Where can I serve?
Peru YAVs Joe Tobiason and Anna Gray working with the CAMBIALO (change it!) program in La Oraya. Photo by Debbie Horne
The candidate, the site coordinator and the Young Adult Volunteer Program staff work together to discernment placement. National placement interviews take place by telephone. Because of the difficulty of long-distance communication with some international sites, international placements require in-person interviews. These are conducted at a Young Adult Volunteer Placement Event. Candidates are encouraged to look at possible placement both nationally and internationally.
Atlanta
Gain experiences that will break down some of the stereotypes that people often have of those in the city and allow yourself to see the face of God in those with whom you interact.
Austin
Ayava House (an acronym for Austin Young Adult Volunteer and AmeriCorps) recognizes the growing desire of many young people to engage and transform their world through a deep commitment to service. Austin Seminary desires to offer its resources to young adults working through faith-based programs as well as our national service corps. We recognize that both programs engage young people who will serve in ministry and leadership capacities in their faith traditions as well as their communities of residence.
Chicago
This site seeks young adults to serve and to learn with the people of Chicago, to engage in intentional Christian community and personal discipleship, to work with local ministries and agencies and to explore urban, multicultural ministry as a vocation and calling.
Chinook, Montana
Chinook is an agricultural-based community; grain farming and cattle ranching are the predominant industries. Chinook is the county seat of Blaine County, population 6500. While the majority of Chinook’s population is Caucasian, half the residents of Blaine County are Native American.
Denver
Denver is a Dwell/YAV site that focuses on community involvement and personal growth. The Dwell unit is supported locally by multiple church partnerships and a local board made up of members from the community and representatives from the supporting congregations.
Guatemala
Young Adult Volunteers serve with various organizations and ministries throughout the country. Placements include community-based projects and agencies, formal and non-formal education, women’s programs and projects, and programs of indigenous Mayan groups.
Hollywood
The mission of the Hollywood site is to participate in God’s redemptive work by partnering with urban families, to meet the challenges of our neighborhood and to be a training institution for urban ministry and leadership development in order to share the Good News and see the full face of Christ reflected in a vibrant community of faith.
India
This program will place volunteers in the state of Kerala in south India, an area where there is a strong Christian history and presence. Volunteers will work in Ecumenical Christian Institutions. The program provides structured educational exposures to the issues of Dalit, tribal, fish-workers, poor women and other such marginalized communities.
Kenya
Volunteers work with ministries and programs of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, a denomination that is very intentional about its life, witness and outreach to the people of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Miami
DOOR-Miami seeks young adults interested in urban ministry and relational impact to serve in incredibly diverse communities.
Nashville
YAVs are placed in agencies that focus on social justice and systemic change. They also participate and have leadership roles in local PC(USA) congregations.
New Orleans
Volunteers will engage in spiritual disciplines of simple living, prayer, study and service and grow spiritually from them in Christian community. They will serve program needs of churches and agencies to respond to the realities of disaster in the lives of individuals and communities.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is primarily known for its tragic history of communal violence. Volunteers work with local churches and community projects to address the legacy of division and help lay foundations for a positive, shared future, particularly (though not exclusively) through work with youth and children.
Peru
YAVs are placed through the Uniendo Manos Contra la Pobreza, the Peru Joining Hands Network. The desire to address the root causes of poverty is what pulls the 14 Peruvian institutions in the Peru Joining Hands Network together.
San Antonio
YAVs will serve in one of San Antonio’s oldest neighborhoods with its rich Mexican and German history.
South Korea
The volunteers will be placed in educational institutions, local churches, after school programs and community development programs. They will also have opportunities to relate to a worshiping community. Teaching English, writing and editing Web-based publications in English and preparation of newsletters are examples specific tasks in which the volunteers can engage.
Tucson
At the Tucson Borderlands, volunteers will live in a communal house while working in a variety of positions. These positions range from helping lead educational delegations in Mexico, to working with college students at the University of Arizona, to filling water tanks in the desert and drafting recommendations for border policies.
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Comments
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@Rev. Carlisle Dickson--if the person you mention is a young adult and is interested in serving as a Young Adult Volunteer, then please have him or her contact me. If he or she lives near one of our YAV sites (listed on the webpage), then I would be happy to put them in contact with our site coordinators to see how he or she could be involved. Thanks!
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Jennifer, Yes--you may be considered for the YAV program even if you are over the age of 30. Contact me if you have any other questions--it's great to hear of your interest!
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Do you have need for an student from Africa (now in USA) who speaks fluent French and good English?
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What about the other direction? If someone is 31 at the time of application and still feels strongly pulled by YAV?
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Hi Briley, Thanks for your comment. Yes--you can serve as a YAV now! You will be eligible for any of the 10 national YAV sites. International sites require their volunteers to be 21 or older.