YOUTH CHALLENGE INTERNATIONAL
Program Overview
Program Countries
Testimonials
FAQ's
Custom Projects
 
FAQ'S
Getting on board
Getting ready to go
While in Country
Returning Home
 
Getting on board:
Am I eligible to apply?
Anybody between the ages of 18 and 30, who is a Canadian or American citizen, resident or landed immigrant, can communicate in English and is physically able to go overseas can apply.
 
What if I am from a country other than the United States or Canada?
Unfortunately, we can only accept American and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, resident aliens or landed immigrants. If you are a citizen of Costa Rica, please check out: www.retojuvenilcr.org. If you are a citizen of Guyana, please check out: www.ycgi.org
 
What are the deadline dates for upcoming projects?
YCI does not have specific deadlines dates for our projects. We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis and accept volunteers on personal merit. If you are selected, you can get moving on your pre-departure preparations as fast as you like. Most people like to have three to six months to prepare for their overseas placement, but if you want to go sooner, go for it. It all depends on whether there is space left on a project and how fast you can get organized! Because of the number of programs we have, we have departures happening almost every month.
 
How does the selection process work?
Our selection is not based on quotas. The process is not competitive -- Volunteers are selected on their own merits. Motivation, aptitude and attitude are keys to success. Your placement on a program will be determined by your past travel, work, education and volunteer experience as well as your skills and interest.
 
What if I have an allergy, dietary restriction, or other condition that may limit my ability to participate?
YCI does its best to work around dietary restrictions and other allergies or conditions. Please contact us for more information.
 
Where does my money go?
Click here to read about how we use the project contributions we collect from volunteers.
 
Are there any additional costs I need to consider?
Remember that beyond your contribution to YCI you will be required to cover your flight & travel insurance (YCI provides comprehensive medical insurance but not travel insurance), medical expenses, equipment, entry visa depending on the country, and additional spending money for travel after project, potential travel opportunities during your project and shopping. These extra expenses will vary considerably from person to person so take the time to consider all of your costs and build them into your budget when planning your fundraising.
 
What countries do you have projects in?
Our projects take place in Guyana, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Vanuatu, Tanzania, Kenya and Ghana.
 
Can I choose which country I volunteer in?
During your interview, a YCI Volunteer Program staff member will help you determine which project you are best suited for. In some cases, we send your resume to the partner organization so that they can determine where you would be best suited.
 
How do the projects in the different countries differ?
Each project has a slightly different focus, length and timing, depending on the goals and objectives. Click here to read about each country, the project lengths, dates and project contributions.
 
Getting ready to go:
What do I need to get prepared?
Once selected, you will be invited to a country-specific Project website where you can find all the materials you will need to get ready. You will need to obtain a current passport, get a physical, ensure that you have the required Yellow Fever vaccination if necessary, and raise the participation fee, among other things. You will also want to learn the local language and definitely do some research of the country you will be working in.
 
How do I fundraise enough to contribute to the project?
You can raise the money through a variety of means including events, letter campaigns, presentations or personal savings. Be creative - YCI and other Volunteers in your area can help kick start your campaign! Every year hundreds of Volunteers successfully enlist the support of family, friends, businesses and communities in raising their funds through events like bake sales, garage sales, dinners and parties, and presentations. Volunteers have also been successful in obtaining financial support from community groups, corporations and other funding organizations.
 
What sort of preparation training does YCI provide?
During your preparation and before your departure, YCI will guide you through a comprehensive learning program to prepare you for your project. You will learn more about core development issues, YCI operations and tools for effective international service through a variety of methodologies, including online video conferences and independent study. Core development issues may include youth development, gender and the particular issue your project is seeking to address. YCI operations includes risk management, staying healthy and the particular ways in which YCI projects are implemented.  Tools for effective international service include understanding inter-cultural communication and privilege, group dynamics and workshop planning and facilitation. You will also be provided with an extensive resource guide that will act as a reference tool for project implementation. Upon your arrival in-country, you will meet YCI partners and staff and receive an extensive orientation and training session to provide you with a context specific set of tools and resources.
 
What happens if there are only a very small number of people on the project that I’ve been selected for?
If there aren’t enough volunteers to complete the objectives of the project you are preparing for, we will provide you with a placement on a comparable project or location.
 
When do I meet the people who will be in my group?
We can provide you with the contact information of the volunteers who you will be working with once the groups are firmed up. You may even be able to get together with the people who live close by. The whole group will get to meet each other upon arrival in-country at the orientation training session.
 
 
While in Country:
What is provided while I am overseas?
YCI will cover most of your in-country expenses for the duration of your project such as medical insurance, food, accommodations, in-country travel and all related program costs. Volunteers are required to pay for travel from your own home to and from your project destination overseas.
 
What kind of insurance does YCI provide?
To keep you safe and healthy while overseas, Youth Challenge International invests in a membership program through International SOS and provides comprehensive medical insurance through CIGNA International.  International SOS provides medical, security and logistical expertise and in an emergency. SOS ensures immediate care, whether it requires evacuation to a center of medical excellence, or closely monitoring the patients condition with local doctors. The CIGNA program YCI provides is comprehensive Accident & Sickness coverage for those traveling outside of their country of origin. Our policy provides coverage for medical treatment, hospital admissions and prescription coverage resulting from an accident or illness.
 
What are the accommodations like?
Accommodations can vary depending on what project you participate in, and can involve you either living together as a group or billeted by members of the local community. For most of the projects you will be living and working as a group with your project team, which usually consist of 4-12 people.
 
What will the work schedule be?
This will often be the first thing that you determine with the host partner organization or community. The work schedule will depend on the work practices of the community and, sometimes, the weather! You will have some down time and, on occasion, the opportunity to travel to surrounding sites for a change of scenery.
 
Will I get to travel in the country during project?
This depends on your project and the location of your host community. Some groups stay in the same community throughout their program. Other groups undertake mobile projects with visits to a number of communities.
 
Can I travel after my project?
In most cases, you can travel after your project. Our general principal is that you are not permitted to return to your specific host community for at least three (3) months following the project end date. This ensures that volunteers don't become an unwanted burden on a community. As well, each country has particular visa requirements that may sometime prevent you from staying on.
 
What kind of staff support does YCI provide?
YCI hires staff to manage all programming and provide support and guidance to volunteers in the field. Other responsibilities for staff include budgeting, acquiring local sponsorship & partnerships, ensuring effective communication with key stakeholders, and maintaining safety standards.
 
 
Returning Home:
Will this help me get a job?
The YCI experience is proving to be a big draw on resumes. More and more of YCI's alumni are being recruited by other organizations - in business and government, as well as in the non-profit arena. By including the YCI experience on your resume, you demonstrate that you have been involved in experiential education and voluntary service, which can nicely round out your education and work experience. We can also act as a reference for potential employers and write reference letters for you to be used when applying for work or graduate or professional schools such as medicine or law. Our alumni have been very successful in becoming doctors, lawyers, managers and are working in just about any profession you can imagine!
 
What skills will I gain?
You can acquire a solid repertoire of skills that will look great on your resume. Depending on the program, the skills acquired include:
  • Understanding of Gender and Development, HIV/AIDS and other relevant global youth development issues
  • Project planning, coordination and data collection
  • Understanding of community development challenges/opportunities and their connection with global issues
  • Cross cultural communication, adaptation and sensitivity
  • New language skills
  • Public speaking
 
How can I stay involved in development after YCI?
Click here about the programs we offer to keep Alumni involved in YCI after returning home from project.
 
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2009, Youth Challenge International. All Right Reserved
Registered Charitable #: 11906 9078 RR0001