discusses sustainability in Canada, was a passion project brought about after engagement with the Ocean Bridge program initially, and then was further supported by Chauntiers Jeunesse and WWF Canada in 2020. Despite the changes to programming following the COVID19 pandemic, Ocean Wise’s Ocean Bridge Ambassador program was an incredibly engaging and empowering opportunity. It not only focused on current sustainability issues for our waterways in Canada, but the historical and ancestral ties to the land that have been stewarded by Indigenous and First Nations people for centuries before colonization. Feel free to check out resources and projects from other Ocean Bridge Ambassadors on our Resources page!

Learn more about the Ocean Bridge Program.

Check out their valuable resources for Citizen Science, community engagement, and ways to stay engaged

International Youth Internship (IYIP)

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) is part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. It offers Canadian youth the opportunity to gain professional experience abroad in the field of international development; and to acquire skills that will prepare them for future employment or further their studies.

Internships are offered through different Canadian partner organizations across 45 countries. Applicants can choose from a variety of sectors, such as:

Gender Equality
Communications
Education
Human Rights
Social Services
Law
Agriculture
Marketing
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
Environment
Small Business Development

Internships last a minimum of six months and include pre-departure and re-integration training. In addition to starting an exciting career path, interns will contribute to poverty reduction and help to advance Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy. Eligibility information can be found here: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/study_work_travel-etude_travail_voyage/youth_internship-stages_jeunes.aspx?lang=eng

2018-2019 Projects:

Cordelia McCrillis, the founder of CanadaSolves, undertook the six month overseas IYIP opportunity in Nha Trang, Vietnam in the summer of 2018. As one of three individuals representing Canada and Memorial University’s Marine Institute as part of the first-ever cohort assigned to Nha Trang University (NTU), it was an incredible opportunity for international partnership development and education. During her six month stay, she was able to learn about and take part in research being done in and around Nha Trang, Vietnam. Specifically, she participated in research studying women’s roles in the Vietnamese aquaculture and fishing industries, the adaptations to climate change coastal communities are undergoing, and the use of Marine Protected Areas for increased sustainability practices. She was also able to take part in her colleague’s research with NTU which looked at various conditions for algae growth which could have an important impact on the aquaculture industry (algae aquaculture includes fish and shrimp farming, and the production of certain strains of algae for commercial use). Further, she was able to volunteer in her spare time with the Vietnamese English Access class. The English Access Microscholarship Program is an educational global exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. Talented 13 to 20 year old youth are given a foundation of English language skills through after school classes and intensive summer sessions. Ideally, the opportunity was what the cohort would make of it. Many thanks to Nha Trang University and the Marine Institute at Memorial University for being amazing hosts for this Global Affairs Canada IYIP Program.

Keep on top of the IYIP Program and their adaptations after the COVID19 pandemic. Learn more about Global Affairs Canada’s IYIP program here.

Learn more about the work being done through Nha Trang University.

Learn about the Marine Institute and other International Development and youth programs they offer.

Check out the Vietnam English Access Micro scholarship Program’s Facebook page here.