Youth in Partnership Program

Countries in which the Youth in Partnership program has operated.

Since the inception of the Youth in Partnership Program in 1997, the Coady Institute has offered more than 200 young Canadians the opportunity to live and work overseas for six months with community development organizations.

The Coady youth associates have worked in the following countries:

“I was very satisfied with the results of my internship… I felt as if I learned a lot from my colleagues as well as from the projects that I had the opportunity to work on. For example, near the end of my internship, I was given the chance to work on a multi-million dollar RFP for USAID and had the opportunity to meet with multiple stakeholders in the community. In addition, I felt as if my colleagues could trust me with projects and I was often delegated the lead role on projects. I felt as if I was supported by my colleagues in Botswana as well as by the staff at the Coady. Natalie [youth programs coordinator] was excellent at following up and I always felt as if I had an entire group of people back at the Coady willing to offer support and advice on the projects I was involved with or with any personal struggles that came up during the internship. Looking ahead now, I am required to complete a practicum for my masters in a global health setting and feel that my internship experience will lend itself well when I return to the field.

An aspect of the project that I find interesting is the networking that I was able to do and the exposure that I received living in another country for six months. While I didn't realize how important some of the connections I made would be, as I continue with my masters degree I am seeing the opportunities that may arise for practicum and field work because of this. The unique thing about the Coady YIP program is that not only was I able to meet many working professionals in Botswana, but I was able to connect with the diploma [in Development Leadership] participants from around the world. I am in touch with a few past Coady diploma participants still today and I know that I could reach out and seek advice or ideas from each one of them.” (Amy Fowler, YOHO Botswana, 2010/2011)