Young Professionals Placement Program

Background on the Program

In July 1997, the Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) created the International Health Youth Internships Program (YIP) for recent graduates and students about to graduate, who want a career in health or in a health-related field. Young professionals benefit from significant work experience in an international context through 6-12 month placements with organizations involved in international health around the world. The experience and skills gained through these placements will strengthen the participants' employability and increase their chances of finding stable employment, whether in Canada or abroad, in their own area of specialization.

In 1999, CSIH became a member of Industry Canada's Netcorps Coalition. This has broadened the scope of placements available through YPPP, and met the growing interest of international health organizations in technology in healthcare.

Since the program's inception in July 1997, almost 400 placements have been arranged. Most have been under the federal government's Youth Employment Strategy (YES) with funding channeled through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), Industry Canada's  NetCorps Canada: International Project and Canada Corps have funded the placements. Most recently, the International Affairs Directorate of Health Canada and HealthBridge sponsor placements.

In 2006, the name of the program was changed to the Young Professionals Placement Program (YPPP) to better reflect the nature of the positions and new directions for the program.

The Youth Employment Strategy expired at the end of the government's fiscal year 2007. YPPP currently has no placements available. This webpage will be updated as new funding for placements is secured. Prospective young professionals should check this site periodically for new opportunities. However, it is not expected that there will be any new recruitment until the fall of 2008 at the earliest.