Young Intern Officer program

An exceptional opportunity to take part in the life of the biggest financial cooperative in Canada!

From the age of 18, and until age 30, you can participate in the Young Intern Officer program. It gives you the chance to complete a practical one-year internship on a caisse Board of Directors or Board of Supervision. You work with elected officers and learn about the various aspects of their role by:

• participating in meetings and discussions
• sitting on various working committees and task forces
• proposing new ways to improve services to younger members
• having a hand in the development of the caisse and community
• honing your strategic skills and knowledge through a focused training program

A unique experience

The Young Intern Officer program gives you a chance to experience something new and build a network of personal and professional contacts in the largest cooperative financial group in Canada.

Two ways to be an intern officer

1. Be a member of a caisse Board of Directors
   Board of Directors intern officers participate in discussions leading to caisse decisions, caisse orientations, and the supervision of caisse activities on behalf of the general membership.
   All the while, they ensure that Desjardins's mission, values and cooperative nature are upheld. They also oversee the caisse's strategic performance and risk management, and its member and community relations.

2. Be a member of a caisse Board of Supervision
   Board of Supervision intern officers work with the other officers to ensure that all caisse activities are performed according to the rules of ethics and professional conduct and in a cooperative manner.

See a detailed description of a caisse director's role.

Visit cooperatives abroad

In partnership with youth organizations, Desjardins offers, in conjunction with the Young Intern Officer program, a contest in which young intern officers can win a study trip abroad to learn about other cooperatives.

The 2007 "Partez découvrir les coopératives de France" contest, organized jointly with the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse last June, allowed 17 young intern officers to spend 10 days in France where they visited and learned more about French financial cooperatives.

See the list of winners

Eligibility

You must:

• be age 18 to 30
• be a member of the participating Desjardins caisse where you want to do your internship
• make a serious commitment to attending board meetings (generally once a month) and board of director activities
• commit in writing to respect the laws, by-laws and rules of ethics that govern the caisse

In June, 2 Young Intern Officers, Emmanuel Bourgelas and Patrick Deroy, were among the lucky winners of the 2007 edition of the "Partez découvrir les coopératives en France" contest winners. Read our interview with the winners of the 2007 edition

Since 2007, Fondation Desjardins has awarded the Prix Reconnaissance Jeunes dirigeants Desjardins, worth $3,500 to young individuals under 35 years of age. The prize recognizes the contribution of young officers to Desjardins Group.

Find out more about the Prix Reconnaissance Jeunes dirigeants Desjardins.