Local and International Service

The Service Year program offers local and international service opportunities to students. This program truly adopts the adage “think globally, act locally.”

Enrolled students have the opportunity to serve two weeks in one of five Youthlinc international program sites in Cambodia, Kenya, Guatemala, Peru and Thailand.

However, prior to qualifying for the international experience, participants must volunteer locally 60-100 hours during their Service Year, and attend a monthly meeting where they are mentored to take leadership roles in international service activities.

For these commitments, each student earns a sponsorship that covers a portion of their international service trip costs. Professionals serve as mentors in our Service Year program.

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Local Volunteer Opportunities

The Local Service Directory provides a selective list of organizations and sites that offer hands-on volunteer opportunities in a positive mentoring atmosphere. These sites have been recommended by Youthlinc Service Year participants.

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Scholarships For Outstanding Youth

Though our society recognizes young people for their accomplishments in sports and academics, this $5,000 college scholarship is an award that celebrates outstanding humanitarian service among youth. The Youthlinc Utah Young Humanitarian Award is the only honor of its kind in the State. There are also three $1,000 runner-up awards annually.

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Flagship local service program

Real Life in Salt Lake City (RLSLC) is an afterschool life skills education and mentoring program that partners Youthlinc with the Hser Ner Moo Community Welcome Center located in South Salt Lake.  Through this program, Youthlinc and Hser Ner Moo aim to help the teenage refugee population in Salt Lake become more comfortable and confident in their new community. 

In the first 2 years of existence, the RLSLC program has seen dramatic growth and success.  In the 2010-2011 Service Year the program expanded to 3 days a week, served over 35 teenage refugee students on a consistent basis, and introduced over 60 local Utah students to new leadership experiences and international concerns present in their own community.  

The curriculum includes life skills, financial literacy, art expression, as well as plenty of opportunity for social engagement and mentoring by Youthlinc volunteers. This program is equally beneficial for both teen refugees new to Salt Lake who otherwise would have idle, unproductive time in the afternoon and Youthlinc participants who are given leadership roles throughout the program.

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