Solidarity Economy Mentorship Internship (aka SEMI Program)

Do you have a project aligned with the social solidarity economy (SSE) ?

The SEMI Program accelerates incubation efforts and cultivates leadership in the SSE by pairing experienced mentors with motivated youth who are ready to develop projects, deepen skills, and generate real-world impact!

Receive up to $1000 to develop your skills & project!

Program Structure

Are you already working on a social solidarity economy (SSE) project and seeking both mentorship and financial support to take it to the next level?

The SEMI Program is a flexible resource designed to guide youth in their start-up and professional development journeys, specifically focused on reducing barriers to participation in social entrepreneurship, cooperative start-ups, and creative pre-employment opportunities.

As part of the SEMI Program, the selection committee will match you with an experienced mentor with relevant experience to your specific project and provide you with guidance to support you in developing project-related skills. Once you have been matched with your mentor, you will have at least 5 consultation sessions together.

Each mentee-mentor pair will meet for at least five one-on-one consultation sessions. After your introductory meeting and signing the engagement agreement, you’ll receive the first $500 payment. The remaining $500 is disbursed upon completing all five sessions and submitting a short self-evaluation report and your meeting minutes.

To summarize, here’s what you get:

5 one-on-one mentorship meetings with an experienced SSE practitioner
$1,000 honorarium for interns (based on participation and deliverables)
$500 honorarium for mentors (based on participation)

Need support before you apply?
If you'd like to learn more about the SEMI Program or get guidance on how to craft a strong application, we encourage you to schedule a brief meeting with our Program Coordinator, Hannah, at programs[@]solidarityeconomy.ca
We're here to help you succeed!

The SEMI Program prioritizes projects that fulfill the following criteria:

Contribute to a zero-emissions economy and sustainable operations;
Aligned with values of the SSE including: democratic governance, political autonomy, inclusivity, equity, and solidarity;
Direct benefit to diverse, BIPOC and/or marginalized communities;
Are feasible and viable, with realistic scope and goals;
Include strong case for mentorship, highlighting specific areas for personal and professional development;
Quebec-based;
Projects with more than one individual involved.

The SEMI Program will not fund projects focused on passive knowledge dissemination (e.g. activities that aim to primarily share or publish information without direct reciprocal engagement from the audience). Ineligible examples include:

Producing podcasts, blogs, or newsletters that just inform without involving action or application.
Conducting & publishing research reports or data compilations with no plan for use or implementation.