Intern - YPEC
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2023, CARE worked in 109 countries, reaching 167 million people through more than 1,600 projects. To learn more, visit www.care.ca
CARE Canada Has a Great Youth Internship Opportunity!
Youth Public Engagement Champion
Are you a passionate young person looking to get more involved in the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) space? Do you want to learn more about global SRHR, inform and inspire Canadian youth, and advocate for girls’ health and rights?
The Youth Public Engagement Champions (YPEC) are a group of six Canadian youth aged 16-24 who raise awareness of global Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights through the SHE SOARS* project. They explore SRHR topics, share knowledge, network, and engage other young Canadians in SRHR discussions and actions as a means of fostering global citizenship.
As a YPEC member, you will help lead, plan and create engaging content for the SHE SOARS podcast and CARE Canada’s Instagram account, our two ongoing initiatives. You will also develop, participate in, and help implement other public engagement activities in Canada, which may include advocacy events, awareness campaigns, blog posts, and more. You will be part of the team at CARE Canada, collaborating with other young leaders on the SHE SOARS project in Canada, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
The first YPEC cohort (June 2022 – June 2024) established a strong foundation for public engagement activities in Canada. We are now looking for a second cohort to take our youth awareness and engagement efforts to the next level. If you are eager to be part of a group of young people leading on global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Canada, with creativity and commitment, this is the project for you!
Time commitment
YPEC terms are two years. The upcoming cohort will start in early June 2024 and stay on until early June 2026. The time commitment is 10 hours per month on independent and group work. The group meets online twice per month (e.g. weekdays between 9am - 6pm ET) to discuss and coordinate tasks, with additional meetings as needed. Group members are in contact briefly throughout the week. Most activities are carried out virtually with occasional in-person events (such as panel discussions, informational booths, and workshops). The Youth Champions speak about SRHR and represent SHE SOARS in Canada.
About the project
SHE SOARS* is a youth-led project that is improving young people’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health information and services, financial literacy and life skills in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, with a focus on young women and girls aged 10-19 (but not forgetting the boys). Activities include educational groups on SRHR, Youth Savings and Loans Associations, training of healthcare providers, community engagement activities to shift harmful gender norms and attitudes, and advocacy work to improve systems around youth health and rights.
Meaningful Youth Engagement is a core component of the SHE SOARS project. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a group of six young people from Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, who advise on project activities and incorporate youth voices throughout the project.
In Canada, the Youth Champions learn about and engage with the SHE SOARS project to raise awareness of youth SRHR in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, and draw parallels to the Canadian context. YPEC and YAB collaborate at key moments throughout the project to support YPEC’s efforts to create meaningful opportunities for Canadian youth to engage as global citizens.
KEY TASKS
1. Actively participate in bi-weekly YPEC meetings with group members and the Public Engagement Officer to discuss and plan content, assign tasks, and participate in trainings
2. Plan and implement the SHE SOARS podcast; conduct speaker outreach, plan episode topics, meet with producer and guests, and co-host episodes
3. Create content including, but not limited to, researching, planning, writing/designing, and editing social media posts, stories and reels
4. Engage with youth/SRHR organizations, agencies and other relevant bodies in Canada to develop, promote and execute public engagement activities, for example, campaigns and events
5. Engage with SHE SOARS partners, including the Youth Advisory Board, to inform and support public engagement activities
*Tasks can be distributed amongst YPEC members according to their different interests and skills.
Location: Remote within Canada
Expected percentage of travel time: 10%
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED
· Canadian citizen, aged 16-24, residing in Canada
· Knowledge and enthusiasm about girls’ health and rights and youth-led advocacy
· Strong communication skills, collaboration, creativity and commitment to complete tasks
· Able to work on ongoing tasks and adhere to deadlines (tasks often completed within a week)
· Able to commit to meeting bi-weekly on a regular schedule, with additional meetings, trainings and virtual activities as required, for the two-year term
· Able to collaborate with a diverse team of youth in Canada and internationally
· Fluent in English
DESIRED
· Experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights advocacy
· Content creation experience, particularly podcast and social media (writing and design)
· Able to travel within Canada to participate in events at various points throughout the year
· Familiar with collaborating in youth working groups and non-profit organizations
WHAT WE OFFER
YPEC members will receive:
· $200 monthly stipend;
· Appropriate training as well as capacity-building and space for professional development;
· Appropriate support from CARE to fulfill their role;
· A flexible and youth-friendly work environment;
· A safe space for youth leadership and advocacy.
If you are someone who wants to speak up for girls’ health and rights, loves to be part of a dynamic team and you are passionate about making a difference, then this opportunity is for you!
SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates should fill out the application by 11:59 pm ET on Friday, April 26th, 2024.
Short-listed candidates will be invited to a virtual interview in the beginning of May.
CARE Canada is committed to employment equity, welcomes diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified applicants. Recruitment-related accommodations for persons with disabilities are available on request.
CARE Canada has a mandatory vaccination policy currently in place with accommodations based on the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Please note that CARE Canada will not ask you to provide any personal and/or banking information throughout the recruitment process. If you have questions, you are welcome to contact our team at shesoars@care.ca.
Please create an account to fill out the application form. A CV and cover letter are NOT required to apply for this position. However, if you have one that you wish to submit with your application, you may attach it.
CARE Canada is committed to employment equity and building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Recruitment-related accommodations for persons with disabilities are available on request.
- Canada
- Virtual