Internship Background:
The Canadian Community Economic Development (CED) Network Work Experience Program, CreateAction, is the only national internship program that provides paid learning opportunities for young people to do community economic development in their own communities. The Canadian CED Network has generously provided funding for this internship with the VIRCS Multicultural Environmental Education Program. See program eligibility requirement below.
Created in January 2008, the Multicultural Environmental Education Program (MEEP) is a unique initiative of the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS). We are the first multicultural and immigrant settlement service agency in Canada to incorporate environmental education into our settlement and integration services. At VIRCS diversity is our strength. We build active communities by empowering immigrants, refugees and established residents. MEEP’s mission is to bring together and support newcomers and the wider multicultural community in making sustainable choices for a healthy planet. The intern will report to the Multicultural Environmental Education Program Coordinator for a full time position of 37.5 hours/week.

Primary Accountability:

To offer our clients and the wider multicultural community positive educational experiences while meeting new people and learning about their new local environment and options for living in a way that is healthier for our families, that will save us money and is good for our planet.

Responsibilities:

• Organize and facilitate regular nature outings and environmental workshops for newcomers to Canada.
• Steward relationships with all stakeholders, including volunteers, community partners, and funders.
• Work with experienced staff members to develop and implement diversity training workshops for environmental organizations.
• Work with and oversee volunteers to support environmental workshops and outings.
• Lead the Office Green Team in ensuring that all events are zero waste and green; facilitate a healthy and sustainable work environment.
• Manage and coordinate administrative tasks associated with the Multicultural Environmental Education Program including communications, client files, statistics and other coordination tasks.
• Participate in the National Youth Community Economic Development (CED) Engagement Initiative, regular intern tele-conferences and attend the Canadian CED Network’s National Intern Gathering.
• Support experienced staff members to research and write funding proposals and reports.
• Develop new program activities as necessary.
• Develop and implement effective program evaluation.
• Participate in VIRCS staff meetings and events.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Education, Conservation or related field or equivalent in social sciences field, or 2-3 years relevant work experience.
• Effective written and spoken English.
• Excellent organizational, leadership and facilitation skills.
• Passion for environmental issues or interest to learn more and the willingness to lead by example.
• Effective computer skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, internet, e-mail).
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills.
• Understanding of, respect for, and sensitivity to issues of culture, religion, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team, and with others in the community.
• Understanding of the culture of non-profit organizations.
• Second language an asset.
• Experience in writing funding proposals an asset.

All participants accepted to the CED Internship program must meet the following criteria:

• Be between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of selection;
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada;
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada according to the relevant provincial or territorial legislation ad regulations;
• Be out of school;
• Be a post-secondary graduate;
• Not be in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits;
• Not be working in his/her field of study (underemployed, unemployed);
• Be considering a career in community economic development;
• Not have participated in a Career Focus program in the past.

Apply by email with cover letter and resume to Megan Thom, Multicultural Environmental Education Program Coordinator.