Youthlinc Service Year 2023: A Year of Transformation and Connection
Welcome to our reflection on the incredible Youthlinc Service Year 2023! This past year has been nothing short of extraordinary, filled with unforgettable adventures, profound connections, and life-changing moments. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and
Youthlinc’s Global Community Leadership Program
The Global Community Leadership (GCL) Program is one of Youthlinc’s core programs in partnership with Utah State University and Utah Valley University designed to meet the demand of college students. Participants are encouraged to enroll for credit through USU and
Youthlinc, Colombia, YLAI, & Academia de Vida Pt. 2
At the end of January 2023, Justin Powell, Executive Director of Youthlinc, had the opportunity to travel to Columbia to work with Maria and her team at Life Academy as part of a project they have been working on since
Efforts of Diplomacy — Youthlinc and USU: Rwandan Insights
In May 2022, a group of 14 USU students and Youthlinc leaders visited Rwanda. The group worked in a variety of capacities to learn, understand, serve, make changes, and cultivate relationships in our quest to be more informed, more compassionate
When We Played Till Dark – Nyae Soe
We would play till the sun disappear and night was creeping in. The day was never long enough. Some played with me here and there just as people come and go in life. My friend always played with me no
Youthlinc, Colombia, YLAI, & Academia de Vida Pt. 1
In the summer of 2022, Youthlinc had the opportunity to host two fellows from the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, a State Department program that elevates and supports developing professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean. One fellow, Maria,
Youthlinc, USU, UCCD, and Rwanda
In May 2019, Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy asked Youthlinc to host a short round table event for a group of visitors from around the world. Among those present was Mutemberezi Pascal from Rwanda. Our Executive Director, Justin, and Pascal
Kenya 2022
Blog 1 We started our trip in Kenya after a fourteen-hour flight that ended with the team losing ten checked bags of luggage to the depts of the JFK airport. After waiting in Nairobi for our luggage that would never
New International Humanitarian Trip: Elephant & Ecological
Youthlinc is launching a different type of Service Year trip to Cambodia this summer. It has a focus on elephant and ecological conversation, mixed in with our traditional committee work in community health, education, & cultural exchange. The team will
Youthlinc Core Strategies Align with Utah State Board of Education’s Portrait of a Graduate and Service-Learning Academic Research
By: Justin Powell Youthlinc programming is rigorous and holds students to high standards. We believe that youth will rise to the expectations set for them when proper support is offered. Data informs best-practice, and as such we constantly evaluate our
Mondo Art
What is Mondo Art? The Mondo Art Project was created to connect children all over the world through the universal language of art. The goal is to give children from all countries, cultures and backgrounds a voice – a chance
YLAI, Youthlinc, and Witchelle from Kids Connection Haiti
Youthlinc would like to recognize and celebrate our second Young Leaders of the Americas Initivate (YLAI) fellow, Witchelle Charles. Witchelle is a board member and the community service projects coordinator of Kids Connection Haiti (KCH). She is committed to ensuring
YLAI, Youthlinc, and WeLife Foundation
By: Justin Powell Youthlinc is hosting three fellows from YLAI (Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative) this year. YLAI is a program sponsored by the Department of State that places emerging leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean with various
The Power and Efficacy of Youthlinc’s Service Year & Partnership Model
By Justin Powell Youthlinc’s mission is to create lifetime humanitarians. Humanitarians, once created, can then individually and collectively seek to change systems that are failing marginalized populations, reduce poverty, improve access to healthcare, address economic, gender, and racial inequities, etc.
Learning Lessons from the Villagers in Yanamono II, Peru
By: Shelly Burningham Human beings are diverse in many ways. We come from different lifestyles, religions, gender, race, and nationalities. Despite those differences, we all feel joy and pain. Youthlinc has given me the opportunity to understand the world better.
The Buoc Village 2020 Construction in Vietnam
By: Tong Quang Nam I am Nam. I am writing this to send my great thanks to the organization for helping Buoc village’s residents recover and improve their living standards. As a person who has spent years in Buoc village
International Sustainability and the Youthlinc Model
How does Youthlinc choose a new site? IN-COUNTRY COORDINATORS Youthlinc partners with local NGO’s and Rotary clubs in-country to ensure our work will benefit the overall community in a positive way. Partners are vetted out and have stellar reputations for
Returning to San Martin, Guatemala in 2021
By Jordan Taylor Guatemala is home to volcanoes, rainforest, and ancient Mayan sites. There is an endless need and a desire to improve. As one of our closest sites, Guatemala proves that you don’t always need to travel far to
International Connection: Interview with David Muiru
By Jackie Moynihan and David Muiru Youthlinc’s international efforts would not be possible without the help of our outstanding connections on the ground in the countries we serve. For the next several months, we will highlight our In Country Coordinators,
Business lessons to jungle sports bar: how Youthlinc initiatives have come to life in the Amazon Rainforest
By Jackie Moynihan Youthlinc has called Peru home for the past 15 years thanks to partnerships with our amazing in-country coordinator, Carlos Acosta, the Rotary Club of Iquitos, and countless other community leaders. In order to provide sustainable international humanitarian
Tips from a Travel Pro: Staying Healthy and Safe
14,016 – That is the number of passenger aircrafts in the air the moment I sat down to write this article. Traveling abroad is no longer just a line item on everyone’s bucket list but it’s finally being crossed off.
Climate Change in Vietnam: Education Leads to Action
By: Libbey Hanson The children don’t know what’s coming. That’s the thing that saddens and frustrates Toan Nong, a high school teacher in the small and rural district of Vo Nhai in northeast Vietnam. Beginning with World War II, and
Chiang – By Abinadi Smith
In Thailand, I met a man named Chiang. When I first saw him, I was walking to the building where the vocational aspects of our trip were held. He was less crawling on the ground and more dragging himself
January Committee Training Recap
By: Brayden Davies On Saturday, January 11th we had our 7th annual Youthlinc-wide committee training at Juan Diego Catholic High School. Being able to see our 400+ participants together in the auditorium to start the meeting just goes to show
Nepal June 2018
From June 13 to June 15 we spent 54 hours traveling to our destination. This was broken up with 4 flights and one awesome excursion in Singapore. In Singapore we went to Gardens By the Bay which are these massive
Peru July 2018 Reflection
Team Leader Nate Jones reflects on the 2017-18 Peru July team’s experiences in Pucallpa. We’ve been having an incredible experience in the village of Pucallpa (pronounced Poo-cal-pah) in the Amazon! Our team has been working hard and getting dirty removing