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2025 Service Year Registration closes October 15th!

Service Year

The Youthlinc Service Year is a 9-month transformative program focused on youth service learning and leadership development. This immersive program empowers young individuals to become lifelong humanitarians by making meaningful impacts on both local and international communities.

Service Year Volunteers

What Service Year role fits you?

Student Volunteers

Highschool and College Students

Adult Volunteers

College Graduates or 25+ Years Old

Student Volunteers

Highschool and College Students

First Time and Returning
Student Volunteers

HUMANITARIANS

This position is ideal for first year and returning volunteers who want to build and engage with their community through service. 
Humanitarians Role:
  • Serve Your Community
  • Take Ownership
  • Engage in Project Planning and Fundraising​
  • Cultural Awareness
  • Team Unity
Requirements:​​​​
  • 80 hours of Local Service
  • Monthly Team Meetings
  • Impact Modules
  • Project Planning 
  • Communication
Humanitarians

ALUM LEADERS

This position is ideal for Returning Student Volunteers who want to take their Leadership to the next level. 
Alum Leader Role:
  • Serve Your Community
  • Positive Role Model
  • Cultural Awareness
  • Team Unity
  • Facilitate Reflections
  • Support Committee Work
  • Youthlinc Ambassador
Requirements:​
  • Returning Student Volunteer​​
  • 60 hours of Local Service
  • Monthly Team Meetings
  • Project Planning
  • Impact Modules
  • Service Year Recruiting
Returning
Student Volunteers
Alum Leaders
APPLCATIONS CLOSED
Returning
Student Volunteers

ASSISTANT
TEAM LEADER

This position is ideal for Returning Student Volunteers who want to take their Leadership to the next level. 
Applications Close September 1st, 2025
Assistant Team Leader Role:
  • Local Service Support
  • Collaboration
  • Peer Mentor
  • Oversee Social Media
  • Facilitate Reflections
  • Build Community
  • Service Year Recruiting
  • Youthlinc Ambassador
Requirements:​
  • Returning Student Volunteer​​
  • Reside in Utah
  • Highschool Senior or College age
  • 3-5 Hours per week
  • Monthly Meetings and Trainings
Assistant Team Leader

Real Life Intern

Real Life Interns work with the Real Life Director to manage and run our partnering Real Life sites and their volunteers. Interns take part in academic tutoring and lead activities intended to teach “real-life” skills.

This paid position is available to any individual who meets the below qualifications:
  1. Have a passion for education and working with youth of diverse backgrounds

  2. Be a natural leader, excited to make a positive impact on the volunteers and youth you work with

  3. Live in the Salt Lake area or have access to reliable transportation

  4. Commit to 5 hours of work per week through the Real Life Year

  5. Be a high school graduate

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Returning
Student Volunteers

Adult Volunteers

College Graduates or 25+ Years Old

First Time and Returning
Adult Volunteers

MENTORS

This position is ideal for an adult who wants to guide students on their path to becoming a lifetime humanitarian through student leadership, project-based learning, cooperative learning, and hands-on service. 
Parents can register as Mentors!
Mentors Role:
  • Safety and Supervision!
  • Guide Project Planning
  • Promote Service
  • Positive Role Model
  • Build Community
Requirements:​
  • Background Check
  • Youth Protection
  • Monthly Team Meetings
  • Project Planning
  • Impact Modules​​
Mentors

MEDICAL MENTORS

This position is ideal for an adult who wants to consult on medical issues relevant to international travel and care for the team as necessary. 
Mentors Role:
  • Supervision and Safety!
  • Consult on Medical Issues
  • Provide Basic Care
  • Guide Students in Community Health related projects
Requirements:​
  • All Mentor Requirements​​
  • Licensed: 
    • MD, PA, NP, RN, or Advanced EMT​
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New and Returning
Medical Professional Volunteers

Medical Professionals
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APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Returning
Adult Volunteers
Requirements:​
  • Service Year mentor in the last 3 Years
  • Must reside in Utah
  • 3-5 Hours per Week
  • Monthly Team meetings and Leadership Training
  • Communication
  • Service Year Recruiting

TEAM LEADERS

This position is ideal for Returning Adult Volunteers who are passionate about furthering Youthlinc's Mission both on a local and International scale. 
Applications Close September 1st, 2025
Team Leader Role:
  • Oversee Participant Development
  • Oversee International Projects and Budget
  • Fundraising
  • Build Community
  • Facilitate Team Meetings
  • Service Year Recruiting
  • Youthlinc Ambassador
Team Leaders

Parents

Parents are a big ally in helping their students to successfully complete Youthlinc's nine-month long service leadership curriculum. We have high expectations and strive to hold students accountable to our proven program requirements. With accountability comes growth.

We know that as your household adjusts to support your student doing local service, and as they prepare to do meaningful international service, that you will feel the positive effects in many other aspects of your life at home. It will be work, but with all of the best things in life, you get out of it what you put into it.

This program will change your student's life. Real change takes time. We are not a two week trip like other service organizations. We are focused on growing new habits and perspectives that will last a lifetime.
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Your student's health and safety is incredibly important to us. Here are some examples of measures that Youthlinc takes to keep our humanitarians safe:

  1. All teams are led by highly trained Youthlinc Team Leaders who have between five and 20 years of experience with the organization.

  2. All teams have a medical professional travel with the team to oversee pre-existing conditions and problem solve any illnesses or injuries that may arise while traveling.

  3. The adult to student ratio is 1:3.

  4. Youthlinc books emergency medical and evacuation insurance to ensure we have access to high-quality medical care and to protect families financially.

  5. All of our partners are reputable non-governmental organizations who we have worked with for between 5 to 25 years.

  6. Accommodation is vetted, secure, and clean.

  7. Meals and water are provided and are prepared in the highest quality way possible.

  8. All participants over 18 years old have a background check done, and all participants over 18 do a youth protection training.

For more in-depth information and parent panel Q&A
Please Register and Attend General Orientation
Note: Parents can register as adult volunteers and travel with Youthlinc
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2025 Service Year
GENERAL ORIENTATION

Save the Date!!!

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  • ​DATE: Saturday, November 2nd

  • TIME: 12:00- 3:30 pm

  • LOCATION: Juan Diego High School

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General Info | Parent Panel | Country Meeting

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International Service

The Youthlinc Service Year is a 9-month program focused on youth service learning and leadership development that culminates at the end with a 2-week Capstone International Trip. â€‹Our 9-month program will give you the skills and practice to not only see needs, but know how to impact your local and international communities. 

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Youthlinc Partners with Non-Profit and Government Organizations around the world who are doing incredible work to improve opportunities for their communities. Through collaboration with our international partners and engaging in planning projects with your team you will have an opportunity to make a lasting impact abroad. â€‹

  • Support Local Organizations

  • Provide Education and Resources Internationally

  • Learn about Impact and Sustainable Service

  • Gain New Perspectives

  • Learn from other Cultures

  • Make genuine connections

  • Build a Community through Service

  • Empower Change

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Throughout the Service Year you will prepare for your capstone international trip at monthly team meetings. During these team meetings you will have a role in planning, preparing, and executing projects for your international destination. Everyone has something to contribute, collaborate with others, highlight your strengths and develop new skills as you prepare to work abroad. 

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International Projects Include: 

  • Cultural Exchange

  • Education- STEM and English Camps at Primary and Secondary Schools

  • Vocational Training

  • Business Development

  • Community Health

  • Ecological

  • Infrastructure Support

Read about our 2024 Projects and International Impact: 

Local Service

Local Service is an integral part to the Youthlinc Service Year. All humanitarians in the Youthlinc Service year will complete 80 hours of service in their local community before their capstone trip. At least 40 of these hour will be completed at one place, your Main Service Site. The remainder can be fulfilled with miscellaneous service hours including team meeting attendance, completing monthly Impact Modules, up to 10 hours of service for collecting clothes for the Big Brothers Big Sisters clothing drive, or with other various community organizations. 

Main Service Site

Your main service site will be the place where you do most of your service. We have found that by becoming a continued and relied upon volunteer, you will start to see the positive change you can make in your own community and develop deep emotional connections with those you serve. The requirements for the Main Service Site are as follows:

  • Positive Mentoring Atmosphere

  • Hands-on (face to face) service

  • Genuine Need

Miscellaneous Service

In addition to becoming a relied-upon volunteer, it’s important to recognize there are many ways you can make a difference in your community. Miscellaneous service can be completed in a variety of ways. You will receive miscellaneous service hours for:  

  • Attending your team meetings

  • Completing Impact Modules 

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Clothing Drive

  • Service projects with your team 

  • One-time volunteer opportunities you find

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President's Volunteer Service Award

The President’s Volunteer Service Award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation. As a certifying organization, Youthlinc is able to distribute these awards on behalf of the office of the President.

Charity Donations

Local Service Directory

The Youthlinc Utah Local Service Directory is Utah’s only statewide resource for selecting student-friendly volunteer opportunities. This interactive online Directory allows users to find hands-on service opportunities in a positive mentoring atmosphere.

Real Life Volunteers

Real Life volunteers are high school and college students who act as peer mentors primarily for refugee and immigrant youth in the Salt Lake area. Volunteers provide academic tutoring and participate in hands-on, life-skills activities. Although many of our volunteers are participants in the Youthlinc Service Year, this opportunity is available to any individual who meets the following qualifications:

  1. Have a passion for tutoring and working with other youth

  2. Be enthusiastic, flexible, and willing to step out of your comfort zone

  3. Commit to volunteering 2 hours per week through the Real Life Year (Dec-May)

  4. Be 16-24 years old

  5. Live in the Salt Lake area, or have access to reliable transportation

  6. Be capable of passing a background check if 18+

Service Year Program Requirements

The Youthlinc Service Year is a 9-month transformative program focused on youth service learning and leadership development. This immersive program empowers young individuals to become lifelong humanitarians by making meaningful impacts on both local and international communities.

​

We will review in more detail Youthlinc Service Year requirements and much more at General Orientation on November 2nd, from 12:00 pm- 3:30 pm @ Juan Diego High School. 

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Requirements

In order to see lasting change and get the most out of a successful Service Year experience participants will complete the following requirements:

​

  • Become a relied upon volunteer for local Utah NGO's and your community. 

    • Contribute 80 hours of service in your local community from October 15th- June 1st.​

  • Build a community through Service and take on leadership opportunities while preparing for you capstone international Trip by attending ALL Monthly Team Meetings. ​​

  • Take part in planning and preparing International Projects and Lessons under the direction of your Team Leadership and International Partners. 

  • Engage in fundraising for International Projects through Big Brothers Big Sisters Clothing drive, or supply drives with your team.

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Special Features

  • 9 months of program engagement and support

  • 2 Week Capstone International Trip

  • Local Service Requirements

  • Monthly Team meetings that included Team building exercises, Local Service, Impact reflections/discussions, International project planning, and Travel prep. You will have months to get to know the team you will be traveling with before you depart for your capstone international trip.

  • Experienced and Trained Team Leaders

  • Trained Medical Professionals on every trip

  • International Non-profit partnerships

  • Every participant has an active role in planning and executing projects.

  • Youthlinc Online Impact Modules and Sustainability Training 

  • Qualifying organization for The President's Volunteer Service Award

  • Local Service Directory

  • Youthlinc Participant Dashboard

  • Trip Costs include: Domestic and International Airfare (from SLC), Accommodations, Food and Water, Travel Clinic fee, Emergency Insurance, and Excursions!

  • Trip Cost is divided into monthly donation deadlines from December to April.  

  • Social Fundraising Platform: Easily share your personal fundraising page to raise donations towards your Trip Cost. 

  • Youthlinc is a 501c3, which makes all donations (in-kind or monetary) tax deductible.

Service Year Program Timline

The Youthlinc Service Year is a 9-month transformative program focused on youth service learning and leadership development. This immersive program empowers young individuals to become lifelong humanitarians by making meaningful impacts on both local and international communities.

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December

  • Dec 1st: $500 Deposit 

  • ​Dec 15: Background check for 18+

  • Monthly Team Meeting

  • Find a Main Service Site

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January

  • Jan 1: 1st Donation Goal

  • Jan 1: Have 15 Service Hours Logged

  • Jan 15: Upload your Passport

  • January Training

  • Team Retreat

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February

  • Feb 1: 2nd Donation Goal

  • Feb 1: Have 25 Service Hours Logged

  • ​Monthly Team Meeting

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March

  • Mar 1: 3rd Donation Goal

  • Mar 1: Have 40 Service Hours Logged

  • Monthly Team Meetings

  • Big Brother's Big Sister's Clothing Drive

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April

  • Apr 1: 4th Donation Goal

  • Apr 1: Have 55 Service Hours Logged

  • Apr 15: Complete Medical Questionnaire

  • Monthly Team Meeting

  • Committee Projects

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May

  • May 1: Final Donation Goal 

  • May 1: Have 70 Service Hours Logged

  • Monthly Team Meeting

  • Parent Meeting

  • Finalize Projects

  • Get Ready to Travel

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June

  • Jun 1: Have 80 Service Hours Logged and Verified

  • Packing Meeting

  • Travel

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July

  • Travel

  • Team Reunions

Get Involved
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ALL PROGRAMS

Service Year

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The Youthlinc Service Year is a 9-month transformative program focused on youth service learning and leadership development. This immersive program empowers young individuals to become lifelong humanitarians by making meaningful impacts on both local and international communities.

Global Community Leadership

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Global Community Leadership (GCL) has served as a core Youthlinc program since 2017, with a vision to integrate academic and community-engaged study abroad programs designed to create students who are thoughtful, competent, and engaged global citizens.

Real Life

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Real Life is a peer mentoring program with a life skills curriculum benefiting refugee and immigrant youth in Salt Lake area, Youthlinc Service Year students, and other community volunteers.

Young Humanitarian Award

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​Though our society recognizes young people for their accomplishments in sports and academics, the Youthlinc Utah Young Humanitarian Award has been celebrating outstanding humanitarian service among youth since 2005. 

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