International Youth Internship Program (IYIP)
Benin | FAQ

• Have a post-secondary diploma (Cégep and above) or a DVS.
• Be between the ages of 19 and 30 when the final selection is made.
• A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Hold a passport valid until six months after completion date of the internship.
• Never have participated in the IYIP.
• Have a basic knowledge of spoken and written French.

• Accommodation included.
• Individually assigned internship supervisor.
• Logistical support and regular follow-ups with Éducation internationale.
• Pre-departure meeting and debriefing upon return.

You will receive a monthly living allowance to cover transport and personal expenses during your internship in Benin. The amount is subject to change depending on the costs of your accommodation as well as the cost of living in the host country.

The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) is part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, which provides Canadian youth with the tools and experience they need to launch successful careers. It is designed to offer Canadian post-secondary graduates (DVS and +) the opportunity to gain professional experience abroad in support of sustainable international development initiatives proposed

The team at Éducation internationale supports you throughout your internship; from your selection up to the post-internship debriefing by providing guidance and advice. Our team’s expertise allows us to provide efficient follow-ups and full logistical support. Furthermore, our team is in constant communication with Éducation internationale’s local partners within the IYIP in order to help achieve the objectives of the internship.

Partnerships for internships in Benin have been developed with a university and two non-governmental organizations working closely with Beninese primary schools:

• Université Africaine de Technologie et de Management
• Centre de Recherche et d’Actions pour le Développement des Initiatives Locales
• Action Sociale pour l’Éradication de la Pauvreté

The internship mandates were developed according to the needs expressed by each partner. Partners also identified trusted individuals strategically positioned in their organizations to act as supervisors.

The internship is from Monday to Friday, working 35 hours a week.

Weekends are valuable opportunities to spend time with your host family in order to discover the Beninese culture with them. You can also plan activities in and around Lima with other interns. You will have a full week off halfway through your internship to get some rest and visit should you wish to do so.

Your supervisor is the main person responsible for the development and evolution of your internship assignment. Objectives will not be fully established before your arrival, giving you latitude to clarify your goals according to your interests, experiences and ideas. The first few weeks of your internship are dedicated to clarifying your assignment with your supervisor, establishing clear objectives and developing a work plan. It is your responsibility to structure your activities well from the start of your assignment.

In addition to completing your internship, two AIEEPs must be completed, with at least one taking place during your internship assignment.

The activities are as follows:

• Serve as a chaperone for a group of students participating in an Éducation internationale program (places are limited).
• Seek potential employers upon returning from your internship.
• Carry out activities related to international development in primary or secondary schools in Canada.
• Twinning projects with primary or secondary schools in Canada.
• Web communication (social media, blog, videos, etc.).
• Work under the mentorship of an expert in the field of the internship.

A long stay abroad requires a thorough preparation. Éducation internationale therefore organizes an eight-day-long pre-departure training in order to prepare you as well as possible for this experience.

To that end, the training covers the following topics:

• Intercultural relations.
• North-South Relations.
• The environment.
• Gender Equality.
• Results-based management.
• Safety and logistics.
• Beninese culture.
• Introduction of partners and supervisors.
• Introduction of internship assignments.
• Employability in international development.

After your internship, a full weekend of meetings and discussions is organized in order to help you make an assessment of your experience. The aims being to facilitate your reintegration, help integrate newly acquired skills during the internship and give you the tools to move onto the next stage – that is seeking an employment.

Safety is a core concern for Éducation internationale. Working in international development involves going to countries with, in some cases, a higher level of risk due to social, economic or political issues that exist among the population. To this end, Éducation internationale has fully developed a safety policy and safety guide that will be handed to you during the training.

Housing is covered by the Program. You will receive all the informations about your housing once you’ll be officially selected.

Éducation internationale and Échanges azimut will book your return flights. The costs will be covered by the program.

You will receive information about the luggage policy of the chosen airline company. Should their policy not include any luggage, Éducation internationale will pay for one suitcase. However, you will have to assume the fees for any additional luggage.

Daily transportation in Benin will be covered by the monthly living allowance that you will receive. You will be informed of local transportation options during the pre-departure training.

You must have a valid passport at least six months after your return from the internship in order to enter Benin. You will need a visa in order to enter Benin; Éducation internationale will accompany you in the logistical steps for obtaining the visa

To retain your health insurance coverage, you must be present in Québec 183 days or more per calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Absences of 21 consecutive days or less are not tallied, nor are the days of departure and return. Please note that every time you spend 183 days or more outside the province in a given year, you lose your eligibility for that year. The RAMQ will require that you repay the cost of any healthcare services received during this time.

During the pre-departure meeting, Éducation internationale will give you a confirmation letter of your participation in the program. It is important to contact the RAMQ by phone prior to departure in order to update your status to Full-time, unpaid trainees outside Quebec. By updating your status, you will benefit from a special coverage with the RAMQ; it pays the full cost of hospital services received in an emergency and 75% of the cost in other circumstances.

Moreover, by updating your status with the RAMQ, the 183-day internship is tallied as time spent outside Quebec during that year.

If you are a resident of another province or territory of Canada, ask your public health system about the coverage policies of a temporary departure from Canada.

A complementary health cover will also be provided by Éducation internationale for the duration of your internship. It will no longer be active once your internship is finished so you will have to plan for another cover should you wish to travel after finishing.