Youth Empowered Speakers Program in Canada

Deadline: 14-Jun-23

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!

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 YES program is for B.C. First Nations youth ages 18-35 years old living on or off-reserve. Participants must be studying Early Childhood Education, pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree or pursuing a degree/program that is linked to a career in language revitalization. Youth must be able to provide proof of acceptance to a post-secondary institution.

Funding for the Youth Empowered Speakers Program is provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage as a result of the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Languages Act and the Government of British Columbia through the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

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). When not in school, youth will spend 10 hours/week in Mentor-Apprentice (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). 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 degree/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 employed by their community working in their area of study.

Funding Information

• Grant Amount: Up to $30,000.
• Project Term: August 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024.

Components & Benefits

• For each stream, funding consists of 3 components:
  • Mentor-Apprentice Funding
    • Paid directly to the applicant
    • Mentor stipend: $40/hr
    • Apprentice stipend: $25/hr
    • Related program costs (panel evaluation honoraria, materials and travel)
  • Work Term Funding
    • Paid to the employer (community organization)
    • Internship wage: $25/hr + 15% benefits
    • Administration: 10% administration fee to the employer
  • Funding towards Tuition and Living Allowance
    • Paid directly to the applicant
    • Up to $20,000/year towards post-secondary expenses
    • 1,200 for materials and tech *receipts must be submitted

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.

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.
• The YES Program is currently supporting three streams:
  • Early Childhood Immersion Educator Stream: Applicants must apply and be accepted for, or be currently enrolled in, an Early Childhood Education (ECE) program. Proof of program acceptance must be provided by June 30, 2023 in order to be eligible for program funding. This program is done alongside the student’s studies in an ECE program.
  • Language Immersion Teacher Stream: Applicants must apply and be accepted for, or be currently enrolled in, a Bachelor of Education (BEd.) program. Proof of program acceptance must be provided by June 30, 2023 in order to be eligible for program funding. This program is done alongside the student’s studies in a BEd. program.
  • Community Language Revitalizationist Stream: Applicants must apply and be accepted for, or be currently enrolled in, a related degree/diploma/certificate program supporting a career in language revitalization. Proof of program acceptance must be provided by June 30, 2023 in order to be eligible for program funding. This program is done alongside the student’s studies in an accepted program.

For more information, visit Youth Empowered Speakers Program.