YMCA of Greater TorontoInternship

Funded YMCA International Youth Internship

Dec 31, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Internship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Canada

Deadline

Dec 31, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

The YMCA of Greater Toronto runs this four month international internship with support from Global Affairs Canada, placing young Canadians with YMCA partners in Togo, Colombia, Peru and Sierra Leone. Interns live with a local host family and work on community projects in sustainability, education, child and youth development and community engagement. It is aimed at Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ and disabled youth who have faced barriers to employment, and no work experience or degree is needed.

What you get:

Round trip flights from Canada to your placement, plus visa fees and travel insurance
Required vaccinations
A fixed allowance for food, local transport and a local phone plan while abroad
Modest accommodation with a local host family
Food and accommodation for in-person pre-departure and reintegration training in Canada
Language lessons for placements in Colombia and Peru
Up to three months of YMCA employment support after you return

What you'll do:

One month of pre-departure preparation, including mandatory virtual and in-person training
Four months living and working with a local YMCA host organisation abroad
Contribute to projects in sustainability, education, child and youth development and community engagement
Run your own public engagement project to share your experience back in Canada

Key dates:

YMCA accepts applications on an ongoing basis; LOT lists 31 December 2026 as the last sensible date to apply
Information session: 26 October 2026, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Toronto time
Next cohort departs 29 January 2027 for Togo, Colombia, Peru and Sierra Leone
Next cohort returns 28 May 2027

More information:

Questions about fit can go to the IYIP team at Internationalinternship@ymcagta.org
Interns cover their own passport, personal expenses beyond the allowance, and medication for pre-existing conditions

Who can apply

Aged 18 to 30 when the internship begins
Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, or a youth living with a disability who has faced employment obstacles
Available to be away from Canada for the whole internship
French is required for placements in Togo
Spanish is an asset for placements in Colombia and Peru

AI Verification

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Cross-checked 11 of 14 key facts

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Good to know

+Four months with a YMCA partner in Togo, Colombia, Peru or Sierra Leone, with flights, visa, insurance, vaccinations and a host family covered
+A living allowance for food, transport and a phone, plus language lessons in Colombia and Peru
+No degree or work experience needed, and up to three months of job support when you return
+Run by YMCA of Greater Toronto with Global Affairs Canada funding

Worth checking yourself

!The YMCA takes applications on an ongoing basis and the cohort leaves on 29 January 2027; we list 31 December, but places may fill sooner, so apply early
!Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 18 to 30 who are Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ or living with a disability, and have faced barriers to work
!No wage: the allowance covers basic living costs only
!You pay for your passport, personal extras and medication for existing conditions
!French is required for Togo

Sources checked

YMymcagta.orgApplyYMymcagta.orgApplyFOform.jotform.comOfficialINinternational.gc.caOfficialOCocic.on.caOfficial

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.