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About Northern Youth Abroad

Location:

311 Richmond Road, Suite 308, Ottawa, ON K1Z6X3, CA

Mission Statement

Northern Youth Abroad seeks to foster leadership, cross-cultural awareness, individual career goals, and international citizenship in the youth of the North. The program promotes success in education by providing life-changing experiences through volunteer work and travel.

Description

Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization (Registered Charity # 86530 5791 RR0001) that cultivates youth leadership, individual career goals, cross-cultural awareness, and international citizenship amongst youth aged 15-22 from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The program strengthens the self-identity and cultural understanding of its Participants and enhances their participation and success in the school system by providing a life-changing and life-directing experience relevant to the needs and aspirations of Northern youth.

Originally piloted in 1998 as the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program (NYAP), our organization has grown steadily over the years. In January 2005, the organization expanded its programming into the NWT. In 2006, it underwent an official name change to Northern Youth Abroad. In our first year we selected 10 Participants from approximately 20 applications. In 2018, NYA surpassed 500 Alumni from almost every community across Nunavut and the NWT.

Since the initial pilot program in 1998, we have successfully supported more than 500 Northern youth in defining and achieving their education and career goals. Our alumni boast significantly higher than average high school graduation rates and many have continued their education at Arctic and Aurora Colleges, as well as at colleges and universities across the country.