General Orientation
Contact Staff about Make-up General Orientation
DATE
Saturday, November 2nd
TIME
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Check-in 12:00 pm
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Program begins at 12:30 pm
LOCATION
General Info
Parent Panel
Local Service
Travel Details
Leadership Training
Country Meeting
Team Manuals
Here you will find your team manual. These are updated for 2025! Click the country to which you're traveling to find out all the information you'll need!
Business Committee Resources
In many developing countries, people lack access to economic and educational opportunities that would allow them to break out of the cycle of poverty. By sharing business concepts through hands-on, interactive, and engaging lessons, you give people tools that can help them improve their circumstances.
The Committee Manual will provide details on how to prepare and execute Projects for your committee.
How to schedule and host a seminar.
Helpful resources from past business committees.
Following a Lesson Template can help you prepare for each step and necessary supplies
A guiding worksheet to help your committee get started on the right track.
Cultural Exchange
Committee Resources
Through understanding each other’s cultural practices, beliefs, and way of life, we make the world a better place. “One conversation can have the power to alter our perceptions of an entire nation of people, and that is both terrifying and empowering” (The Importance of Cultural Exchange, Davidson 2016). Through art, play, music, dance, home visits, and conversation, we will share our culture. More importantly, we will listen to and learn from the people we serve.
The Committee Manual will provide details on how to prepare and execute Projects for your committee.
Guitar tabs
Prepare for Home Visits and Cultural Conversations
A guiding worksheet to help your committee get started on the right track.
A guiding worksheet to help your committee get started on the right track.
Vocational Committee Resources
Vocational education helps to bridge the gap between a shortage in employment opportunities and young, underemployed workforces. By empowering local communities to develop and take an active role in their village or town economies, families can make money for themselves and their neighbors.
Education Committee Resources
Education is a basic human right. In many developing countries, people lack access to educational opportunities that could potentially allow them to break out of the cycle of poverty. According to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, about 263 million children around the world, ages 6-17 (or one in every five) are out of school. In order to promote education globally, every Youthlinc Service Year team has an Education Committee.
The Committee Manual will provide details on how to prepare and execute Projects for your committee.
lesson plan resources and tips
How to build and create a lesson plan.
A guiding worksheet to help your committee get started on the right track.
Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text.
Community Health
Committee Resources
Preventable disease is highly prevalent in developing countries. Preventative health care is often absent. Teaching prevention methods can be highly effective, and the knowledge is sustainable. Simple health projects based on community need can make a big difference.
Ecological Committee Resources
Ecology also provides information about the benefits of ecosystems and how we can use Earth’s resources in ways that leave the environment healthy for future generations. Youthlinc’s mission is “to create lifetime humanitarians”. Humanitarian is a person promoting human welfare. Since the environment includes land, water, air and all living things (including people), then care of the environment is an integral part of human welfare.
Big Brother Big Sister
Clothing Drive
Youthlinc partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters clothing drive to collect clothing in order to fundraise for team committee projects and BBBS programming.
1
Create a Plan
Think of any communities or networks you could utilize to help you collect at least 500 lbs of cloth/textile donations.
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School
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Work
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Clubs
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Church
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Neighborhood
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Friends
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Family
2
Spread Word and Collect Donations
Use Youthlinc Flyer templates or create your own to spread the word in person or on all social media platforms.
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Pass out flyers
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post on social media
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facebook​
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instagram
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snapchat
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neighborhood apps
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3
Store Your Donations and Load Your Team's Trailer
Youthlinc does NOT have the ability to take clothing donations before your teams meeting drop off date. Please work with your team to store all your donations. Any donations brought to Youthlinc outside of your teams drop off will not count towards your teams fundraising.
University of Utah
Travel Clinic
Youthlinc Partners with the University of Utah to provided education and one-on-one consultations for all participants to review all recommended travel vaccines needed for your international Destination. The University of Utah Travel clinic will include online educational self-paced videos, one-on-one consultation, and then an opportunity to receive recommended vaccines. Please note that any vaccines or treatment received during your clinic visit are an additional cost and is NOT included in your Youthlinc Trip Cost.
How It Works
The University of Utah sets aside and schedules specific Youthlinc Appointment times available for our participants. Once available, participants have the opportunity to make their appointment for their one-on-one consultation and receive suggested vaccines.
If you attend outside of a Youthlinc appointment time or with a different clinic your appointment and consultation fee will not be covered by your Youthlinc Trip cost.
Timeline
March: Youthlinc Staff and Leadership will send information regarding Travel Clinic Details
April: Register and Schedule Your Appointment
April- May: Attend Your Appointment
Travel Clinic Resources
For Appointment details and Important Instructions Please carefully read the Welcome Packet
Country Reports
For Country Specific details and Vaccine recommendations please check your country report
Diverging Itineraries
Do you want to extend your travel Plans after your 2 week capstone international Trip?
Do you want to meet your child abroad after their Service Year experience?
Do you need your departing or return flight to connect somewhere other than SLC, UT?
Do you wan to use miles or other flight benefits?
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If YES, you need to apply for a Diverging Itinerary. A Diverging Itinerary is any desired changes to your travel itinerary that will not match the group booking and itineraries Youthlinc provides for your team. Please see steps below, carefully read and fill out the Diverging Waiver and Application below.
A limited number of participants may be approved for a diverging flight itinerary. To apply for approval, please read and fill out the form below. Deadline to apply is January 15. You will be informed of approval afterwards. Please do not book your own flight if you have not received approval.
1
Complete Your Diverging Waiver Application
Applications are approved on a first come first serve basis.
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There are only 8-10 Diverging spots available per team based on Team Dynamic and Adult to Student ratios for travel safety.
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Completing your application does not guarantee approval.
Youthlinc does NOT endorse minors traveling along.
2
Wait for Approval
Youthlinc ISD will send you an email granting approval if there are spots available with your team to diverge.
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Do NOT book anything until you have received confirmation from the International Service Director.
3
Book Your Own
Travel Itineary
As a participant on a Diverging Itinerary you are responsible for purchasing your complete travel itinerary to and from your International destination. (This includes your domestic and international flights)
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Youthlinc recommends matching your itinerary with your team for a portion of your travels.
Youthlinc Policy Regarding
Diverging Itineraries
A divergent participant is any participant who diverges from the team for the purposes of tourism or any other activities unrelated to the team before or at any point during the team’s international trip, starting at and returning to the Salt Lake City airport. Any itinerary purchased by an individual team member or members rather than by Youthlinc, even if on all the same flights as the team, is also defined as a divergent itinerary.
Youthlinc actively discourages divergent itineraries, the number of divergent itineraries is limited, granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. We especially discourage divergent itineraries for unaccompanied minors, even with parental approval. Mentors that wish to diverge may be declined, as Youthlinc must ensure there are enough adults to accompany the team to and from the international destination.
All those requesting divergent itineraries are required to sign this additional divergent itinerary waiver. After the submission of this form, you will receive an email confirming whether or not you can diverge. Do NOT purchase airfare until you have received confirmation of divergent approval.
When a participant is flying on a divergent itinerary, Youthlinc is in no way responsible and should not be contacted for any issues, changes, or problems with those flights or travel arrangements – even if Youthlinc changes the service site within the country or to a different country based on extenuating circumstances that are of importance to our organization or our teams.
Additionally, Youthlinc staff is not responsible in any way for assisting with divergent activities. By signing this waiver you agree that you are responsible for buying ALL your flights and ensuring flight details are correct (both to and from your international destination). Upon request, we may offer participants the contact information for the travel agents we use to book team international service travel.
Youthlinc will not be involved in negotiating costs, organizing itineraries, receiving or paying funds or any other activity associated with tourist or any outside travel before or after our international service experiences. The extra cost of a divergent itinerary for tourist or any other purpose, as well as any cost associated with purpose unrelated to service travel, is not a tax deductible expense. The full cost for divergent flights must be paid directly to the travel agent or airline, not to Youthlinc. Usually that cost must be paid at the time of booking.
Many Youthlinc participants fundraise for their international trip, a large portion of which is the flight cost. When a participant decides to diverge, they pay the travel agency or airline directly for their flight, which reduces their overall balance due to Youthlinc. Consequently, divergent participants are not able to fundraise through Youthlinc for their flight. Legally, Youthlinc cannot refund money that is donated to a participant to cover the flight costs.
Please read our Refund Policy for more information (section J). Check with your tax advisor because the out of pocket cost of airfare for the service trip may still be tax deductible for the participant.
NB: Youthlinc issues refunds for eligible trip overpayments on June 1 of each Service Year. This policy applies to those who choose to diverge as well.