Important Dates:
Orientation: August 19-26, 2013
Transition Retreat: September 19-22, 2013
See new fundraising requirements
Hear about the YAV experience
Hear from YAVs Chad Pitman and Kristi Click, who were featured guests on NPR program “Keepin’ the Faith” December 16, 2012. Listen to the show to hear Chad and Kristi discuss highlights of the YAV program and share their stories of how they found their way into God’s service.
Listen now
What is the YAV Program?
Whitney Minor overlooks Rift Valley in Kenya.
Want to put your faith in action?
Want to grow as a leader in Christian service?
Want to see the world while serving God and those in need?
The YAV Program might be just for you…
a year of service for a lifetime of change
The Young Adult Volunteer program is a one year service opportunity for young adults from 19 to 30 years. YAVs live together in Christian community, deepening and developing their faith while serving in communities of need. The YAV program has sites around the United States and around the world, and YAVs serve for one academic year, August - July.
Volunteers are placed in community agencies or local churches, with jobs depending on the needs of partners and the skills of the Young Adult Volunteer. YAVs tackle some of the hardest problems in the world – poverty, violence and reconciliation, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ – while living and reflecting with other volunteers on the meaning and motivation of their Christian faith.
Each YAV experience is different – but all YAVs will participate in a mutual discernment process to be a part of the program, receive national and on-site orientation, work closely with mentors and companions during service, participate in vocational discernment activities, and integrate the whole experience at a end-of-term conference. All YAVs receive health insurance and student loan repayment is available for qualified applicants. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), you and your supporting congregation and presbytery, and some placement agencies share funding of this program. All volunteers are required to raise some of their financial support – this year the requirements for fundraising have been cut in half – to $3,000 for national service and $4,000 for international service. A limited number of scholarships are also available each year.
Learn more about the history of the Young Adult Volunteer program, and its impact on the PC(USA) and the world, by reading our wikipedia article.
Watch a webinar presentation to learn more
You can download the video of our December 2010 informational webinar which has conversations with former YAVs and an interactive conversation with other enquirers, touching on many frequently asked questions.
YAV Fundraising Q&A
Watch a recent webinar in which YAV staff explains fundraising issues and fields questions about the support raising process.
Sandra serving in Northern Ireland. Photo by Doug Baker
Goals of the YAV Program
The Program was developed with several goals in mind:
- To experience living in intentional Christian community — Whether or not the young adults live under the same roof, they explore what it means to be a Christian community.
- To focus on spiritual formation — Through the mentorship of site coordinators and fellow interns, young adults reflect on their experiences and explore their relationship to the church and their ministry in a broken world.
- To engage young adults in the church’s mission — The church seeks to provide opportunities for young adults to serve the church and their communities. Young adults experience and develop leadership within communities of faith. With training and support, they can provide leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in the ecumenical church.
- To assist YAVs in vocational discernment.
- To be present in communities of need and to facilitate young adults’ engagement in communities of need.
Eric and Ashley, current Young Adult Volunteers, talk about what the YAV Program is and why you should apply in this video from site coordinator Kathy Lee
Read a YAV dad letter
“YAV Dad” Jeff DeYoe, who also happens to be the senior pastor of Worthington Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Ohio, recently wrote the following letter to Hunter Farrell, Director of Presbyterian World Mission, after being inspired by his recent visit to his daughter’s YAV site in Guatemala.
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