Jeunes volontaires

Description

The Jeunes volontaires program gives you a chance to acquire skills while working on a project of your own design. You can develop and carry out a project in a field that interests you; for example, agriculture, the arts, culture, communications, the environment, community services, tourism, or any other area.

You can get assistance and advice to help prepare you for work. Through your Jeunes volontaires project, you can:

• acquire knowledge;
• develop your skills, creativity and self-reliance;
• make professional contacts and friends;
• gain an enriching experience.

You must devote at least 20 hours a week to your project, which must run for between 9 and 52 weeks.

Throughout the project, you will also be able to:

• work (less than 20 hours a week); or
• study part-time.

Who is eligible for the Jeunes volontaires program?

To participate in this program, you must:

• be between age16 and 29;
• have trouble entering the job market.

Note that a Jeunes volontaires project may be developed by either one person or a group of up to seven people.

Steps

There are three steps involved in developing a project.

Step 1

First, you must meet with an employment assistance officer at your local employment center (CLE) to discuss your project. If the Jeunes volontaires program really meets your needs, you will be given all of the information, documents and assistance needed to develop your project.

Step 2

You must then partner with an organization in your community that has experience related to your project. It can be a non-profit organization, a private enterprise or a self-employed worker.

Step 3

Lastly, you must pitch your project to an advisory committee composed of volunteers from your community. For this, you will be accompanied by the organization partnering in your project. The advisory committee will then recommend that Emploi-Québec either approve or refuse your project.

Financial assistance

Emploi-Québec will grant you an employment assistance allowance and an operating budget for project-related expenses. Training expenses, if applicable, may also be reimbursed.

Testimonials

Félix Vigneault, Une aventure de Marius la lame rouge

"Jeunes volontaires helped make my dream come true. Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to create video games."

Ève Catois, De la Terre à l'assiette

“You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by participating in Jeunes volontaires. All you need is passion.”

Antoine Marçal, Les forges de la Salamandre

“Young volunteers helps us make our dreams come true while maintaining realistic expectations. We are surrounded by competent people ready to offer support.”

Andréane Dufresne, Massothérapeute

"Young volunteers was the springboard that helped me start my own business. Afterwards, I became a volunteer to help other young people carry out their project."

Raphaël Maltais, Une aventure de Marius la lame rouge

"To succeed with a Young volunteers project, you need to believe in it, define it, get help and go for it.”

Marie-Hélène Raby, La Búsqueda

"Young volunteers helps people achieve their goals. I want to make music on stage. We need to follow our dreams… because dreams are the food of the soul”.