Causes: Children & Youth, Economic Development, Human Service Organizations, Human Services, International, International Economic Development, International Exchange, Microfinance, Youth Development Programs

Mission: The mission of Youthlinc is to create lifetime humanitarians. Our core programs (Local & International Service Year, Utah Local Service Directory, Young Humanitarian Award, Real Life: Teen Refugee Mentoring, and Global Community Leadership) are based in principles from educational and service learning research: student leadership, hands on sustained service which creates an emotional bond, mentoring, project based and cooperative learning.

Results: Each year, 250+ Youthlinc students contribute over 19,000 hours of service in Utah, becoming relied upon volunteers for over 100 community service agencies. Youthlinc Service Year teams contribute nearly $400,000 each year in water projects, construction projects, vocational training and equipment, school and medical supplies, small loans, and other quality of life initiatives in partnership with impoverished communities in Guatemala, Peru, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Kenya, and MadagascarOur online Utah Local Service Directory is a resource of student friendly service sites recommended for young people by young people for hands on service in a positive mentoring atmosphere. This resource is available for everyone in the state, and allows volunteers to log, track, and verify their service hours. Our Young Humanitarian Award annually recognizes Utah young people who excel at giving back with a $5,000 college scholarship $8,500 in runner-up awards. Our Real Life: Teen Refugee Mentoring program pairs Utah young people with underserved teens at 12 sites around South Salt Lake to deliver a fun and interactive life skills curriculum including financial literacy, health and hygiene, job and college preparation, social skills, and cross cultural activities. Our Global Community Leadership program is designed to meet the demand of university students, including Youthlinc alums and adult professionals, to have an integrated local and international service experience embedded in academic learning; inspiring participants to ask difficult questions about what it means to be a responsible citizen. Though only 5% -20% of our incoming class of students each year have had any significant volunteering experience, 60-93% of our alums continue to serve in their communities after our program.

Target demographics: We create lifetime humanitarians out of high school and college students through local and international service

Direct beneficiaries per year: 250 students, over 100 Utah service agencies, 350 teen refugees, and thousands of individuals in Guatemala, Peru, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Kenya, and Madagascar

Geographic areas served: Utah & 10 economically-developing nations

Programs: our Service Year, Utah Local Service Directory, Young Humanitarian Award, Real Life: Teen Refugee Mentoring, and Global Community Leadership