The Youth Community Action Program helps young people get involved in their communities while offering them a chance to earn tuition credits to help pay for their post secondary education. As one of 12 employment and work experience programs of Youth Options BC, YCAP is part of a major provincial government initiative to create opportunities for work experience and skills training for BC youth and to improve access to post-secondary education.

The program is open to youth aged 15 to 24 years who are residents of B.C. and are willing to commit to 100 hours of volunteer work. Tuition Credits are earned at a rate of $8 per hour. The credits are redeemable at eligible post-secondary education and training institutions for tuition costs. Participants have up to five years to use the credits.

Youth Community Action runs year-round. The majority of placements occur during the summer and fall but many will continue throughout the year.

How YCA Works

• The program is delivered by Host Agencies which are community-based non-profit organizations and/or post-secondary institutions.
• All Youth will fill out an application form that is assessed, reviewed and approved by the local Host Agency.
• The Host Agency is responsible for referring approved youth to potential sponsors.
• Youth may take part in projects relating to:
• recreation & sport
• community development
• literacy
• arts & culture
• health & social services
• community safety
• heritage
• Placements cannot begin until the Host Agency, Sponsor and Youth sign a Placement Agreement.
• Young people participating on the projects will have the opportunity to develop community service and leadership skills, and gain career-related experience.
• Youth who complete the projects will earn credit – at $8 per hour – that can be applied toward future post-secondary tuition fees. Placements must range from a minimum of 100 hours ($800) to a maximum of 300 hours ($2,400). The tuition credits are redeemable at designated post-secondary education and training institutions for tuition costs.

East Vancouver YCAP

The East Vancouver Youth Community Action Program is open to those young people who live North of 41st Avenue and east of Granville Street who are:

• low-income (on income assistance, working poor, or unemployed);
• without access to other money to help them pay for their education;
• aboriginal;
• themselves single parents; and/or
• have completed or dropped out of high school, and who are looking for the experience and financial support they need to complete or continue their education.

We are especially anxious to reach 19 to 24 year olds who, while out of high school, may not yet have found a way to achieve their educational goals.

There are many benefits for youth participating in YCAP, such as:

• Work experience related to career and education goals;
• Connections to agencies and resources in their communities;
• Opportunities to meet dozens of other young people participating in the program;
• Volunteer experience, which may help them get a paying job and/or further training opportunities; and
• Earning Tuition-Fee Credits for placements completed!