Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Young Professionals International Program Canadian Heritage Organization of American States (OAS) Seminar October 28, 2003

Young Professionals International Young Professionals International (YPI) is an initiative under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy that helps youth make the transition from their formal studies to the world of work Approximately 400 youth from across Canada are placed overseas each year through YPI to acquire intercultural, international, career-related experience

They are there to acquire the skills Canada needs for today’s global economy. Under this partnership initiative, the Department funds Canada-based partners to use their international contacts to locate organizations abroad who will host the participants. Hosts are usually Canadian or foreign companies, non-governmental organizations, foreign governments or multilateral organizations in 143 countries around the world Young Professionals International

YPI provides a living allowance for the participants, and in many cases the host organization contributes cash or in-kind support for the placement. The Department promotes employment equity principles, and the partners actively recruit visible minorities (21%), Aboriginals (7%) and persons with disabilities (less than 1%). Young Professionals International

YPI makes very effective use of second- generation Canadians who speak foreign languages, who sometimes go back to their family’s home country. More often we try to send them to a different one that requires the same language skills. One element used in project selection is the Canadian organization’s plan to involve visible minorities, Aboriginals and persons with disabilities; i.e. no employment equity means not likely to be funded. Young Professionals International

Participants return from their overseas placements changed people, significantly more confident, more appreciative of Canada, and lastly much more sensitive to multicultural situations both in the work environment and in their daily lives. Results: Around 80% enter the workforce either in Canada or overseas, and most of the others return to school for graduate studies. Young Professionals International

Why would overseas organizations want to host a Canadian? Many reasons have been given: to benefit from the talent, skills, innovative ideas and energy of Canadian youth; to bring in a specific skill set for a designated task; to introduce a different work ethic into the office; to benefit from the linkage with a Canadian organization working in the same field; to mentor a young person by way of returning the favour if someone helped them with their career; to take advantage of the connection with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; and to accomplish certain tasks with a low-cost resource. Young Professionals International

One success story by way of an example: Yodit Abdisa, from Ontario, is originally from Ethiopia. The United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC) placed her with the Office of Emergency Programs at UNICEF in New York. She undertook preliminary research on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the issue of trafficking of children and women. In addition, she prepared input on humanitarian access issues for the Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council on children and armed conflict; coordinated the realization of a UNICEF-led inter-agency Web site on human rights and humanitarian action; prepared presentations on landmines and sexual exploitation; helped organize a briefing on child soldiers in Myanmar, a workshop on human rights and humanitarian actions and a briefing on the status of IDPs on the Thai/Burma border; and represented UNICEF at an inter-agency meeting on human rights and humanitarian work. Young Professionals International

Yodit writes: “I was very pleased with my placement. I learned a lot of things, acquired new skills and also built on my existing skills. This was great exposure, as one meets many interesting people from different backgrounds. This was a perfect forum to build a network that will help me launch my career...I would like to thank the UNAC and DFAIT for this great opportunity and hope that this program will continue to benefit many more young Canadians who are craving professional experience in the international field...” Yodit now has a staff position with UNICEF New York in the Office of Emergency Programs. Young Professionals International

In conclusion, we believe that this initiative is a win-win situation for all of the stakeholders, and that, in fact, Young Professionals International itself exemplifies the diversity of Canada. For more information please consult our Web site Young Professionals International