Congratulations on becoming a participant in the Community Access Program's Youth Initiative (CAP YI), a part of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy!
Your precise role and responsibilities as Youth Interns will vary depending on the needs of the local Community Access Site.

The overall goal is to inform community members about the benefits of the Internet and related information technologies and to help them acquire the skills and knowledge they need to use these new technologies effectively. The key target groups are local businesses (including home offices), farms and agricultural enterprises, non-profit organizations, community groups, schools, libraries, government agencies, and individual residents of all ages.  

To assist you in carrying out your responsibilities, the will give you a good overview of the Community Access Program as well as the youth initiatives project.

Industry Canada's CAP YI receives funding from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) annually to hire youth between the ages of 15 to 30. Youth are hired either through the Summer Work Experience stream or the Career Focus stream:

• Summer Work Experience targets students who were in school prior to the internship and who are planning to return to school full-time after the internship. Funding from the Summer Work Experience Stream may be spent in the summer, fall or winter; and
• Career Focus stream targets high-school graduates that have some post-secondary education.

Youth work as interns at CAP Sites across Canada, helping individuals, community organizations and small businesses improve their knowledge and effective use of the Internet and related information technologies. Specific activities may include:

• Delivering Internet training sessions;
• Researching and developing Web sites;
• Drafting publicity materials;
• Organizing information fairs and special events; and
• Providing technical support to the CAP site.

The CAP Youth Initiative is implemented within the framework of contribution agreements between Industry Canada and various provincial, territorial, and non-profit organizations for the support and administration of the program. In provinces and territories where there is no such agreement in place, partnerships are initiated with third-party agents.

CAP's Youth Initiative works with partners from each province or territory to implement the project from the grassroots level. The Delivery Organization who administers the program in each province or territory works closely with CAP networks in their respective geography to ensure that both the needs of the youth intern and the CAP Site are met.