Deadline: 7-Feb-23
The Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is now seeking applications for the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy: Skills Link Program.
The First Nations and Inuit Skills Link Program is 1 of 2 programs that Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) administers under the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES).
Objectives
The objectives of the Skills Link Program are:
- To promote the benefits of education as key to labour market participation.
- To support the development and enhancement of essential employability skills among First Nations and Inuit youth such as communication skills, problem solving and working with others.
- To introduce youth to a variety of career options.
- To help youth acquire skills by providing wage subsidies for mentored work experience.
- To support the provision of mentored school-based work and study opportunities such as co-Operative education and internships.
- To help First Nations and Inuit youth overcome barriers to employment.
Expected Results
Key expected results of the Skills Link Program are:
- Enhanced employability skills for participating First Nations and Inuit youth.
- Increased awareness of the benefits of education.
- Enhanced ability to make employment-related decisions.
- Increased appreciation for science and technology as a viable career or education choice.
- Improved attitudes toward the transition from school to work.
- Increased ability of First Nations and Inuit youth to participate in the labour market.
Activities
The key activities of Skills Link Program are:
- Wage subsidies for work placements and mentorship for youth who are not in school to enable them to develop employability skills and support their educational and career development.
- Activities designed to support First Nations and Inuit youth entrepreneurs gain self-employment.
- Training experiences that support youth in acquiring skills needed for work placements.
- Career development information, including awareness and support activities like career fairs and leadership projects.
- Career planning and counselling activities.
- Activities that promote science and technology as an educational or career choice, including science camps, computer clubs and activities that connect science and technology to traditional Indigenous knowledge.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible recipients
- Eligible recipients are:
- First Nations and Inuit communities
- Governments and organizations
- Not-for-profit associations
- Private sector employers
- For co-operative education activities, only First Nations schools or federal schools on reserve may submit proposals through their administering organization.
- Eligible recipients can enter into agreements with private sector and non-profit sector employers to access employment opportunities for youth. Private organizations are eligible for funding provided that the nature and intent of the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit and supports the program’s priorities and objectives.
- Eligible recipients are:
- Eligible participants
- Eligible participants include:
- First Nations and Inuit youth ordinarily residents on reserve, in recognized communities or on community lands
- Inuit who are residents in Canada but reside outside their territory and are no longer eligible to be funded by their territory
- Proof of refusal is required. Eligible participants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Youth means persons aged 15 to 30 inclusive.
- Mentored work placements are for youth who are not in school, are unemployed or underemployed.Co-operative education placements youth may be younger than 15 years of age. Activities under cooperative placements are designated for students in grades 7 to 12 (secondary 1 to secondary 5) and are enrolled in and attending a federal or First Nation administered school.
- For career promotion and science and technology activities, youth may be younger than 15 years of age.
- Eligible participants include:
For more information, visit ISC.
