Support Coordinator (Youth Exchange Program)

The YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange is a national exchange program coordinated by the YMCA and funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage. For six weeks over the summer, the exchange takes 16- and 17-year-old youth (from Canada) to another province where they stay with a local host, hold a paid job, and practice their second official language. The youth also participate in weekly program activities organized by the Local Coordinator in their new community.

Support Coordinators provide leadership and support to a team of Local Coordinators. First, they will assist the Regional Coordinator with hiring the Local Coordinators, while also widely promoting the program to youth and community organizations (January-March). Then they will support Local Coordinators with the recruitment, selection, and pre-departure preparation of the outbound youth participants, while also securing host and job placements locally (March-June). Finally, once the exchange starts, they will support the inbound youth participants’ experience by helping them navigate change and address conflicts as they arise, and they will support the Local Coordinators in delivering a full program of activities (July-August).

Support Coordinators must be full-time post-secondary students. Successful candidates will have had previous experience working with youth and/or experiential education programs, possess strong communication and organizational skills, and be highly reliable individuals. They will have insight into Canada’s diversity and value an active approach to social inclusion.