March 25, 2024 – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Global Affairs Canada

During a tour in Atlantic Canada to highlight the importance of Canada’s international assistance, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, today reaffirmed Canada’s commitment of $24.5 million in funding for the International Youth Internship Program (IYIP).

Minister Hussen was joined for the announcement by representatives of the Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Fisheries and Marine Institute, 1 of 8 partners whose project is receiving over $4.2 million in funding. The institute is collaborating with the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation on this IYIP project that will provide 190 internships that aim to improve employment skills through placements focused on environmental sustainability, adaptation to climate change and improving gender equality.

During the announcement, Minister Hussen recognized that Canada has historically denied the rights of Indigenous Peoples, who still face systemic racism, discrimination and injustice. Young people between the ages of 18 and 30, especially those who identify as Indigenous or racialized or as members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, as well as youths living with disabilities, will be selected by IYIP partners and paired with organizations in developing countries to work in sectors such as communications, education, social services, human rights, aquaculture, agriculture, and more. 

For over 25 years, the program has offered youths living in Canada the opportunity to gain skills and professional experience abroad in the field of international development, allowing them to prepare for future employment or continue their formal education. This iteration of the program, which runs from 2023 to 2028, will allow more than 800 eligible youths to complete internships in more than 40 developing countries.