Programs
FAQ - Programs
About the program
Application and selection of participants
Group living
Volunteer work and communities
Learning programs
Behavioural standards
About the program
1. What is Katimavik?Katimavik, Canada’s leading national youth volunteer program, gives Canadians between 17 and 21 years old the unique opportunity to take part in an intensive 6- 9 month volunteer service program.
As a Katimavik volunteer, you will work for not-for-profit organizations that play an important role in the development of Canadian communities. While on the program, you will live with 10 other young people in two or three different regions of the country. Katimavik allows you to develop your leadership skills, gain valuable work experience and discover new places while making a difference in communities across Canada.
Katimavik Classic – 9 months
For nine months you will volunteer in three communities across Canada and benefit from a stimulating learning program that focuses on civic engagement, leadership, healthy lifestyle, cultural discovery, official languages and environmental stewardship.
New 6 month programs
Our new 6 month programs follow the same volunteer service model as Katimavik Classic and are based on the same guiding principles as our 9 month program. Because of their shortened duration, these programs will focus on certain themes from our learning program which will be put into practice through community based activities.
Please note that applicants for six month programs will be asked to state their preferred theme. As such, applicants are not guaranteed placement in the theme of their choice and may be placed in one of the other two depending on availability.Cultural Discovery and Civic Engagement
For six months you will volunteer in three distinct communities across Canada: one major urban centre, a rural town and a community in Northern Canada. This program is designed for youth who are interested in discovering the diversity of Canada while engaging in meaningful volunteer service activities. Participants will explore the geography, history, economy and socio-cultural makeup of their host communities.
For six months you will volunteer in three communities across Canada where you will put into practice the principles of eco-citizenship and a healthy lifestyle. This program gives participants the opportunity to participate in volunteer initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and which meet the pressing ecological challenges of Canadian communities. Outdoor excursions and activities will focus on the discovery of the host region.
For six months you will volunteer in two communities: one Anglophone community in Western Canada and one Francophone community in Québec. This unique opportunity gives participants the chance to be immersed in an intense linguistic and cultural experience while engaging in meaningful volunteer service. Participants in this program will also have the chance to live with host families in their host community in order to better understand the reality of their adopted region.
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?
Jacques Hébert (1923-2007) 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 2008-2009 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?
Applicants must pay for their medical exam and a criminal record check when they apply to Katimavik.
Once a participant is accepted on the program, Katimavik covers the cost of transportation, food, lodging and program activities. Participants receive a daily allowance of $3 and a bursary of $500 (6 month programs) or $1000 (9 month programs) once they have completed the program.
Participants must pay for their personal insurance for the duration of the program.
7. Can I have a job or study during the program?
No. Katimavik is an intensive program in which you will be doing volunteer service full-time during the day and involved in learning activities in the evenings and on weekends.
8. Will I have free time during the program?
You have four blocks of free time per week.
Application and selection of participants
9. How can I apply?Complete the 5 steps to get you on your way ("Applicants" section of our Web site).
- Get informed: Get a life, learn more about the real world with Katimavik!
- Fill out the personnal information form to get the application process started.
- Choose your program: 6 or 9 months.
- Fill out and return the Candidate file (PDF, 290 ko): Only candidates that have returned their duly completed candidate's file will be eligible for selection. Please allow 4 to 8 weeks for the processing of your application once we’ve received all your documents.
- Following up on your application: Keep track of your file with Katimaroute
Katimavik offers all Canadians between the ages of 17 and 21 an equal opportunity to participate in the program. Participants come from every region of the country and represent Canada’s contemporary socio-cultural reality.
To participate in Katimavik you must:
- Be between 17 and 21 years of age at the start the program
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be in good health (a medical examination form must be filled out by your doctor and verified by Katimavik before you are accepted)
- Meet the requirements of a criminal record check
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.
12. What happens after I apply online?
Following up on your application: Keep track of your file with Katimaroute
13. How do we select participants?
Selection is based on:
- Approval of your medical file and criminal record check
- A first come, first served basis
- Selected socio-demographic criteria
There is no deadline: you can apply at any time. Participant selection is currently in progress for the 2009-2010 programs and will continue as long as there’s room left.
15. What are the 2009-2010 programs dates?
Katimavik Classic – 9 months
September 23, 2009 to June 16, 2010
October 7th, 2009 to June 30th, 2010
New 6 month programs
Cultural Discovery and Civic Engagement September 2, 2009 to February 17, 2010
March 3, 2009 to August 18th, 2010
Eco-citizenship and Healthy Lifestyle September 2, 2009 to February 17th, 2010
March 3, 2009 to August 18, 2010
Second Language and Cultural Diversity January 13, 2010 to June 30, 2010
16. What are my chances of being selected?
Katimavik offers all Canadians between the ages of 17 and 21 an equal opportunity to participate in the program. Participants come from every region of the country and represent Canada’s contemporary socio-cultural reality.
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.
19. What are the medical criteria for participation in the Katimavik program?
Katimavik’s has a team of doctors who examine 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. 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 destinations?
Katimavik gives you the unique opportunity to live and volunteer in two or three distinct regions across Canada. Most participants will live in two English speaking communities and one French speaking community. Please note that participants of the Second Language and Cultural Diversity program live in two communities, one in Western Canada the other in Quebec.
Currently, Katimavik has projects operating in all 10 Canadian provinces. Though you cannot choose exactly where you will travel or in which provinces you will live, you are bound to discover Canada’s unique cultural, social and geographic diversity.
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 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, group living and the learning programs. Twenty-eight to thirty-five hours a week are spent doing volunteer work projects. Workshops are organized in the evenings so that the groups can meet the objectives of the learning programs. Group living is a large part your life in 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 living
26. 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.
In each trimester participants live for a short length of time with a host family in order better understand the culture of your new host communities.
27. How are the groups formed?
Katimavik groups reflect the socio-demographics of Canadian society and are usually made up of 50% young men and 50% young women as well as a certain percentage of visible minorities and aboriginal participants. 70% of a group is composed of Anglophones while the remaining 30% are French speaking.
A typical group would be composed of the following members:
- 1 billingual Project Leader from anywhere in the country
- 1 participant from British-Columbia or Yukon
- 2 participants from the Prairies, North West Territories or Nunavut
- 4 participants from Ontario
- 3 participants from Québec
- 1 participant from a maritime province (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland)
A Project Leader lives with the participants and is supervised 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 2 or 3 times, depending on the length of the program, for a period of 48 hours. Leaves for special circumstances can be approved by Katimavik’s regional director, but participants must pay their own travel expenses. During the holiday season, 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.
Volunteer work and communities
39. What type of community organization will I work on?Katimavik’s community partner organizations offer a variety of work 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
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 work 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.
Learning programs
42. 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
- Communication
- Team work
- Problem solving
- Planning and organization
- Conflict resolution
- Adaptability
- Sense of responsibility
- Ability to learn
- Tolerance and appreciation of differences
- Work ethics
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. 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:
- 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”. - 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. - 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.
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.
