Journey Through the Youthlinc Service Year: A Guided Timeline

The Youthlinc Service Year unfolds over a transformative nine-month period (October- June/July), cultivating young humanitarians through a blend of local service, leadership development, and an international capstone experience.

Here is what you can expect each month as you engage with the Service Year program.

August

• Registration for the upcoming Service Year officially opens August 1^st!

• Team Leader and Assistant Team Leader applications are open from August 1^st- August 15^th.

• Team Leaders and Assistant Team Leaders are interviewed by staff and selected to lead teams.

• Humanitarians, Alum Leader, and Mentor registration is open for priority placement.

September

• Registration kicks into gear with priority team placements beginning September 15^th!

• Followed by continued rolling team placements until October 10^th or until individual team positions are filled.

October

• Registration closes October 10^th!

• All team placements are assigned

• All participants Youthlinc wide come together for General Orientation- this is pivotal in understanding the Service Year program and setting you up for success. Participants and families receive an in-depth overview of the program, expectations, and support systems.

• General Orientation is scheduled for October 25th at Juan Diego High School, from 11:00 am- 2:00 pm

  • This is also the first time you’ll get to meet your team and leadership in person!

November

• The service year officially begins with the first team meeting, and a $500 deposit due by November 1.

• Fundraising resources and ideas introduced to participants in order to support fundraising efforts to cover trip costs from November- April.

• Team Meetings: Monthly team meetings are essential to your success and the success of your team throughout the service year.

• During your monthly team meeting you will get to know the other volunteers you are traveling with.

• Participate in Local service activities and discussions

• Learn and discuss strategies in best practice humanitarian aid

• Learn about your international destination and ways your team can support their community goals!

• As a team everyone will take part in planning, preparing, and executing projects internationally with a focus in one of the following areas: Education, Cultural Exchange, Ecological, Community health, Business and Vocational development.

December

• December is ALL about local service! Participants launch their local service work, find their Main Service Site, and make the December 1 payment.

• Background checks for those aged 18+ are required December 15^th.

  
  

January

• A Team Retreat brings the team together for connection and reflection.

• International Committee Workshop and Training with your team:

• All teams will meet with past team leadership for your international destinations to learn more about the needs of your community, their goals, and how best you can utilize your skills to support them.

• Southern Utah University of Utah (SUU) Credit Course begins:

  • All participants participating in the Service Year program are now eligible to receive college credit.

  • Participants interested in receiving college credit must opt in to receive college credit by January 10^th, 2026

  • This is a 2 credit course with pass/fail grading system that requires participants to complete the following program requirements:

    • A minimum 40 hours of local service from Jan 15- June 1.

    • Attend ALL monthly team meetings

    • Completing al required online Impact Modules

• Additional milestones include:

  • Finalizing the January 1 payment

  • Logging 15 service hours

  • Uploading passports

February

• Focus shifts to international project planning during team meetings.

• The February 1 payment is due, and participants are expected to have 25 service hours logged by this point.

March

• Participants engage in the Big Brothers Big Sisters clothing drive and continue project planning.

  • Youthlinc’s Annual BBBS Clothing drive is a way for teams to fundraise money for their international projects. All participants for each team collect a minimum of 500 lbs. of clothing to support projects they are hoping to achieve while abroad.

  • For example, teams will raise funds for computers for a new school computer lab, sewing machines for their vocational training lessons, grant money for startup business loans, and medical supplies based on the communities' greatest needs.

• The March 1 payment is due, and 40 service hours should be logged by March.

April

• During monthly team meetings the emphasis is on curriculum and project plans—lesson plans are finalized and submitted. Participants must also:

• Submit the April 1 final payment

• Have 55 service hours

• Complete a medical questionnaire

May

• With the capstone international trip drawing near, students and their parents attend their last few team meetings to ensure they are ready to travel, prepared for their projects, and excited about the next big adventure:

• Participants are wrapping up by:

  • Attending their teams Parent meeting

  • Log 70 service hours

  • Finalize their projects and prep for travel.

  • Visiting a Travel clinic

  • Wrapping up any donation collections

  • And preparing to get packed.

June/July

• It's go-time:

  • Teams will have a final packing meeting to ensure they are prepared, ready, and have everything they need for a successful experience abroad.

  • Verification of 80 service hours by June 1

  • The launch of the team's international travel and capstone experience:

  • Teams will create new and lasting friendships

  • Gain new perspectives

  • Learn from other cultures

  • Partner and honor others and themselves

  • And last but not least provide meaningful education, tools, and resources that support international communities in reaching their goals.

  • Youthlinc’s Mission is  “Creating lifetime Humanitarians”, at the end of the Service Year experience we hope that everyone can see the value of service and community. We want everyone to find something they care deeply about enough to make it better and to have the skill sets and tenacity to actually do it!

Our Results:

• 93% improvement at partnering to accomplish a project

• 92% improvement in ability to plan and project

• 89% feel greater confidence to face and solve problems

• 90% increase in ability to cope with setback and changes in plans

• 95% indicate they see the positive and potential in themselves and in others after Service Year

• 96% feel more empowered to make a difference in their local and international communities

• 95% continue to volunteer more regularly than before Service Year

Hear from our Service Year participants:

• “Service can be anything but the best way to have an impact is human connection.”- Humanitarian, Peru

• “The young humanitarians grow and rise the moment. They learn they can do hard things.” - Mentor, Fiji

• “Service is not only fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable but also very necessary for growth in every area of life.” - Humanitarian, India

• “Service is not doing something for someone, it is working WITH them because you care about being a fellow human.” - Humanitarian, Ecuador

• “Service is a way of showing someone that they matter and are cared about!” - Humanitarian, Peru

• “I have learned that everyone has something to offer.” - Humanitarian, Rwanda

• “It helps teach young people to be empathetic and responsible for their community.”- Mentor, Thailand

• “I’ve learned that service can occur anywhere, whether it be a block away from my home or across the world. I also learned that I have good skills that can be utilized for a purpose. I also learned first hand how good it feels to forge connections and service can be a big part of my life.” - Humanitarian Ecuador

• “There is good in the world, you might as well be a part of it.”- Humanitarian, India