Deadline: 23-Jan-24
Are you a B.C. First Nations student age 18-35 who is interested in learning your language while working towards a rewarding career as a language immersion teacher, early childhood immersion educator or community language revitalization leader? Start your application to FPCC’s Youth Empowered Speakers (YES) program today!
The YES program provides training and paid work internships to pursue your education. It also includes funding for tuition and living expenses in addition to mentor-apprentice language learning. The goal of the program is for youth to learn their language while preparing for a career in language revitalization in three streams.
Streams
- Stream 1: Early Childhood Immersion Educator for students in ECE programs
- In this stream, youth develop their language proficiency while studying to be Early Childhood Immersion Educators (ECEs). Youth will complete a minimum of 100 hours in Mentor-Apprentice (MAP) learning over the year. When not in school youth will spend 10 hours/week in MentorApprentice (MAP) learning and 20 hours/week employed by their community working in preschool facilities and preparing for a preschool immersion language nest.
- Stream 2: Language Immersion Teacher for students in BEd. Programs
- In this stream, youth develop their language proficiency while studying to be language immersion teachers (Bachelor of Education). Youth will complete a minimum of 100 hours in MentorApprentice (MAP) learning over the year. During the summers, youth will spend 10 hours/week in MAP learning and 20 hours/week employed by their community preparing resources which will assist with current and future teaching needs.
- Stream 3: Community Language Revitalizationist Stream for students in a post-secondary program which can be linked back to a career in language.
- In this stream, youth develop their language proficiency while gaining skills for a variety of community-based career options in language revitalization. Youth will complete a minimum of 100 hours in Mentor-Apprentice (MAP) learning over the year. In addition to language learning, youth will receive support to gain post-secondary education in a field related to language revitalization. When not in full-time school, there is an optional internship of 20 hours/week employment working in their area of study in their community.
Examples of supported fields of study:
- Project Management
- Technology & Web development
- Visual Arts, Graphic Design, & Music
- Administration and/or Bookkeeping
- Indigenous Planning Programs
- Tourism
- Teachers Aid/Education Assistant
- Child and Youth Care
- Wellness/Health/Healing programs
- Adult Immersion Programs
- Fluency/Immersion in partnerships with universities
Funding Information
- Total: Up to $38,620.00
- Apprentice Stipend: Up to $2,500.00
- Mentor Honorarium: Up to $4,000.00
- Evaluation Sessions: $500.00
- Materials and Administration: $300.00
- Additional Technology Stipend: Up to $1,200.00
- Scholarship for Approved Post-Secondary: Up to $8,000.00
- Living Allowance: Up to $12,000.00
- Community Internship: Up to $10,120.00
Eligibility Criteria
- The Youth Empowered Speakers Program is open to B.C. First Nations youth aged 18-35.
- You do not need to be living in your community (on reserve) to be eligible; urban applicants are also eligible.
- Status cards are not required to be funded by FPCC.
- Proof of program acceptance must be provided by June 28, 2024 in order to be eligible for program funding.
For more information, visit First Peoples’ Cultural Council.