YMCA OF GREATER TORONTO | INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

International Youth Internship Program

Eager to gain skills and work experience that may lead to employment or further education? Consider joining the International Youth Internship Program (IYIP).

Apply Now!

Program Overview

Looking to start your career or explore new opportunities? The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) helps young Canadians develop valuable skills through hands-on experience in international development and community work.

With the support of Global Affairs Canada, IYIP is designed for youth ages 18 to 30 who are Indigenous, racialized, living with disabilities, or 2SLGBTQIA+ — especially those facing barriers to employment.

Through a four- to six-month internship, participants gain practical skills, global connections, and leadership experience with partner organizations in Africa and South America. This program is a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Toronto, YMCA Cali, YMCA Bogota, YMCA Colombia (located in Bogota), YMCA Togo, YMCA Ghana, and YMCA Sierra Leone.

Each cohort will have the opportunity to become part of the global YMCA network. The work they do during the program will focus on the pillars of World YMCA’s Vision 2030:

Community well-being

Meaningful work

Sustainable planet
Just world

Why Join IYIP?

Build career-ready skills in real-world settings
Gain international experience without prior work or education requirements
Join a supportive community invested in your success
Become part of the global YMCA network

Refer to our key dates for application dates

IYIP is intended for youth who:

Are curious, adaptable, and open-minded
Wish to develop new skills and gain professional experience internationally
Want to apply their knowledge and talents in impactful ways abroad
Have encountered challenges in finding meaningful employment

As part of the internship experience, participants can expect to be challenged by differences in: climate, local customs, transportation, work place etiquette and norms among others.

Applicants should be able to:

Adjust to new environments and conditions quickly and effectively
Adjust to local culture, learning from the locals in different context, with host families, local volunteers and local communities.
Learn and understand different cultures, practices, and perspectives
Handle unexpected changes and pivot plans as needed
Take initiative and work independently, even in unfamiliar settings
Identify issues, think critically, and devise practical solutions
Build and maintain positive relationships with others
Remain calm and composed in the face of delays or frustrations
Maintain an optimistic outlook, even when handling challenges

To be eligible for this program, you must:

Be 18- to 30-years-old when the internship begins
Be A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
Be Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, or a youth living with a disability who has faced employment obstacles
Not have previously completed an IYIP program.

Work experience or formal education is not a requirement for this program. Language classes will be provided for participants placed in Colombia or Togo.

If you have questions about whether the program is a good fit for you, please contact the IYIP team at Internationalinternship@ymcagta.org.

Attend an Information Session

Join our Information Session to discover more about the IYIP Program, including details on the application process, selection criteria, and placement opportunities for Cohort 3.

Please note that registration is required.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

IYIP is a seven-month commitment involving three weeks of virtual training, one week of in-person pre-departure training, a four to six months in-country internship placement, and a week-long reintegration training, accompanied by YMCA Career Planning and Pre-Employment Support and public engagement activities.

Application form: Fill out all the required information on the form.
Screening call: Expect a phone call at the number you provide within seven days after applying.
Interview: After a successful screening call, the next step is an interview with us.
Provide semi-professional/professional references: We'll contact your references if your participant candidacy continues after the interview.
Provide a police reference check: Successful candidates must be willing to provide the IYIP team with a Vulnerable Sector Check police report.
Onboarding process: After being chosen as a participant, you’ll undergo an onboarding process that includes visa applications, travel clinic visits, and more.
Pre-departure training: Before departure, you must attend all virtual and in-person workshops and training.
Departure: You will depart for the four- to six-month placement abroad.
Re-orientation sessions: When you return to Canada, you will be expected to participate in a week-long re-orientation process.
Pre-employment services support: You’ll receive support from YMCA Employment Services for three months after you return.
Public engagement activities: During the program, you will work on an individual project with the intention of sharing your experience as a participant with the public.

Apply for the upcoming cohort by April 7, 2025.
Pre-departure training: April 30, 2025
Departure date: June 28, 2025
Return date: December 16, 2025
Reintegration training: December, 2025

Applications for future cohorts are open on an ongoing basis.

Cohort	Destination	Departure Date from Canada	Return Date to Canada
Cohort 3	Colombia	June 28, 2025	December 16, 2025
Cohort 3	Africa	June 28, 2025	October 28, 2025
Cohort 4	Africa	January 7, 2026	May 7, 2026
Cohort 4	Colombia	January 7, 2026	June 16, 2026

What IYIP Includes

All flights
Visa fees and travel insurance
Required vaccinations
Allowance for in-country food, transportation, and communications
Modest accommodation with a local host family
Food and accommodation for in-person pre-departure and reintegration training (when training is not delivered virtually)
Language lessons for countries where English is not the primary language
Employment services
Support to implement individual Public Engagement project

*We cannot reimburse costs associated with passport renewals and applications.

Application Form

Please ensure you meet all of our criteria before applying.

“Completing the International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) with the YMCA of Greater Toronto opened up a whole new world for me. Being given the opportunity to learn new skills, learn a completely new language, and build a new professional and personal network has enriched my life more than I ever could have imagined — even after the internship period was over. I have been able to remain connected to the community I built while being abroad, bring back what I learned from my experience, and apply it to my community in Canada, as well as find a new and meaningful job that aligns with my personal and professional goals. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is a truly invaluable experience, and I would absolutely recommend it to any young Canadians!”

Cohort 1 participant

"In our first week, we toured various YMCA locations. Each centre had a unique focus, but what stood out to me most was their work with youth and kids, including individuals from marginalized communities. The YMCA provides these kids with safe spaces to learn, grow, and dream — something that resonated deeply with me. It wasn’t just a workplace; it became a second home to me. I worked alongside passionate educators and youth workers, engaging with children and young adults aged 6 to 17. Many of these youth came from disadvantaged backgrounds, dealing with social and economic hardships, yet their resilience and creativity inspired me every single day.

This journey wasn’t just about professional growth; it was a transformation. I stepped out of my comfort zone, embraced challenges, and gained a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me."

Cohort 1 participant

“I was in the field doing workshops and activities with the local volunteers and the community. The heart of the YMCA is volunteers; when we talk about youth leadership, that’s 100% of the organization. The volunteers have this opportunity to express their ideas and come up with workshops or anything really, and everyone is open to listening to them. When working with the YMCA, you get exposed to less stable or problematic areas of the city, but everyone is still having a good time because their support system and community are so good. They made so much by using so little — that’s the thing that stuck with me the most. You can feel the difference in energy and how people treat each other, and that sense of community is truly special.”

Cohort 1 participant