The Youth Empowered Speakers program provides expenses and tuition funding for language learning to students planning a career in language revitalization.
We are now accepting applications for the Youth Empowered Speakers Program (YES)! This program provides up to $38,320 to support B.C. First Nations youth, ages 18-35 who are interested in learning their language while completing their post-secondary education.
YES provides training and paid work internships, funding for tuition and living expenses, and a $1200 tech allowance in addition to mentor-apprentice language learning.
Applications are being accepted until January 23, 2024!
Include Language in your Learning
With support from YES, hakaƛ (Chrissie John) completed one-on-one language immersion sessions in the nuučaan̓uɫ language while completing her post-secondary education. She worked on strengthening her language skills with her Mentor čiiʔiłumqa (Fidelia Haiyupis).
Here is what hakaƛ had to say about this incredible experience:
“I really feel like it’s a privilege to learn. I learned English as my first language, but my
mom’s native language, nan’s native language, is our dialect, nuučaan̓uɫ. Learning our
language feels like a real gift. Nan always says she feels like that’s her purpose to pass
on what she knows. She was able to hold onto it all of this time, she knows so much
that it really feels like a gift to be able to learn with her.” – hakaƛ
YES supports students with living expenses and tuition funding for language learning so they have more time to focus on their studies. The mentor-apprentice immersion language learning and internship support students 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.
YES Application Information
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 info on how to apply!
Please share this opportunity with your community and networks. You may download the program poster here!
Register for the Info Session
We will be hosting an online info session to review eligibility, program guidelines and to answer any questions.
- November 21, 2023 at noon.
- To register click here.
The session will be recorded and posted to the YES page for those who are unable to attend.
We are here to support
If you have questions, please contact the YES program contact: Beckie Wesley at yes@fpcc.ca.
Note: One-on-one application support is available up until December 1, 2023.
YES is funded by the Province of B.C. Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (formerly AEST) and Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH).
Learn more:
- Read community stories about Language Program grant recipients here.
- View language resources here.
- Learn more about the Language Program here.
- View all current FPCC funding opportunities here.
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.
Connect with Us
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To view all current FPCC funding opportunities please visit our Grants page.
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