Context
The Bilingual Young Leaders are a Youth Committee founded by French for the future. It is made up of 7 to 8 young committed bilingual Canadians between 16 and 22, who want to develop projects to promote bilingualism.
The Committee serves as a springboard for implementing local initiatives that will help promoting Canada’s official bilingualism via French learning, led by and for youth. The committee represents an expansion of French for the Future’s actions, raising awareness among more young people, while allowing a group of qualified young persons to receive training in governance and project management.
The Youth Committee also acts as an advisory committee for French for the Future, who is willing to maintain a continual dialogue with young people, in order to keep offering them relevant programs.
Members
During its first year, the Youth Committee will have 8 members.
This number may change in the course of time, and based on financing.
The Committee’s members are between 16 and 22 years old and are bilingual.
Expectations regarding the Youth Committee members
The Committee members meet once per year in person, and virtually several times per year to discuss and see their project(s) through to completion. In between meetings, the Committee members stay connected to exchange ideas and work on their project(s). They devote about 10 hours per month to the Committee’s activities.
Term
Members may be part of the Committee for a one (1) year term, which can be renewed once for a maximum of two (2) years. They can complete only one 2-year term.
Compensation
The committee members are volunteers. French for the Future will pay for their travel and accommodation expenses when participating in the in-person meetings.
Photo and video release
The Committee members accept that their photographs and videos be used by French for the Future. For members under 18, an authorization form must be signed by their parent(s) or guardian(s).
Application process
The call for applications will start on August 1st to 31st, 2022.
To apply, candidates must fill out the online form on French for the Future’s website.
The selected candidates will be contacted by email. They will have to provide a short biography as well as a photo which will be published online.
The candidates not selected can submit a new application the following year.
Candidate selection will occur mid-September.
The official announcement of the Committee members will happen in November on French for the Future’s website.
Selection criteria
We will assess the candidates’ applications based on the following criteria:
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Their volunteering experience and commitment to organizations
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Their leadership experience
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Their project ideas for the youth committee
*French for the Future’s Ambassadors for the 2022-2023 schoolyear are not eligible to become a Bilingual Young Leader this year. They may, however, apply to the program next year, and any other year, as long as they continue meet the eligibility criteria.
Training for the Committee members
The members of the Committee will receive training to help them develop their projects. The training will cover:
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Governance
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Project management
Meetings supervision
All meetings will be supervised by a facilitator or a member of the French for the Future team.