Getting involved and giving back to communities through youth volunteer opportunities is a fantastic way to build leadership skills, grow personal and professional networks, and impact local communities in a positive way. That is why the Government of Canada continues to invest in volunteer service opportunities for youth through the Canada Service Corps (CSC).
Each year on July 15, Canada celebrates World Youth Skills Day by highlighting the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to succeed in all aspects of their lives. To mark this special occasion, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien, is pleased to announce that over 5,000 volunteer service opportunities for youth will be made available through the CSC's Service Placements National Stream in partnership with 15 national organizations.
With over $40.8 million in funding, these organizations will offer a vast array of innovative and creative civic engagement opportunities for youth that will lead to skills development in fields they are passionate about. These types of service projects allow youth to explore and build a wide-range of technical and soft skills while supporting Canada's goal to encourage life-long learning and foster a culture of volunteer service across the country.
CSC traditionally serves youth ages 15 to 30, however as part of a new pilot project this year, six CSC-funded organizations will offer volunteer service opportunities to youth aged 12 years-old and up. By enabling younger people to participate, CSC aims to support early development of key life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that will benefit them throughout their youth and early adulthood.
Youth who want to apply for a CSC-funded volunteer service opportunity or apply for a micro-grant to lead their own project, can visit Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps. New opportunities are added and updated throughout the year.
