Katimavik program provides Canadian youth with the adventure of a lifetime

MONTREAL – Katimavik, Canada’s leading national youth service learning program that provides young Canadians with a positive work experience and the adventure of a lifetime, is now accepting applications for the 2002-2003 program year.

            Since 1977, more than 21,000 Canadians have lived the Katimavik experience, which provides service learning and work experience to young men and women looking for relevant training and students unsure of their future academic orientation, or looking for a new direction in life.

            While participating in the 1983-84 Katimavik program, Vincent Cotnoir, master of ceremonies for Quebec’s internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil, achieved his dream of performing a backwards salto. “The Katimavik experience allowed me to realize a dream and also increased my confidence that I could accomplish even more,” said Cotnoir.

            For thousands of young people at a crossroads in life, Katimavik has opened up wonderful possibilities that have led them to discover more about themselves and others. The program also encourages young people to play an active role in the communities where they are based. Since the local projects rely solely on volunteer labour, the participants’ contributions are invaluable to both these communities and to Canada as a whole.

            Andree Gilbert, Director of Marketing for the Festival du Voyageur in St. Boniface, Manitoba, said recently: “The Katimavik participants did an incredible job. We had our doubts before they got involved in this project, but now we wonder what we would have done without these young people.”

            Applications for the 2002-2003 program year are now being accepted either on-line at the program’s web site at www.katimavik.org or by calling 1-888-525-1503 toll-free. For the 2002-2003 program year, which starts September 11, and 25, 2002, the deadline for applications is April 12. For the January 8 and 22, 2003 program start dates, the application deadline is this July 19.

Service learning

            Katimavik is a national program for young Canadian men and women aged 17-21 who work on volunteer community projects in three communities across the country for seven months. The Katimavik program is based on the concept of service learning, which combines professional development and personal experience through volunteer community work.

            In addition to working 35 hours on community projects, participants benefit from a learning program that focuses on developing their leadership skills, learning a second language, adopting a healthy lifestyle, making cultural discoveries and protecting the environment.

Teamwork

            Participants live in groups of 11, supervised by a Project Leader, in a house tented by Katimavik. The group lives and travels together for the duration of the program, jointly organizing their evening and weekend activities. Each week, two different members of the group take care of cleaning and cooking. This unique approach helps participants appreciate the extent of what can be accomplished with teamwork.

Katimavik Alumni Association

            Former Katimavik participants that would like to know more about the Katimavik Alumni Association and Katimavik’s 25^th anniversary celebrations, are invited to visit the web site at www.katimavik.org or call toll-free at 1-888-525-1503.