International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) is a Global Affairs Canada initiative developed to give Canadians aged 18-30, from marginalized groups that commonly face barriers to employment, the opportunity to gain international hands-on experience. The Empowerment Squared IYIP program, delivered in partnership with McMaster University and local partners Schools of Dreams and The Youth Bridge Foundation, leverages internship placements in Ghana and Liberia as its vehicle to deliver this growth. Interns will engage in community-driven work, including research tasks, with local partners, and develop valuable professional and soft skills to enhance their career clarity and set them apart in the job market.

Designed to offer more than just international work experience, IYIP provides a transformative journey that enhances both personal and professional growth. Through a combination of real-world challenges, cultural immersion, hands-on research, and community engagement, interns develop essential skills that will shape their careers and future contributions.

The challenges we know interns will have the opportunity to navigate and the supportive team that will be at their side as they do, some of the ways we hope to enhance the skills that are key to bridging some of the divides so many young people from equity-deserving groups face.

Cohort 1 departed for Ghana and Liberia on January 17 2025 and is already set to return to the country on April 18 to complete their Reintegration Training by the end of the month.