Youth Empowered Speakers: Learning Your Language While Preparing for a Career in Language Revitalization!
The Youth Empowered Speakers (YES) program provides up to $30,000 to support Indigenous youth, ages 18-35 in B.C. who are interested in learning their language while completing their post-secondary education.
The YES program provides training and paid work internships, funding for tuition and living expenses and a $1200 tech allowance in addition to mentor-apprentice language learning.
YES is accepting applications until June 14, 2023.
hakaƛ completed one-on-one language immersion sessions through the YES program while completing her studies.
“This program has been really great because I can stay in school and then still do the lessons with my mentor outside of my classes.” said hakaƛ. “I designed the immersion sessions myself. I use a lot of photos that I take of me and my children, and then my mentor and I will look at these photos together and talk about them in the language.”
YES supports students with funding so they have more time to focus on their studies and language learning to become the future language leaders that our communities need. FPCC staff are committed to working with each applicant to ensure the program meets their educational and development needs.
There are three different streams offered to applicants, each tailored to specific educational and career paths:
- Early Childhood Immersion Educator: for those who apply and are accepted or currently enrolled in an early childhood education (ECE) program.
- Language Immersion Teacher: for those who apply and are accepted or are currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Education (BEd.) program.
- Community Language Revitalizationist: for those who apply and are accepted or currently enrolled in a related degree/diploma/certificate program supporting a career in language revitalization.
Click here to review the guidelines and how to apply!
We will be hosting an online info session to review eligibility, program guidelines and to answer any questions! Click below to register.
April 19, 2023 at noon.
Register here!
If you have questions or need any support completing your application or using the grant portal, please contact the YES program contact: Beckie Wesley at yes@fpcc.ca
Share Your Story!
Do you have a story about the work your community is doing to revitalize First Nations arts, languages, cultures and heritage in B.C.? We want to hear from you! Please send your story to info@fpcc.ca and check back as we post more stories about the good work being done across the province.
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