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Leadership Development
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9-month leadership development program with integrated local service component
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Youthlinc’s mission is to transform volunteers into lifetime humanitarians, which takes time and effort- we are not a “pay-and-go” program
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Twenty five years of proven curriculum and data show that our program truly changes and improves our volunteers & communities abroad
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Connect and build friendships with your team for 9 months prior to travel
Projects
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Work with Nukari Foundation, an Ecuadorian nonprofit, to make a lasting impact in rural villages near Guamote
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Projects relate to community health, business & vocational skills, ecological improvements, construction, cultural exchange, and education
What's Included?
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We are a Utah-based program. Round-trip international airfare is included from Salt Lake City. Minors will never be asked to fly alone to another city to meet their team for the first time.
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All meals, accommodation, transportation, & clean water
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Excursions to Banos & the Amazon rainforest, Cotopaxi Volcano, Chimborazo Volcano, and the Black Sand Dunes
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Travel insurance, medical professional travels with team, 1:3 ratio of adults:students
The Youthlinc Service Year will begin sending groups to Ecuador in the summer of 2024. Through a US State Department program called Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), Youthlinc was connected to Norma Morena, who is the founder of Nukari Foundation, a nonprofit based in Riobamba and Guamote areas of Ecuador. Nukari Foundation’s work and goals complemented Youthlinc’s model incredibly well so Youthlinc did a site-visit to Ecuador to evaluate this new partnership. Youthlinc has established solid partnership with Nukari Foundation and evaluated all of the elements required to start a new site, including project potential, safety, accommodation, meals, excursions, and entering into a sustainable & mutually beneficial partnership with the local communities.
Ecuador is in South America, and has remarkable geographic diversity, encompassing the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountain range, and the Pacific coastline. Its capital, Quito, is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture and sits high in the Andes. The Galápagos Islands, located off the coast, are renowned for their unique wildlife species that contributed to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Ecuador’s economy is largely reliant on oil exports, agriculture, and tourism, with its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes attracting visitors from around the world.
Read about our 2023 projects
