The DS4Y program is a national initiative coordinated through the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy overseen by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
Funding is a maximum of $30,000 for each internship. This is 50% reimbursement of wages, mandatory employment related costs (vacation pay, EI, CPP and WCB) as well as an upskilling bursary. The bursary amount is up to $4,000 within the maximum funding provided.
Youth internships help Canada create jobs and other social, educational and economic benefits associated with the expanded use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The DS4Y program is integral to the Youth Employment Strategy, supporting small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs under 500 employees) and not-for-profit organizations (i.e. Employers) that can create employment opportunities for youth to build the digital skills needed for the evolving digital economy.
The DS4Y program is intended to provide Canadian youth with work experience and ICT skills to make them more productive and competitive in the knowledge economy and to encourage not-for-profit groups and businesses with up to 500 employees across Canada to develop and use ICT in their organizations.
DS4Y Process
The DS4Y process is fairly simple:
- Apply
- VCN will approve your application
- Advertise your approved job description
- Have VCN verify the candidate for eligibility prior to offering the position
- Hire the intern
- Pay the intern
- Submit pay stub information monthly to be reimbursed by VCN
- Internship ends by March 31, 2023
DIGITAL SKILLS FOR YOUTH PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
- to assist more young people in gaining the skills and experience needed to successfully transition into, and remain in, the labour force; and
- to encourage more small businesses and not-for-profit organizations across Canada to develop and apply ICT-related skills, knowledge and opportunities by helping them to create a stronger economy.
Youth interns work at community access sites across Canada helping individuals, community organizations and small businesses improve their knowledge and effective use of the Internet and related information technologies. The commitment is to provide training and internship opportunities for individuals who have a demonstrated aptitude or interest in any of the following fields:
- Cloud applications and platforms
- Programming
- Web Design
- Service-based Architecture
- Chatbots and AI
- Analysis
- Data Design
- Project Management
- Social Media
- Digital Engagement
Who Can Apply
Criteria for the Intern Host Organization (IHO)
Eligibility Requirements
- Qualified employers with less than 500 employees are eligible to support interns in the DS4Y Program
- Non-profit organizations are eligible for the wage subsidy as well.
- Must be able to provide a minimum six-month internship for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
- As part of your (the intern host organization’s) commitment to up-skilling, this program requires a contribution of $1,000 to the intern’s selected course of study.
Intern Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for DS4Y, interns must meet the following criteria:
- post-secondary graduates, who are up to 30 years, or younger, at the start of the internship;
- legally entitled to work in Canada (ONLY candidates with Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or person who has been granted refugee status); and,
- self-assess as underemployed, meaning they are employed below their level of education, outside their field of study, or hold part-time employment.
In the north (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), eligible participants may be youth between 15 to 30 (inclusive) years who are legally entitled to work in Canada and self-assess as under-employed.
How to Apply
Click here to begin your application
Questions
Contact us here for questions and support