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About the program
Application and selection of participants
Group living
Work projects and communities
Learning programs
Behavioural standards About the program1. What is Katimavik?
The Katimavik program is based on the concept of service learning and seeks to promote civic engagement within Canadians aged 17 to 21.
Katimavik fosters: 1- volunteer work experience, 2- group living and 3- a learning program focused on leadership skills, official languages, the environment, cultural discovery and a healthy lifestyle.
Katimavik helps youth:
- Develop their leadership skills
- Learn some French
- Discover Canada
- Experience different work environments
- Meet new people
- Build their résumé
Participants live in groups of 11 people for a period of 9 months. Each group lives in 3 successive host communities across Canada, two of which are English-speaking and one French-speaking. In each community, youth are involved in volunteer work projects for non-profit organizations that share a partnership with Katimavik.
2. What does “Katimavik” mean?
Katimavik means “meeting place” in Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit people. “Inuktitut” is what Inuits in Eastern Canada call their language.
3. Who founded Katimavik and in what year?
Retired senator Jacques Hébert founded Katimavik in 1977 to foster personal and professional development within youth and help them gain a better understanding of Canadian diversity through community service.
4. Who funds the program?
Katimavik receives financial support from the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
5. How many groups are there?
During the 2007-2008 program year, a total of 99 groups of 11 participants each volunteered for over 700 partner organizations in nearly 100 communities across Canada.
6. Are there any costs to participate in the program?
When you apply to the program, you must pay for:
- Your medical exam
- Your criminal record check
Once you’re selected, you’ll have to pay for:
- Your personal insurance for the entire duration of the program
During the program:
- You don’t pay a thing! Katimavik covers the cost of transportation, food, lodging and program activities.
- Also, you will receive a daily allowance of $3 and a bursary of $1,000 after completing the program.
7. Can I have a job or study during the program?
You won’t be able to go to school or have a paying job during the Katimavik program, since on top of your commitment to your work project (35 hours/week), you will also participate in a great deal of activities with your group.
8. Will I have free time during the program?
You have four blocks of free time per week.
Application and selection of participants9. How can I apply?
Complete the application form on-line ("Apply now" section of our Web site).
10. What are the eligibility criteria?
- Be between the ages of 17 and 21 when the program starts
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
- Have never participated in the Katimavik program
11. Is the age requirement flexible?
No, you must be 17 to 21 years old on the day you start the program to be eligible. However, if you’re currently 16, but will turn 17 by the time the program starts, you can still apply now.
12. What happens after I apply online?
You must fill out and return the candidate's file (print out PDF files).
Only candidates that have returned their duly completed candidate's file will be eligible for selection.
Please allow about a month for the processing of your application once we’ve received all your documents.
13. How do we select participants?
Selection is based on:
- Selected socio-demographic criteria
- Approval of your medical file and criminal record check
- A first come, first served basis
14. When is the application deadline?
There is no deadline: you can apply any time. Participant selection is currently in progress for the September and October 2008 departure dates and will continue until the beginning of the program, as long as there’s room left.
15. What are the 2008-2009 program dates (9-month program)?
September 17, 2008 to June 17, 2009
September 24, 2008 to June 24, 2009
October 15, 2008 to July 15, 2009
October 22, 2008 to July 22, 2009
16. What are my chances of being selected?
Groups are made up of a proportionate representation from each region with the goal of including an equal number of men and women. Your chances of being selected are also proportionate to the number of applications we receive from your region.
17. Can I be on a waiting list?
Candidates with an active file (all documents duly filled out and returned) who have not been selected or assigned to a group are automatically transferred to a waiting list. Katimavik makes replacements during the first six weeks of the program. Therefore, you could receive a call at the last minute to join a group even if the program has already started.
18. If I have a criminal record, will I be automatically rejected?
The following people cannot be accepted to the Katimavik program:
- Anyone completing a sentence.
- Minors who are currently in a youth centre on court order under terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
- Anyone awaiting a judgment or against whom a charge has been laid or may be pending.
- Anyone who has committed an offence of a sexual nature or an immoral act, as well as offences against an individual or their reputation.
If you have a criminal record but are not in the above-mentioned categories, you can be accepted to the program if it has been more than one year since you completed your last sentence.
19. What are the medical criteria for participation in the Katimavik program?
Katimavik’s medical team examines medical forms on a case-by-case basis. The confidentiality of this information is maintained; only the medical team can access this part of your application.
The main medical factor is the stability of the state of your physical, mental and emotional health for a period of six months. Your acceptance into the program also depends on how your medical condition may affect your participation in the program and to what extent we can accommodate it.
If Katimavik has to reject your application for medical reasons, you can re-apply the following year, as long as you still meet the age requirement and your health has stabilized.
20. Can my sexual orientation keep me from being accepted into the program?
Katimavik selects participants according to socio-demographic criteria and does not base their selection on personal information.
One of Katimavik’s main objectives is to introduce participants to different lifestyles and cultures. The most important thing is that participants be ready and willing to communicate openly in a tolerant, respectful way.
21. Can I choose my 3 destinations?
The Katimavik program takes you to 3 Canadian provinces or territories. Katimavik selects these destinations. You will live in two communities that are English-speaking and one that is French-speaking. One of your destinations may include a community in your home province or territory, which would be a great opportunity to introduce the group to your part of the country.
22. Can I join the same group as my friend?
Since groups are put together randomly and a big part of the Katimavik experience is to meet different people from all over Canada, you probably will not be in the same group with your friend.
23. What happens once I’ve been accepted?
When your acceptance into the program has been confirmed, Katimavik will call you and send you information to help you get ready for your departure. At that time, you’ll learn the names of your 3 destinations (host communities). A three-week probation period will begin once you arrive. During this time, the project leader and project coordinator will evaluate your capacity to adapt and integrate. Sometimes, participants and Katimavik realize that they aren’t right for each other! Therefore, participants may leave the program. During the first six weeks of the program, these participants will be replaced by candidates on the waiting list. After these six weeks, no new participants will enter the group.
24. What will I do at Katimavik?
Life at Katimavik consists of volunteer work projects, group living and the learning programs. Thirty-five hours a week are spent doing community work projects. Workshops are organized in the evenings so that the groups can meet the objectives of the learning programs. Group living is a part of each moment of your life at Katimavik!
25. What are my responsibilities?
A successful experience in the program mainly depends on you. As a member of the group, you are responsible for participating in all activities and adhering to the program’s behavioural standards.
Group living26. Where do Katimavik groups live?
Katimavik rents a house or apartment in which participants live with their project leader, who supervises their activities. You will share a room with other members of your group. However, men and women always sleep in separate bedrooms. Throughout the 9-month program, you will live in 3 different communities. In each of these, you will stay with billeting family for 14 days to get to know the local culture.
27. How are the groups formed?
Each group is made up of male and female participants from the various regions of Canada:
1 project leader
1 participant from British Columbia or the Yukon
2 participants from the Prairies, Northwest Territories or Nunavut
4 participants from Ontario
3 participants from Quebec
1 participant from the Atlantic provinces
28. Who supervises the groups?
The project leader, who lives with the participants and is supervised in turn by a project coordinator who lives nearby. The project leader is responsible for implementing the learning programs, supervising participants, managing projects, and developing and maintaining positive relations with the work partners and the host community.
29. Who are the project leaders?
Project leaders have a university degree and/or experience in working with young adults. They have extensive understanding of youth-related issues, volunteer service and alternative education, and possess excellent facilitation, communication, leadership, organization and stress management skills.
30. Is it possible to leave the group occasionally for personal reasons?
Participants are allowed to leave the project in total 3 times (once per trimester) for 48 hours each time. Leaves for special circumstances can be approved by Katimavik’s regional director, but participants must pay their own travel costs. During the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, we ask participants to stay with the group and participate in activities in the host community.
31. Can I have visitors?
Katimavik participants are allowed to have family or friends visit if the project leader and the rest of the group agree to the visit. The project leader may limit the number of visitors and the frequency of visits depending on how much space is available in the house, the schedule and type of planned activities and group safety.
32. Are participants allowed to go out at night?
Participants may go out at night as long as they comply with the curfew set by Katimavik.
33. How many people share a bedroom?
Depending on the house or apartment that Katimavik rents, there are between two and six people in each bedroom.
34. Do men and women sleep in different bedrooms?
Yes, men and women sleep separately.
35. Do Katimavik houses have Internet access?
All houses have a computer with Internet access. The computer is mainly reserved for the project leader’s use, but it is possible for the group to use it in moderation. Chatting (ICQ and chatrooms), instant messaging (MSN), downloading files and Web cams are prohibited.
36. What clothing should I bring? Should I bring my own personal care products?
Before you leave, you will receive a guide containing a list of suggested clothing to bring. Basic personal care products (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, feminine hygiene napkins, etc.) are provided by Katimavik. The products we provide are generic. If you prefer a specific brand, we encourage you to bring your own products. You will be responsible for personal expenses, such as long-distance calls, souvenirs and clothing.
37. Can I bring my pet to Katimavik?
No, pets are not allowed at Katimavik.
38. Can I bring my skis, snowboard, guitar, etc.?
Musical instruments are welcome in the projects, as long as they do not disturb the group’s well-being. Keep in mind that skis and snowboards are cumbersome and could be a burden to you during the four major trips (usually by plane) that you will take during the program.
Work projects and communities39. What kind of community project will I work on?
Katimavik’s community partner organizations offer a variety of projects. Some projects require physical labour and others do not. Here are some examples of current work projects that are making a tremendous difference for others:
- Social and humanitarian work with the elderly, the mentally handicapped and the underprivileged
- Involvement in sustainable development projects: landscaping, recycling used materials, environmental protection awareness activities
- Working on administrative projects: archiving, Web site development, organizing events
40. Who are the community partner organizations?
Community partner organizations are non-profit organizations throughout the country which endorse our mission. They may be municipal, community, social, environmental or recreational organizations. Partners benefit from participants’ support to carry out community projects. The number of partners may vary from one community to another.
41. What are the criteria for selecting projects?
Projects must be a learning experience for participants and an opportunity for them to acquire professional skills. Projects must be different within the community so that a variety of experiences is possible. Work sites must take appropriate safety measures. The host community must be able to provide enough medical and educational resources and have a large enough population for participants to billet with local families (14 days for each trimester of the program).
Learning programs42. Will I have “school work” to do at Katimavik?
There’s no “school work” at Katimavik. The program is focused on learning by doing and made up of 3 components based on leadership development:
- Volunteer work experience with partners
- Group living
- Organizing the house
- Dividing tasks equally
- Interpersonal relationships
- The learning programs
- Leadership
- Official languages
- Environment
- Cultural discovery
- Healthy lifestyle
Each trimester, participants must set personal objectives in the area of leadership development. These objectives must relate to the following ten skills, which help participants work better in groups while developing personal and professional skills:
- Communication
- Team work
- Problem solving
- Planning and organization
- Conflict resolution
- Adaptability
- Sense of responsibility
- Ability to learn
- Tolerance and appreciation of differences
- Work ethics
43. Why is group living part of the learning program?
At Katimavik, we believe that the group’s life and activities are a rich source of learning. The group is at the heart of your experience – it offers you many unexpected moments, some of which are more difficult than others. You will have to adapt and learn to make compromises.
44. Groups are mainly formed of English speakers. Do all activities take place in English?
No, because Katimavik promotes bilingualism within the groups, everything takes place in French and in English. English-speaking participants benefit from additional language learning support in the form of immersion and French classes.
45. Behavioural standards
The standards aim to help you find practical solutions to behaviours that could interfere with group dynamics and your own experience. This process exists so that you may successfully complete the program and increase your personal development. Proper application of these standards includes a system of warnings, ranging from a verbal warning to final dismissal. All of this will be explained to you in detail during the orientation camp.
Behavioural standards are divided into 3 categories:
1. Respect
This category is based on 3 levels: “I respect myself”, “I respect others through my words and actions” and “I respect my environment and community”.
2. Participation
Your level of participation may have repercussions on several of the program’s components, such as your learning process, or the partner organizations where you volunteer.
3. Health and safety
Your health and safety are our main concerns and represent the basic conditions needed to reach our educational objectives and ensure that your experience remains positive.
Therefore, because of the reasons and limitations mentioned previously, the Katimavik program has a few specific restrictions. For example, it is forbidden to hitchhike during your project, consume alcohol within Katimavik houses, and break any municipal, provincial and federal laws.
Probation
The probation period starts as soon as you begin the program and lasts 3 weeks. During this time, we will evaluate your health, as well as your ability to adapt to the program and group life. This period and its application will be explained to you by Katimavik personnel during the orientation camp. |
