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 citizen, resident or landed immigrant, can communicate in English and is physically able to go overseas can apply.
 
What if I am from another country than Canada?
Unfortunately we can only accept Canadian citizens, residents or landed immigrants. If you are a citizen of:

Australia or Vanuatu, please check out: www.youthchallenge.com.au
Costa Rica, please check out: www.retojuvenilcr.org
Guyana, please check out: www.sdnp.gy/ycg
 
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, medical expenses, equipment, CPR/1st Aid course costs, 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. Only donations to your financial contribution to YCI can be tax receipted.
 
What countries do you have projects in?
Our projects occur in Guyana, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Grenada, Vanuatu, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana
 
Can I choose which country I volunteer in?
During your interview, a YCI Volunteer Program staff member will help you determine which country you are best suited for. However, we can't guarantee the specific type of project you personally will be assigned to until your arrival in the host country as project placement is determined by our partner organizations. You will have the opportunity to put in your preference prior to the groups being established. 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 country. 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 and ensure that you have the required vaccinations, get certified in first aid and CPR and raise the participation fee, among other things. You may also need to learn a second language and you will definitely want to research the country you're heading to.
 
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 from across Canada 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?
While you prepare for your project, YCI will provide you with support as well as resources that will help you get ready for your project in the host country. In addition, there is an extensive in-country orientation session.

Before you go on project you will attend a pre-departure session. You will learn about the program, cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication as well as project specific information. A large focus of this session will be on training so that you have the tools you need once you arrive in the county.
 
When do I meet the people who will be in my group?
We can provide you with contact information for all of the Canadians who will be going to your project country. You may be able to get together with the people who live close by. The whole group of Canadians from across the country will get to meet each other at the pre-departure 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 travel 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 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. Some of the groups will be assigned one or two staff, called Group Leaders, to manage the project.
 
What will the work schedule be?
This will often be the first thing that you determine with your community. The work schedule will depend on the work practices of the community and, sometimes, the weather! You will have some down time within the community 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 program, the nature of your assigned 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 villages.
 
Can I travel after my project?
In most cases, you can travel after your project. However, each country has different rules, depending on what our partner organization prefers. 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 does a Group Leader do?
YCI hires group leaders to accompany our volunteers on project in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana and Vanuatu programs. They play a major role within your group by providing encouragement, direction and facilitating the learning process of Volunteers. They also act as the official YCI representative within local communities, ensuring that both community and YCI expectations are met. Other responsibilities include budgeting, acquiring local sponsorship, ensuring effective communication with key stakeholders, and maintaining safety standards. Group Leaders usually arrive in the host country a month or more prior to Volunteers to undertake staff training, project preparation and to visit the host community. Group Leaders are usually paired in teams of two, consisting of a Canadian or Australian with a local GL.
 
 
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 other professions.
 
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 issues, HIV/AIDS and other topics relevant to the host country
  • Project planning, coordination and data collection
  • Understanding of community development challenges and 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.
 
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