Youthlinc

My participation in this organization has truly changed my life for the better! I cannot emphasize enough how impactful the work is locally, internationally, and regarding self-improvement. This program is dedicated to making a difference that will last a lifetime and provides individuals with the opportunity to make a positive impact. The lessons I learned, and the personal growth I made while going through the service year was the most transformative, and life changing experience to this day. Not only this, but the connections and friendships made with other volunteers and team members are lifelong, which I continue to hold close in my heart. It has been incredibly inspiring to see firsthand the positive changes facilitated in the lives of those we served, and the difference we were making. This is an organization that truly makes a difference, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of their amazing work. There truly is nothing like this program. Thank you Youthlinc, for all that you do!

Youthlinc changes lives in all the best ways! They do sustainable work that everyone can be proud of. Joining their service year means LOCAL service first and then a capstone trip abroad to work with locals in their community to help them achieve their goals. Check out their website and Instagram to see all the amazing things they’re a part of and the fun they have doing them!

I first came across Youthlinc when I was a sophomore in High School. Growing up in a small town, I struggled finding ways of connecting to my community and feeling like I could make a difference. After convincing my parents to allow me to go, I spent the next 9 months working closely with the special needs individuals at my school, completing 80 hours of local service. I did this by teaching an arts class and reading one-on-one with them. After going on my first international trip to Peru, I realized that participating in this trip was the first time I truly felt like I was my authentic self. Youthlinc empowered me to be confident in who I am, and allowed me to see the impact I could make in my community.

One of the things I love about Youthlinc is that they take what you are passionate about and empower you to make a change. Youthlinc is student lead, so instead of just telling us what we were going to do, we actually got to be a part of the planning process. On every trip, we focus on a wide variety of projects, including construction, vocational, business, health, ecological, education, and cultural exchange. Some of my favorites have been teaching English lessons in Peru, sewing in Kenya, cultural exchange and building a classroom in Fiji, and starting a computer lab and planting trees in Ecuador. I have now been involved with Youthlinc for over a decade and have witnessed the change that is made when individuals connect to their communities, both locally and abroad. My family and friends have all asked if I will ever start my own non-profit humanitarian group and I always tell them no, because I have yet to find anyone that does it better than Youthlinc.

Last year I had the opportunity to join Youthlinc for their Service Year program. Being only 16 at the time, I had no real resources to travel the world and do humanitarian work like I'd always wanted. However, Youthlinc gave me that opportunity. I was introduced to the world of local service, and after months of hard work, I was able to spend 2 weeks on a trip to Nepal! It was the greatest experience of my life. I'd recommend Youthlinc to any kids who seek to make a difference in the world, but don't quite know how yet.

Love this organization! They have been amazing for my family!

I was able to travel with Youthlinc for the first time this year to Thailand. There are so many things I loved about this trip but the relationships built between team members and the in country support team is my favorite. We worked with a community of people living in a village by teaching English, doing some construction around the school, we learned about weaving which was completely new to me. I loved having the opportunity to plant rice and learn about the families living in the community by visiting them in their homes. Being in the village and spending time serving and supporting the community was rewarding in ways that I did not anticipate. The work put into preparing to travel and planning for our work in country helped our team to feel prepared and created positive relationships between the members of the team. I would recommend a trip with Youthlinc to anyone! I can't wait to travel with them again.

I recently went to Cambodia on my first trip with Youthlinc. I loved every second of this trip. When people would ask me what was my favorite part or to tell them about it I struggled to come up with words that would describe it all. I still struggle to do that! What I have been able to tell people is that you will not be the same person once you do a trip like this, service years are not about us at all. They are about the lives you are going to change and benefit in another country. But you do learn a thing or two about yourself along the way. In Cambodia they live a really hard life but do they know that absolutely not, but are they so happy and grateful for all that they have? YES they are. Did they welcome us into their village and homes with open arms yes they did. In just five days we did so much to improve the lives of many in this village we also built bond that will never be broken and faces that will never leave our minds. Pictures can tell a story but if you ask any one of us about a picture or someone from the village we will go on for a while about them. The people in my team as well as in Cambodia changed my life. Not a day goes by that I don't think of them. They are often my "why" or motivation when something is "hard". I tell their stories and show their faces to make more people aware and wanting to help. Youthlinc is unlike any other program that does this. It truly is all about the people in country and I love that. We are doing this to make a change and its a change you can see so quickly.

I have been on 3 Youthlinc trips now and plan to do more in the future. The service year is a life changing opportunity I think everyone should experience. Volunteering with Youthlinc and becoming involved in my community has helped shape me into the person that I am today because on the connections I was able to make.

I have been on two trips with Youthlinc and hope to do more in the future! Youthlinc was able to help me change my perspective on service. I am so happy that I was introduced to Youthlinc and was able to participate in Service Years. I gained so many connections as I volunteered locally before we went to our international service sites. I love that Youthlinc emphasizes the importance of volunteering locally and becoming a lifetime humanitarian. Going to international sites, I learned a lot about how other communities work, which was very interesting. I also loved that we could help these places with committees that we have on the team, such as business, vocational, medical, cultural, and education. It is an amazing experience, and I hope many people want to join this nonprofit in helping communities locally and internationally.

Youthlinc is something I truly believe everyone should get to experience at least once in their life. Youthlinc connects us in more ways than I think we think. You connect with your community before you even get to your Global destination. I think making an impact for 9 months is greater than just the two weeks.

I have been involved with Youthlinc since 2014, when I was just a teenager. I can truly say the experiences I have encountered completed changed my life. I was a young boy trying to find myself, and Youthlinc helped me accomplish that. Each year I ended the service year with a better appreciation for my community, culture, international relationships and a greater love and understand for who I was. I am now involved as a Team Leader hoping that I can help each humanitarian and mentor find their true meaning and purpose.

Youthlinc is the most amazing organization!!! I absolutely LOVE being a part of this program. This will be my fourth year working with them and I plan to participate as long as my body is able. I am continually impressed with the powerful ways Youthlinc changes hearts at home and abroad. There is so much need in the world. I am honored to be a part of this powerful group that is changing lives in sustainable and empowering ways around the globe. I have always wanted to help, but it wasn't until a client introduced me to Youthlinc that I could really put those desires to good use. What a blessing it has been in my life to be a part of Youthlinc!!

Youthlinc provided my children with the opportunity to practice compassion and empathy outside the home beyond their close relationships. They provided the groundwork for habitual service in our local communities and how to apply the same curiosity to the world. They have shaped how my children interact with people from all walks of life and instilled lasting adjustments in their priorities. They now not only know what they care about but also know how to put those feelings into action.

I’ve had the chance to travel with Youthlinc two times, both being beyond phenomenal experiences. I love the community that this organization creates between humanitarians, team leaders, mentors and the villages that the teams travel to. Youthlinc doesn’t typically go back to the same village twice in a row as a way to create independence and not dependency on the organization. I traveled to Peru in 2022 with the group and to Cambodia over this last summer. Obviously the in country experiences were unforgettable, but Youthlinc also helps humanitarians find ways to serve their local communities. The emphasis on serving the people in our own backyard is unique to lots of international service programs!

Love this organization so much! It's done SO much for my family.

Youthlinc is one of the greatest organizations I've ever been a part of. It has pushed me to understand the importance of humanity and service, not just internationally, but locally as well. Youthlinc values safety, an incredible volunteer experience, and the purest form of service. I'm so grateful for this organization!

LIFE CHANGING!! I’ve been on 3 trips so far and every one is different but so amazing. each trip involves service and cultural exchanges that are so amazing

I have been involved with Youthlinc since 2017, and they will continue to be part of my future. The staff is always so friendly and welcoming to those they come in contact with. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t reach out to them about numerous topics! Youthlinc got me involved in my community and helped me connect with people I most likely would not have on other terms. I became aware of the people around me, and the situations that they deal with frequently. With that awareness, I was able to find ways to lighten their load. I also was introduced to people on my team that I normally would not interact with in regular circumstances. To this day I still have close friends/connections with the people I first met back in 2017. Youthlinc’s service year brings people together! And all participants have the same goal in mind. We create a strong bond with one another as we work side by side to complete our goals, whether that’s locally or internationally. Youthlinc’s mission is to create lifetime humanitarians, and I think it’s safe to say that they are following through with that statement. I’ll happily work along Youthlinc and support their mission as long as I can. They truly changed my life, and I’m forever grateful to them.

I have been on two International service trips with Youthlinc. Learning about Youthlinc and getting involved with them has been one of the best experiences ao far. I have had the opportunity to work many others and learn about service and what service mean. I have been to Peru and Vietnam. They were both amazing experiences. I was able to meet with the people in Peru and Vietnam and learn mor about them. I was able to learn about their culture and work with them through Youthlinc. I’m looking forward to more experiences with Youthlinc.

I have loved my time with Youthlinc and their international service. My daughter and I recently came to a CONNECT local project and we had a fantastic time! Great organization!

I owe a lot to Youthlinc and the leadership experience it gave me. The service year program empowered me at a time that I needed it most. It showed me community and love and service at a time where I felt lost. I had the amazing opportunity to enroll in the Service year in 2020, and it absolutely changed my life. Engaging in local service allowed me to reach into the needs of my community and gave me a higher sense of purpose. Because of Youthlinc, I have become more clear and focused on what I want to pursue and center my goals around as I enter adulthood.

One of my favorite aspects of Youthlinc is how they engage in the conversation around what it means to be a humanitarian as opposed to a white savior. The organization actively involves education modules and discussion around important ideas that are imperative to engage in within the humanitarian world. Even as I travel to developing countries and work on projects, I don't feel as if I'm engaging in the role of a white savior. And I think this largely due to the incredible service model that Youthlinc has cultivated which I think makes it stand out as an ethical and extraordinary non-profit.

More than anything Youthlinc has shown me that service breaches barriers. If you engage in work with no goal other than to make someone else's life a little bit better, I think you'll find that you'll accomplish far more than that. Service has no regard for skin color or for socioeconomic class. It doesn't care about the language you speak or the experiences you've lived through. Service speaks to right now, service speaks to a growth mindset that humanity can be found if you're willing to look for it.

Youthlinc rocks! I had the opportunity to go as a student on the very first Youthlinc trip in 2000 to Kenya. It was an amazing experience that broadened my understanding of the world and my place in it. I learned so much on that trip and had such a fun time that I returned in 2006 to be a teacher mentor for a group going to Peru. The thing I love most about this program is that it both encourages students to give to their local community and gives them an opportunity to see and serve the world beyond.

I have been a part of Youthlinc since 2019, and have kept coming back because of the amazing work they do. Many of the people I have met at Youthlinc have also been a part of it for several years, which I think is a true testament to the meaningful work this nonprofit does. I've had the pleasure of travelling with Youthlinc to Peru and Rwanda, and hope to travel to Vietnam in 2023. Both of my trips thus far have shown me the kinds of meaningful relationships and impact Youthlinc is able to have on a community - in Peru, the particular village I visited had been the chosen area for some of Youthlinc's projects for a few years at that point, and our year would be the last for them as we had to move on to other villages. Our team was able to see the progress that the village had made with the help of other teams, which really made everyone feel like what we did made a difference, even if it was for this small group of people. I highly recommend Youthlinc to anyone I know, and would encourage anybody to become a part of it - whether that means travelling with a team, or simply volunteering at their many events. Either way, you will see the magnitude of impact Youthlinc has on a community, both internationally and locally!

I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to go with Youthlinc on 2 humanitarian trips. One to Costa Rica as an humanitarian and one as an assistant team leader to Peru. This year I’ll be going to Thailand as an assistant team leader because I loved my previous experiences so much. Because of Youthlinc I’ve met amazing people, both that I’ve served and served with. I’ve made friendships and discovered that I want to make service a part of my future career. I’ve also received scholarships because of the service hours I’ve completed to go on a trip. That service has also made me a happier person in addition to all of those other benefits. I would highly recommend getting involved with Youthlinc!

Youthlinc really helped me feel like I was making an impact. Being able to volunteer both locally and internationally made me see how you can always lend a helping hand. Youthlinc also helped me feel prepared !

This year is my second year working as a volunteer with youthlinc, and it has been such an incredibly and rewarding experience. Youthlinc takes high school and college aged volunteers and gets them involved with local service in their community which leads up to a capstone project of a 2 week international service trip in one of the organizations many destinations throughout the world. This non-profit is so incredible because it helps youth realize how important volunteer and humanitarian work is. I love this organization and would recommend it to anybody looking to broaden their horizons.

I love everything about Youthlinc. I have been with the organization for about 4 years now. I went on a service trip to Kenya in 2019 and had the best experience! I met so many wonderful people who were in my team and the people I met in Kenya. What I love most about Youthlinc is before you leave out of the country, you have to do 40 hours of local community service before you leave. It's a great way to show you what goes around in your community and you are able to help others you may know. It gives you a board perspective of service and what you might being doing out of country. I'm going to Thailand this upcoming summer with my sister and I can't wait for the experiences I will have with her and the people of Thailand.

Youthlinc is an amazing organization that works so hard to help those in need, but also help those involved gain amazing leadership skills.

I have been involved with Youthlinc for 3 years, and have been nothing but impressed in every way. The staff are very friendly and helpful and create an amazing environment that lifts up one another. They do an amazing job at creating lifetime humanitarians, because I myself am one.

I went on two service year trips, one to Peru in 2019 and the other to Jamaica in 2021. Both trips were amazing and I found a love for service. Without Youthlinc I wouldn't have made amazing lifetime memories. I want service and humanitarian work to be a part of my life forever.

I had the opportunity to participate in Youthlinc for the past year. It changed my life and helped me find a new passion in service. Not only that but it has given me further opportunities to expand my service across my community

Youthlinc is an amazing nonprofit!! I have met so many new friends through Youthlinc. Everyone is so welcoming and accepting. The service year really changed my life and helped me learn the importance of serving, especially in my community.

Youthlinc gave me the greatest experience I could ask for, locally and internationally. Not only do I have friendships in Costa Rica now, but I have friendships with neighbors and people that share the same passion about serving as I do. Just after one trip I am now interning for two programs through Youthlinc to continue to serve and share my experience.

I have gone on two trips with Youthlinc. This program is amazing. It has forever changed my life. It helped me change into the person that I am now. YOuthlinc is a very well structured, safe, and educational program. I would 100% recommend youthlinc to anyperson who is interested in doing service and helping their communities. This is the best volunteer program that I have ever been a part of.

I worked with youthlinc for 4 years(5 include this year but they can't come to Thailand because covid-19)as a traslaterof constructions. I really love the way they do for local people. Everyone worked with smiles, helpful and do everything by them heart. All local people got huge benefit from them such as public health, educations, buildings, knowledge of business etc. and all kids in the village also very happy that they come to help and got fun together. Love Youthlinc so much!!!

Youthlinc is the best organization that creates lifetime humanitarian for people around the world. It helps give people the tools, empower them in order to make the world a better place for everyone.

We (Sustainable Cambodia) have been working with Youthlinc since 2011. Our partnership and relationship get stronger and stronger as the project we have designed are so meaningful where responding to local communities needs as well as the remote schools. We work together to build school buildings, install the playgrounds, provide school bicycles, teach English for different levels, conduct training include vocational, primary healthcare for women and men, business concept...etc. We are so delighted to work with Youthlinc to generate great outcomes for the local people here in Pursat, Cambodia.

Such a WONDERFUL nonprofit organization!
It's been almost one year from the first time I knew about Youthlinc. In 2019, I had a change to join a volunteering trip that is in cooperation program between SJ Vietnam and Youthlinc. During one week, I actually was dipped into tons of valuable experiences. I, some Vietnamese locals and a group of America volunteers joined together in a education sharing in Thai Nguyen province Vietnam. In there, we met students, we shared knowledge about taking photos, problem solving, exchanging culture,... that is useful for all students and for us as well. Let be apart of Youthlinc as I had been. I hope that in the near future I will have more chances to join more Youthlinc activities.

As a teacher at Mataso Primary School here in the Fiji Islands we were fortunate to have formed a wonderful relationship with this amazing organisation.They first came to our school in 2018 and we have been blessed beyond measure through our interaction.The different groups that have made the long journey to our shores have had an enormous impact on the lives of our students.The school now has about 40 laptops which YouthLinc donated and so much school supplies that we are still currently using in school.The teaching resources that were used by the YouthLinc group members to teach our students were amazing and they incredibly left them in school for the students and teachers to use once they had finished using them fo their classes.We now have stuff like ukuleles;recorders;balls for every kind od sports and so much more.Last year's team also set up a school intranet and a state of the art storage system where information could be backed up and stored.One of the members responsible for this Sylvia and her husband in fact took a special trip to Fiji this year in February just to set it up which was really incredible.Our students have loved their interaction with the team members and have learned so much and they were so looking forward to this year's experience but unfortunately due to the COVID19 pandemic that will not be possible.But let's just say that we will forever be grateful to the YouthLinc organisation for coming to our school and having an enormous impact on the lives of our students.We wish you nothing but the very best in life.Stay safe and stay blessed.Vinaka vakalevu YouthLinc❤
5 star rating!!!❤❤❤

I was a volunteer to translate for youthlinc , I did not expected to learn a lot of new skills during that time, I gained many experiences during my time with them, I learned: the basic of computer skills, How to start and grow my own business, how to manage my income, I also learned some new cultural. and the most important thing to me was, I can Improve my english skills with a native english speakers. They build a nice classroom for the children in the village, and taught a good skills for the parents so they can have a source of making money. I am so thankful for what they do for my people.

I met Justin in Vietnam for few times and was impressed to his friendly and motivation so that I decided to join a community service with Youthlinc in Vietnam in summer 2018 in a disabled center. And it was the most interesting time in my life. I loved all the moment with Youtlinc volunteers. They were enthusiastic, worked tirelessly even it was so hot that time. Thank you Youthlinc and Justin for your great work. Cheers from Vietnam

I'm very lucky when I joined the work camp ( Interacting with rural children) with Youthlinc . Everyone is friendly, sympathetic and open-minded.

I have been working with Youthlinc since 2013 in the centre of Vietnam, and in the mountainous area in the north of Vietnam since 2017. Their manager are very professional, and well understanding about local culture. Their volunteera are creative, enthusiatic and always want to discover local life. They also helped local community a lot, for example: build classes for poor students, donated buffalo for poor familly, teach English for children... Thank you a lot for Youthlinc work. Keep going ahead. I love you.

Youthlink is one of the best organization I know it has done so much in the community and has help many young people like myself get life experience and opportunity. Also, something that I like about the organization is, it mission, organization culture and it program. Thank youthlink for all you do!!

I went on a global leadership trip to Vietnam with Youthlinc last summer. The amazingly sweet people that we got to know there and the beauty of the country was an experience that will always be a part of my heart. Youthlinc did a great job preparing the trip and making adjustments when needed, keeping us safe, and building a bond within our group. I'm still in touch with new friends from my group and new friends in Vietnam.

Youthlinc changed my life it showed me how to be the change I want to see in the world. They taught me discipline when they required 100 hours for us to go in-country. They wanted individuals who wanted to make a difference and it was so cool to be surrounded by those kinds of individuals. Without youthlinc I wouldn’t have such a group grasp on not only those countries I traveled to but also my own community. I think a lot of service trips can loose sight of what they are trying to do and I think youthlinc never lost sight of what mattered.

This has been one of the best experiences of my life. You meet new people and make new friends, help others in your community and when you finally go on the trip you help those who are in much need of it. Just a wonderful experience all around.

When I started youthlinc, my main focus was the trip abroad. It sound like fun! But as my experience with Youthlinc progressed, I discovered much more meaning in my experience. I learned how to be giver and how to be a good Samaritan during my local volunteerhours. The abroad experience showed me how much is needed in the world and how I can make a difference! I'm forever grateful for the Youthlinc program.

My experience with Youthlinc was definitely the best of my life! I went to Nepal in the summer of 2018, and I mean when I say that I still think about that trip everyday. The amount of memories and friends I made are endless and the trip was so well planned not once did I worry about anything happening to us in a foreign country. The leaders knew what they were doing, and everyday we had good food and a super fun activity with the kids. It was something that I wasn’t sure I was going to love before I went, but I am so glad that I ended up going!

Youthlinc is an awesome, local organization. I got involved three years ago, and every one of my experiences has been positive. It is amazing to see how the work students do both locally and internationally really creates them into lifetime humanitarians. I would highly recommend high school and college students get involved.

Best organization to change not just others, but your life! Best 2 weeks I have spent on both my past trips.

I had the opportunity to go to Thailand with Youthlinc and it was the best experience. I have never felt so much love, compassion, and dedication in my life. Youthlinc creates a safe and positive environment for everyone; whether you’re a student, alum, mentor, ATL, or team leader. Everyone deserves to have an experience like the one Youthlinc provided for me.

I traveled to Guatemala with Youthlinc and had an amazing experience! All of the people involved have made me a better person and I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the organization this year.

Being in country and serving these wonderful people I got to see that no matter what you have you can be happy. I saw that through service lives are changed. The people you serve are changed and the people that are serving are changed. Visiting this little village in Thailand made so much more grateful for what I have and it also gave me a good sense of responsibility. I have all these privileges that so many in Thailand do not do I have to use them to help those around me in the US and those also in other countries. Just like the quote “With great power comes great responsibility”. I truly feel that and feel like I have an even bigger responsibility to help the people around me at my school, in my home, and in my community with the problems they face. After coming home from Thailand I see the world with a new perspective. I see people with a new perspective of compassion and feel the want to serve them more. Overall, I am so great that you have supported me in this life changing experience.
Much love,
-Abinadi Smith

Through Youthlinc I have become a better person, I was very shy and depressed up until last year when I met my team and started my journey in the volunteer world. I started volunteering at a local rest home and I became more aware of people in need and learned a lot about myself in the experience. Youthlinc is amazing and I wish I had heard about it earlier.

Youthlinc has completely changed my life. My first experience was traveling to Peru along the amazon river in July of 2017, and I loved every second of it. I made friendships every step of the way... from my main service site in America where I got to spend 80+ hours serving the people in my community... to the friends I made with the teammates I travelled with... and finally to the lifelong relationships I built with the people in country. I have the opportunity to travel to Cambodia as an alum leader this year, and I am so excited to share my love of service with the students this year. Thank you to youthlinc!

I loved my Youthlinc experience. I first went to Vietnam in 2013 as a high schooler where I learned to connect with people on a different level. We served them and became friend with them. Something I did realize was possible all without speaking the same language. The variety of things Youthlinc does amazes me as they have focused committees in every location striving to make a difference in education, work, health and more. I am excited to continue service with Youthlinc this coming year as well.

Youthlinc is an amazing organization. Not only do they help countries abroad they require 80 hours of local community service before we are sent to our international service sites. I have the amazing opportunity to work with Youthlinc again this year as an alum leader, helping to lead a team of 40 to a small village in Fiji. Definitely the best experiences I have ever had are through Youthlinc!!

Volunteering with Youthlinc has changed my life in so many ways! I've become aware of the people in my community who need my help, as well as the people all around the world, because of the service I have provided through Youthlinc. It's an amazing organization!

Youthlinc, a seasoned and visionary non-profit, creates stunning opportunities to serve, collaborate, and develop friendships (with spectacular natives) abroad.

I can not say enough about my experiences with youthlinc. My three trips have changed me in so many ways. I feel indebted to them in more ways then I can count. They continue to change the lives of countless youth and in turn change future generations for the better. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to be apart of such an amazing organization!

Being apart of Youthlinc has changed me in many ways. It has shaped me into the individual that I am today! Being a part of Youthlinc has taught me a lot about being thankful for what we have and how lucky I truly am! The experiences that I am giving because of Youthlinc are many that I will never forget! International and Local Service will always be apart of who am i thanks to Youthlinc ! -BayLa

WOW i don’t have enough good things to say about youthlinc, this organization real know how to change your life & everyone that they come in contact with! i love volunteering with them & will continue to volunteer with them until they no longer let me haha! the different experiences i had both in & out of country with youthlinc have been some of my most valuable memories & best times of my life! if you are thinking of being apart of a nonprofit humanitarian group, youthlinc is the team for you!

I had an amazing experience traveling to Peru with Youthlinc! My participation in this program heavily influenced my current career goals and made me realize the importance of service done through such organizations. I loved the year of service that came to previous to our trip to Peru as well - I met amazing people, was able to learn and grow, and would recommend this program to anyone and everyone!

Creating lifetime humanitarians! I've had the opportunity to volunteer with Youthlinc as a mentor and also as a team leader and this organization has been great to work with! There are certain non-negotiables that they don't bend on, but that align with their mission, and otherwise, they are very flexible, great people to work with, and they identify very good volunteers who generally work very well with the student participants and other adult volunteers. If you want a positive humanitarian experience that has a good in-country infrastructure in place where it is safe, healthy and secure for you (as an adult or as a student participant), Youthlinc is a very good option. You can trust the organization, its people, and the volunteers who lead the groups!

Youthlinc changed my life! I had such an amazing experience. It changed me for the better and I grew a lot as a person and was so humbled by it.

I have chosen to participate with Youthlinc for several years because of it's mission, to create lifetime humanitarians. I have seen service change the lives of participants, both students and adults. For so many, service becomes a habit and something they always seek to find. Opportunities are everywhere, locally and at the international sites. The relationships that are developed through service are deep and lasting. It's this type of experience that truly changes us and allows us to see others more clearly. I have felt this change and seen it in the lives of many Youthlinc participants.

I absolutely loved my experience with Youthlinc. I think it is so easy this day in age to just decide you want to go on a service trip and do it for the wrong reasons. Youthlinc makes sure that every participant understands the benefits and importance of the service we do, not just in other countries, but also in our own community.

I also liked that I was able to take on leadership responsibilities without even being a leader. I was able to be responsible for parts of the projects we worked on. I can't wait to apply again and to apply for a leadership position so I can encourage leadership in other participants

I worked with this program the last year, as a service student. This is an AMAZING non-profit. They are very professional, and they are great to work with. The people I worked with were always very helpful. The team leaders that they have were extraordinary, and they set very high expectations for Youthlinc. I loved being on my team this year. The team leaders did an awesome job making sure that everyone felt comfortable, and appreciated on the team. The team leaders were outstanding. I learned so much through Youthlinc, and the opportunities, and the experiences that I had working through them. I never would have been able to do what we did, on my own. It is such an eye I LOVED it, and would 100% recommend it. I plan on working with them for years to come!

I was able to travel to Peru with Youthlinc in the summer of 2016. I have continued my involvement with Youthlinc through their Real Life program, as a Real Life Intern. The lessons that I have learned from Youthlinc have truly changed my life and who I am as a person. Youthlinc has encouraged me to get far outside of my comfort zone and get involved in the needs of my community. I have been able to met and connect with so many amazing people that I otherwise would have never had the opportunity to met. My life is for the better because of the experience and opportunities I have had through Youthlinc and I am so grateful for every part of it.

I absolutely ADORE Youthlinc. My favorite thing about Youthlinc is that they are sustainable. Youthlinc works hard to create lifetime humanitarians and truly help those who are in need at home and abroad. I have never had a less than amazing experience with Youthlinc!

Youthlinc is a great way to become a humanitarian for life. They teach you great things to help you become involved in your own community. They also teach you how to be a humanitarian for others in other countries. I have loved being able to participate in the Youthlinc adventure.

Youthlinc has changed my whole outlook on how service is supposed to work. Their emphasis on both local and international service is the reason why I chose to serve for the first time in 2012. I've been to Cambodia twice with them now and have had an amazing experience every time I volunteer with them.

I first started my experiences with Youthlinc in 2014 as a student on the Cambodia team. I fell in love with the program and went again the following year to Kenya and will be traveling to Nepal this summer. Youthlinc has helped me to discover my love for service and to grow as a person. My experiences abroad have changed my life and have helped me to decide on my future career. I am so grateful to Youthlinc for giving me the opportunity to serve and to love people I would have never met otherwise.

Every experience I have had with Youthlinc has been extremely positive. I have loved being involved with this organization since 2011. It honestly has changed my life. The focus on local service is incredible and helps so many people. The international service is an eye-opening and deeply meaningful experience. I have nothing but great things to say about this organization.

Youthlinc truly works to achieve its mission of creating lifetime humanitarians. It has changed my life for the better, and I know many others who would say the same thing. This organization is amazing.

Youthlinc is an amazing nonprofit organization that I have been a part of for many years. They promote both local and international service and do a fantastic job in "creating lifetime humanitarians." I would recommend this organization to anyone!

Youthlinc is truly a great nonprofit organization, creating lifetime humanitarians. It has made an immense impact in my life and of those I love. I really enjoyed every moment of my experience with Youthlinc, starting from the beginning of my trip to actually going on the trip. It helped me become more confident, a better team member, and a hard worker. I would extremely recommend Youthlinc to any person who want to help other people either in their community or internationally. I will always remember Youthlinc, as the start of my lifetime as a humanitarian.

My experience with Youthlinc was absolutely incredible and life changing! Thanks to my team leaders Britnie and Justin Powell, who lead our Madagascar trip through crazy ups and downs smoothly and with low stress. The experience in Madagascar was unmatchable and unforgettable! Thanks to this program, I have built and discovered skills I didn't know I possessed or had a passion for that I wouldn't have been able to discover without this incredible program!

The last two service trips that I have served with Youthlinc have been life changing, and I would not be the person I am today without the experience of a third world country. The culture was so different in both Madagascar and Cambodia, which exposes young adults to new people and new traditions that don't exist in their own country. I gained leadership skills from my previous trips and I feel more confident in acting as a role model for other students in the organization. I love Youthlinc and I am excited to serve another year!

I had the experience of a lifetime working with Utah Youthlinc. It was amazing working with people both locally and abroad. This was a life changing humanitarian effort for me. The opportunity to experience another culture and get to know the love and warmth of the Cambodian people, without my family, allowed me to grow as a person. At the end of my stay in the village, it was hard to say my goodbyes. I can only hope that we helped to change and touch their lives for the better. Thank you for allowing me this once in a lifetime chance.

Youthlinc has given me the opportunity to voice my opinion and make a change for those not only in my community but also by serving a village on my service trip just this passing June in Thailand! Being a young adult in today's world can sometimes consist of being labeled by some ageists of other generations as 'lazy, glued to our phones, and selfish.' However, by participating in service we are able to stand up for our beliefs to make the world better, make a change, be productive and bring a smile to a stranger which we never knew we could love so dearly. Youthlinc brings people together and gives us opportunities to open our hearts and to learn together, unifying the youth of our world, future generations to come, and allows us to define ourselves instead of accepting the words tossed around by those who doubt us. Whoever says you're too small to make a difference is wrong, because with Youthlinc I was shown that that statement is far from incorrect.

Great experience! I had so much fun as a member on the Peru team. The trip didn't even feel like community service because of all of the amazing people you worked with and visited. Would recommend to any and everyone.

Youthlinc was an awesome experience, an experience of a lifetime! Their equal focus on local and international service truly helped instill a desire to serve. With an 80 hour minimum local service qualification, all members of Youthlinc had to sacrifice a lot in order to be eligible for this trip. We had to put other things on hold as we diligently worked to get 80 hours. And the international service was an experience I would not trade for anything. Seeing the eyes of Malagasy men, women, and children light up over the smallest things was something I will not forget. We worked alongside the people and helped make lasting impacts. We did not just go in and throw money at a problem. The experience I had with Youthlinc is something I am immensely grateful for! It has changed my life for the better and I hope to be able to continue to serve as Youthlinc has inspired me to do so well.

This organization has given me the opportunity to change the lives of those locally and internationally. I had the chance to travel to Peru and help the villagers of Santa Isabel. It was an amazing experience and something I will never forget.

Youthlinc provides the best experience out there! I went on a trip to Madagascar last summer and I can honestly say it was an experience like no other. Youthlinc is very organized and fun to be a part of. I think the best part is that you not only get to serve internationally but locally as well.

Youthlinc is amazing!!! You learn so much during your service year, and experience more then you could possibly imagine during your international trip.

There are a lot of organizations that take students on international humanitarian trips, but Youthlinc is the best program to go with. Not only do you get the opportunity to serve people internationally, Youthlinc gives students the chance to become more involved within their own community. Serving locally truly does create lifetime humanitarians which changes the lives of all those who work with Youthlinc. I would recommend Youthlinc to anyone who is passionate about service.

Extremely amazing and eye opening. Most fun I have ever had lots of hard work that paid off.

I had such and AMAZING experience with Youthlinc. They are an amazing organization. And are very put together and know what they are doing!! I had such an incredible experience with the touring of the country and also being able to put myself to work and help out such amazing people. Youthlinc definitely should be one of your top choices for a non-profit organization. Love every second of it!!!

I had the best time I have ever had in my life. I got to meet so many people that i made connections with. Youthlinc has changed my life.

Youthlinc is an amazing non-profit that allows people to learn the importance of service not only internationally but also locally. It helps you gain perspective about the world and also your community and what you can do to help. The experience I had with youthlinc was unforgettable and I'm so excited to be working with them again.

About a year ago I joined Youthlinc as a service student and went to Cambodia as my international site. It was the best experience of my life and I'm so grateful for it! The organization is very well planned and executed. Everything that needed to happen for successful travel and productivity on site happened because of the preparation and help Youthlinc provided. Not only was serving a phenomenal experience but I was able to meet so many people who will be life long friends and I developed better leadership, communication and responsibility skills. I'm so grateful for Youthlinc!

Youthlinc does such an amazing job at creating lifetime humanitarians and by making a difference in the local community by requiring local service hours.

I love youthlinc. They are so unique in their program and I love how they are involved in community work and they have an amazing travel program. Such a great experience for any age and I love the adult leaders they have as that lead the discussions and all of the organization is incredible. Such an amazing year. Such an amazing program.

I was first involved with Youthlinc in 2011 when I was a senior in high school. I applied to the program because I wanted to not be so focused on myself and because I honestly thought it would look good on college resume's. I had a great experience going to Thailand and volunteering many hours throughout the year to a local service site. I got back and life caught up with me. I forgot about Youthlinc and it's mission until about 4 years later I got an email from them. I realized that I had not fulfilled Youthlinc's goal of creating a lifetime humanitarian. I also realized that I missed volunteering and being involved in my community. So I decided to apply to Youthlinc again to help open up a new site. I was excited to be a part of the organization 5 years later. I couldn't have guessed the impact that this trip was going to have on me. The organization, kindness, and true desire to help others made me reflect on myself. I felt that this organization wasn't about sending kids on an international trip to go experience the world, but much more. This organization is about reaching outside yourself, at times going outside your comfort level and finding ways to connect and help those around us. You gain different view points from serving others from such varied backgrounds. When we finally made it to our international site I was blown away by our approach. We weren't there to just hand them a bunch of stuff, but we were there to understand the international community and help implement projects their way to further improve their way of life. As we left the village for the last time I felt myself tear up. Coming home I truly feel that Youthlinc didn't give me a fun trip to Madagascar. Rather Youthlinc made me into a lifetime humanitarian.

Youthlinc was an amazing experience. I was apart of the 2016 Kenya team. I loved every minute of meeting new people, building, teaching, learning, and just experiencing things I though I never would. not only did the international trip change my life but also the community service we did changed my life as well

I have had so many incredible opportunities while being involved with youthlinc. I have been able to lose myself in the service of others and develop many life skills that have already become so valuable. Youthlinc has truely changed my life for the better and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to continue to be apart of it!

I absolutely love Youthlinc. My experience working with this program was so fulfilling. Youthlinc taught me to be responsible and passionate. I learned to involve others in my service and help them to feel passionate about the world as well. I feel that I learned so much from the complete program--both the local and international service experiences. After working with various international humanitarian programs, I remain very impressed with the effectiveness and strategy Youthlinc uses in international development. On a personal note, Youthlinc changed and reoriented my life.

Youthlinc is amazing!!

This nonprofit turns young people into promising future humanitarians and leaders through service both local and abroad. My personal experience with Youthlinc has been phenomenal. I was a volunteer on the Peru team for the 2013-2014 school year and we spent the year preparing for, and completing a humanitarian trip to northern Peru in a small village that greatly needed our help. We taught English, built a bridge for the school children to get to school, and taught the local women the trade of sewing on a machine to help make money for their families. The village was forever changed!

I love Youthlinc and its mission! I encourage everyone to check it out and to support it in its great cause!

I love my experience at real life!!! I was so sad to leave and am looking forward to next year when I can come see my wonderful friends at real life! You make such amazing relationships with the kids you mentor and it's very hard to leave.

Youthlinc's motto is "creating lifelong humanitarians", and I believe that it truly does. Something that makes Youthlinc so unique is that it requires students to serve both locally and globally, allowing students to see and act on the need in their own community, as well as creating cultural bridges among the globe. Youthlinc lights a spark in students to want to continue serving both locally and globally.

I had one of the first important and fun learning experiences of my life through Youthlinc. I received a full and immersive humanitarian experience through this great organization and look forward to working with it next year!

I traveled with Youthlinc last year as a service year student to Kenya. I had the most amazing experience with this program. It helped me realize what I can do to help change my community and the world for the better. I love that they require that you serve within your community. Through my community service I learned so much about myself and other people. The international service was just as a amazing! I was able to experience another culture and serve the most amazing people I have ever met! I highly recommend looking into Youthlinc because it was truly life changing!

Youthlinc has honestly changed my life. I never expected it would, but it did. I really feel as though this organization is truly dedicated to making lifelong humanitarians as they say in their slogan. Every time I have had a question I always received a quick response that answered my question. I am so glad I decided to work with this organization, and I plan on continuing working with them.

Youthlinc is such an amazing thing. It really helped me to become a better person and to help out in my community. It has been such a blessing in my life to be apart of such an amazing organization like this.

My experience with Youthlinc was everything I had hoped it to be and more. Not only did it show me that I could truly make a difference in my community, but it also exposed me to a world I had never seen that was much larger than myself. Everyone in this program is dedicated to producing lifetime humanitarians, and it is their passion for what they do that allows them to fulfill their mission. Everyone student I know that has participated in Youthlinc comes out of the program with a new view of the world, and most want to keep coming back because they realize just how wonderful this program is. Youthlinc allows the students in the program to make a difference in their community and personally contribute to a larger cause. I would and do recommend Youthlinc to everyone I know because I know the difference it has made in my life and so many others lives. This is the perfect platform for students to learn more about the world around them and feel like they have personally made a difference in others lives. The connections and relationships made at my local service site, in my Youthlinc team and halfway across the world will last me a lifetime. I can't get enough of this amazing program and know that I will continue to be involved for as long as I possibly can. Youthlinc really does create lifetime humanitarians.

Youthlinc not only promotes service on a global level, but locally too. Before first year students travel on their humanitarian trip to another country, Youthlinc requires they complete 80 hours of local service, 40 of which must be at one site. For the 2015-2016 academic school year, I interned for Youthlinc's Real Life, an after-school program with a life-skills curriculum that aims to serve underprivileged youth in Salt Lake County. There are about 8 or so sites where the youth can come and participate in the program. Real Life has sites that focus refugee teens as well, helping them become successful people as they start their new life here in the states. As for the students who volunteer, Real Life provides them with a leadership opportunity that will help them with creating lessons and teaching them, all while learning about classroom management. Being apart of this program was enlightening and humbling. To see the friendships formed between everyone involved was incredible. Again, Youthlinc never fails to impress.

Youthlinc changed my life. I have learned so much from everything I have done with them and I can't wait to keep expanding and growing with them

Youthlinc changed my life! I went on 2015 team Cambodia and 2016 team Peru. They were both such amazing experiences from the local service to the in country construction projects. They teach you so much about yourself and are such awesome experiences you can't get anywhere else! I recommend this organization to everyone!

I've been involved with Youthlinc for the last two years and have really enjoyed the whole process. I traveled to Cambodia last summer and went to Madagascar this year as an alum leader. Youthlinc has opened so many doors for me and I couldn't be more grateful. I have met so many people that I've continued to be friends with and am now in the process of apply to be an intern for Real Life, and after school tutoring program for students from 6th to 12th grade that is sponsored by Youthlinc. If it wasn't for Youthlinc I wouldn't have been exposed to all the great friendships I've made, the opportunities I've been given, and the major I hope to study while I'm here at the U (Social Entrepreneurship). Youthlinc has had a profound impact on who I've become today.

Youthlinc is an amazing nonprofit that has truly changed my life! I have been on two trips with this group and have gained more knowledge than I had expected and built amazing relationships with truly unbelievable people. Not only do you give back abroad but you help our within your own community and that in itself helps to build character and true life time humanitarians.

My Husband and I have now been on 10 international service trips with Youthlinc. We served as the Medical Mentors on all but the last trip since I am an RN and my husband a Pediatrician. We have served in Kenya four times, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and this past June/July to Nepal. All were exciting, interesting, fulfilling and hard work! The best part is observing the students experience a new and very different culture, meet and work with people and other students not knowing their language while learning how to travel so far from home. For me, these trips have been life changing experiences that make me value how others cultures live and how lucky I am. These trips are well organized and do all that is possible to make these trips safe, meaningful and life changing for the students. Guess that says it all in a nutshell!

I was able to travel to Nepal in 2015 and I am pleased to say I will be joining up with Youthlinc again this year. Youthlinc is an amazing program that encourages local service as well as allowing young adults and adults to go on amazing humanitarian trips. They understand the needs of the places they are going and work very hard to make lasting impacts with everything they do.

Youthlinc is unique in its mission as a nonprofit. It desires to see change in people that in turn will change not only the cities they live in but also the world in a larger sense. It truly does create lifetime humanitarians that are excited to serve and love all people. The staff at Youthlinc are incredible, friendly, helpful and just generally amazing. I highly recommend this nonprofit.

I've participated in the Youthlinc Service Year program for the past 2 years (on the Nepal June 2015 Team as a student and on the Madagascar July 2016 Team as an alum leader). Youthlinc does a very good job of giving students real world experience with the issues facing small communities in developing countries. One thing I really appreciate about Youthlinc's model for international service is that it emphasizes cooperation between the community members and the Youthlinc teams. I think that encouraging both groups to teach and share ideas with each other reliably creates a very good outcome for both the communities Youthlinc serves and the students in the Service Year. When on a Youthlinc Team, it is important to remember that the more energy and effort you put into the projects, the more you, your teammates, and the community you are in will benefit from the experience. I highly recommend the Youthlinc Service Year- it is a great opportunity both to serve and to learn.

Youthlinc has provided the opportunity for many young people to expand their experience in the world and begin their journey of life-long service. Youthlinc has also contributed to the positive development of leadership and service in the adults who mentor these youth. Youth and mentors alike evolve symbiotically for the cultivation of compassion and love in action, contributing to a better world.

I had a wonderful experience with Youthlinc this past year. I was fortunate enough to be able to be a part of the Madagascar July team this summer and had an outstanding experience serving both in Madagascar and my home town of Salt Lake City. Thanks to Youthlinc, a small village we helped in Madagascar changed for the better in several ways. Additionally, in serving locally I also helped out the people near me. Youthlinc is a fantastic organization and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Throughout the Youthlinc service year, I served with Real Life, a teen refugee mentoring program in Salt Lake City, where we meet once a week with teens from all over the world, and help them with their schooling and also become friends with them. Before being in this environment, I never even knew that there were refugees in the Salt Lake City area let alone near where I live! After volunteering with Real Life, a service site I wouldn't have even known about without Youthlinc, I know that I have made a difference in the lives of these refugees by hearing about their stories and helping them to excel in their second or third language!

I can honesty say that Youthlinc has changed my the way I think, act and view the world. I have been on 2 service trips through Youthlinc and have had nothing but positive experiences have helped shape who I am. I have learned so much about building relationships, how I should treat others, how to problems solve and how serving others is the one thing in this world that brings true happiness. These list goes on and on, and I have Youthlinc and the people who are involved with it to thank. I would highly recommend it to anyone and am so grateful for the lessons it has taught me.

From the beginning of December and July I worked with youthlinc to prepare for our service trip to Madagascar in July we met every month until our trip to get ready. During that time we also had to do service within our local community which was to expand our knowledge of our community and globally. Once we went to Madagascar we were able to accomplish so much in so little time, it was amazing.

Youthlinc is an amazing organization. Everyone is so dedicated to helping people all over the world. I have learned so much while working with youthlinc. It has helped me grow and become a better person.

While being a part of the youthlinc service year I grew so much more as a person than I ever realized possible at my age. I learned to be much more thankful for everything I have access to in life. I traveled in the first trip to Madagascar with youthlinc and it was absolutely amazing. We helped the village build a school room, taught English, business, and sewing lessons and got to become forever friends with the native Malagasy people. I have already applied to go again next year because I loved it so much

Youthlinc was an amazing organization that gave me an experience I'll never forget. I went to Kenya and got to meet people and see and do things I don't normally get to do.
Even though international service is way important, Youthlinc is big on local service. Before any student is allowed to go to their international site, they have to do 80 hours of community service, with at least 40 of those being at the same place. They do this to help build ties to our community and to the people we serve. I got the opportunity to serve at the Boys and Girls Club for my main service site and it was a great experience for me. I got to get used to working with kids and keeping them entertained which was super beneficial to me in Kenya.
We had meetings every month which also helped us to bond as a team and work together. Some other organizations don't meet each other until they arrive at the site. To me, getting to know the people I would be spending 2 weeks with in a foreign county beforehand was crucial to my experience. We all had a great time and got to see and do amazing things.
Youthlinc makes sure you get your immunizations and has a doctor there who works alongside you instead of just being there.
10/10 would go again!

My daughter went to Thailand with Youthlinc in the summer of 2016. This organization is excellent, requiring 80 hours of local service before the youth are allowed to participate in service abroad. This service has instilled a passion for service and my daughter is constantly looking for volunteer opportunities since her return. I love to see her eyes light up whenever someone asks her about her time in Thailand. She fell in love with the children there. As a parent I appreciated the frequent and thorough communication from her team leaders and Youthlinc staff both before and during her trip. It is a very well run and respectable organization which gave me peace of mind when sending my daughter half way around the world.

Youthlinc was an overall amazing experience for me to go through the this year. I learned so much from my service I had to do before I left and all the life lessons I learned in Nepal. You learn how to appreciate all the little things you take for granted here in the U.S. So what you take away is the fun in life from all the random joys in life.

I love this organization and everything it does. My only complaint was I found my team to be disrespectful and unfocused in country and struggled working with them.

From the beginning of the service year serving in my local community to serving in country, Youthlinc has been an amazing experience! It gave me the opportunity to learn how to become a leader, how to build long lasting relationships, and helped me expand on my social skills. It is a great way to get involved with your community and a way to help those all around the world. I highly recommend the Youthlinc program as a way to not only change the lives of others but as a way to change your life for the better and begin the path of becoming a life long humanitarian. I will never forget the life lessons I have learned and the memories of my trip and service year all thanks to the unforgettable experience that Youthlinc has provided me with.

Youthlinc is absolutely incredible. my experience with them was unforgettable and will always be in my heart. I enjoyed the opportunity to be apart of something bigger. Definitely one of the best organizations out there. our service trip to Guatemala this year was one for the books, it really made me take things and life into perspective. I would not hesitate to go on another trip like this through youthlinc. Their organization was exceptional the people that run the organization are exceptional people and I loved my team and the things I went through with them. I love love love youthlinc.

Going on a youthlinc trip has truly changed my life, going across the world to help and teach others is an experience you won't receive often, and I assure you that I learned more from them than i could have ever taugh them. Youthlinc is a great program that I would recommend to anyone and everyone.

We went to a small village in northern Thailand and taught the students English and the women sewing. The women we taught to see ended up starting a business. It is an export emcee I wouldn't trade do the world and recommend for anyone interested in a humanitarian trip.

Youthlinc is amazing. I would not be the person I am if I hadn't gone on a Youthlinc trip. It's absolutely life changing. The friendships you make arrangements unforgettable. To see the happiness on the villagers faces makes everything worth it.

My son Phillip joined the Youthlinc team in 2016 and traveled to Thailand on his service trip in June. It was the best thing he has done to date in terms of developing an un-paralleled appreciation for culture and realization that the world is out there for him to see.

I would recommend it to anyone who has a student that wants to expand their horizons!

Youthlinc is an amazing program. As an educator of 25 years and a parent of a Youthlinc volunteer it is by far one of the most successful leadership training program for you. I have seen my own daughter and hundreds others thrive. The beauty of this organization is that it changes the hearts of all involved. My daughter loved serving the elderly on our local town and was the light of the rest home. She cried when she had to leave Guatemala after her summer humanitarian trip. What Youthlinc accomplished in two short weeks is nothing short of miraculous. 38 families were taught vocational skills, business and money management, and dozens of children we estatic to learn about sound, health and dozens of other lessons. Concrete floors were poured and specially designed stoves installed. Lives will be saved literally by not having toxic smoke in their homes. The adult volunteers sacrificed and pay their own way to ensure the experience is superior. When a young adult catches a vision to serve then they fulfill the mission statement in its entirety- "Creating Humanitarians For Life!" All my children will be Youthlinc humanitarians! Judy has created a model that is second to none. This organization needs to be in every state!

My daughter went to Guatemala in 2015 and Thailand in 2016. Both times, she raised the money herself, proving it can be done. And it was so worth it. She has a good heart and Youthlinc is a journey of the heart, bringing out the best in all who participate, youths and adults alike. The trips are well-planned, they accomplish a lot and the participants come back both grateful for their own blessings and anxious to help others. Best of all, the service they do in their own communities gives them a keener understanding of many people's lives — and a deep desire to forge connections and help others. If you have a chance to go, GO!

Youthlinc is a traveling nonprofit that focuses on both community and worldwide service. My experience with this nonprofit was as a student volunteer. I volunteered rather frequently with other groups before joining Youthlinc, but the Youthlinc program helped me serve on a larger scale. To participate you have to contribute at least 80 hours of local community service, and after doing this and raising the money necessary, you go to another country to serve the education systems there. I went to Thailand with Youthlinc, and it taught me a lot and helped me develop a greater passion for serving, and a stronger sense of the worth of others, as well as my self. I learned a lot with Youthlinc, and highly recommend doing it if you are interested in serving both your community and worldwide.

This summer, I had the opportunity to be a part of the 2016 Guatemala Youthlinc team. The entirety of my trip provided me with new opportunities and experiences that changed my overall perspective for the better. This is largely thanks to the organization and positive support of Youthlinc and the leaders on my team. By working so closely with its in-country coordinators at People for Guatemala, Youthlinc is able to aid long term sustainable projects each year. For example, our vocational team worked with People for Guatemala to maintain a safe place to keep Youthlinc's sewing machines and ensure the villagers from Pacoxpon will continue to have access to sewing lessons even after we have left.

As a whole, I highly support Youthlinc and hope to continue working with the organization as an alum leader next year. My experiences mixing cement, installing stoves, teaching English lessons, and leading the Mondo Art project have allowed me to form lasting relationships with my team and the people of Guatemala, learn more about myself, and make a lasting impact in the community. I treasure each and every memory made during the trip and am forever grateful for the lessons on gratitude and kindness that I have gained and will continue to cherish throughout the rest of my life.

I have plenty of used toys and clothes that I don't need. My family is moving soon so I'm getting rid of a lot of my stuff, and since its near the holidays I thought I would donate my stuff to the less fortunate... Thank you!
Sincerely
Brooke.

I went with Youthlinc to Cambodia in 2012 and it was an amazing experience! What I like the most about Youthlinc is that they put so much emphasis on local service before going abroad, which is exactly why I chose to volunteer with them. The staff and team leaders are extremely helpful with everything, and make sure everyone is included. The time I spent with them in Cambodia gave me a whole new perspective on serving others, and I'll never forget the kindness of the villagers and how incredibly thankful they were for the service we provided. Youthlinc is definitely the best nonprofit out there if you're looking to serve both locally and abroad instead of just going on a vacation. I would definitely (and do) recommend Youthlinc to anyone looking to make a difference in the world!

I have been involved with Youthlinc for two years now and it has absolutely changed my life. I am more dedicated to service and strive to make it a major priority in my life. Youthlinc has such a great program set up for anyone who wants to volunteer. They give you so many chances to take leadership opportunities and to take charge of your experience and make it everything you want it to be. In country, I have never felt more safe. I was really nervous about going to Thailand last year because it was the farthest I had ever been away from home. When I got to Thailand my team leader was amazing at making sure we all felt safe and he knew where each of us were at all times. Our mentors were also fantastic at keeping us all together and keeping us safe. Overall I would recommend Youthlinc to anyone who is interested in local and international service!

I've been involved with Youthlinc for two years. My first year I was a student and the second year I was an assistant team leader. My experiences were both amazing and have helped make me the person I am today.

Youthlinc isn't just a great organization because it lets you travel the world, it's also amazing because of the emphasis they have on local service as well. As a Youthlinc student you have to serve 80 hours in your local community before you can go on your international trip. I LOVED that part of Youthlinc. It showed me the need for service in our communities and it helped me develop a love for service. I still volunteer regularly in my community because I love it so much.

Youthlinc is also filled with amazing people. Youthlinc has helped me meet some of my best friends who I wouldn't have met If it wasn't for Youthlinc. They also gave me mentors who I look up to and still talk to on a regular basis. Also everyone in the office is incredible and so helpful, I loved working with them once a week when I was an assistant team leader. All and all you should do Youthlinc. It's a life changing expirence that introduces you to new cultures and amazing new people who are all Intrested in serving others. I love Youthlinc and I know you will too!

I have done two trips with Youthlinc, the first as a student going to Kenya and the second as an alumni leader going to Thailand. During both of my trips, I felt that we were able to not only provide help in completing many construction projects and teaching the people valuable vocational and business skills, but we were able to learn so much about their respective cultures. Youthlinc not only emphasizes helping the communities through construction and teaching, but emphasizes learning to understand people of a different culture and appreciating their culture.

I also love Youthlinc because it stresses the importance of performing local service that helps students learn responsibility, commitment, and how to interact with others professionally. Students become so aware of the fact that local service is so easy to perform and is the type of service one can see lasting results with over time. Youthlinc also has amazing leaders and staff that wish to know every student personally. While the leaders provide guidance and supervision throughout the whole service year, they allow the students to create and organize their projects that are to be performed in-country. Overall, Youthlinc is an amazing organization for introducing students to local and international service.

Youthlinc honestly has changed my life. It humbled me to the max and opened up so many doors. I have been involved with Youthlinc for two years now and have loved every second of it. Youthlinc makes me feel so invloved and I love all the local service opportunities it provides. Youthlinc made me a humanitarian for life!

My family has been involved with Youthlinc for about 4 years now, myself a total of 2. I was a student on my first trip to Thailand and an assistant team leader in Nepal the next year. I really enjoyed my time with this organization, because it focuses on many different aspects of service. Yes, you get to go to a foreign country and experience the culture. Yes, you get to help people in genuine need. Yes, you get to make lasting friendships with people you would have never met otherwise. But the best part of Youthlinc is the emphasis they put on local service. Students serve for a total of 80 hours throughout the year, and 40 at a main service site somewhere in their local community. This really helps students to realize the impact they can have right in their own communities and encourages them to keep serving on a regular basis.

I also loved all of my leaders and the people I interacted with on my teams and in the Youthlinc office. They were always helping me to become my best self and to push myself to accomplish my goals. They were on top of all of our tasks and projects were able to answer our questions. Even when our plans changed before and even in county on a few instances, they were very flexible and adapted to what we needed to do. They handled everything in a professional manner.

Overall I enjoyed my experience with Youthlinc. It changed my outlook on my personal life and made me more grateful for what I had. I would recommend a Youthlinc service year experience to anyone.

I've been on 4 trips with Youthlinc in various roles and each one was absolutely incredible! No other organization that I have found is more well rounded. With different committees to help each individual maximize their talents and grow. Leadership both in country and traveling has been phenomenal. These trips have been some of the happiest times in my life and I am truly grateful to Yourhlinc for making it possible. It's amazing to see how much a team can accomplish when working together. In my trips we've helped to build school class rooms, libraries, a community home, and a nursing station. We also put in two septic systems, dug a lot of holes and laid cement, painted classrooms, held English camps, taught vocational and micros terrorize training. These are just a few things we did but I could go on and on. They definitely ache live their mission in taking high school students and turning them into life long humanitarians. I can't wait for the chance to go with Youthlinc again and hopefully lead a team down the road. If you have the chance to go with Youth Linc DO IT! Your life will not be same and you will make lifelong friends.

I have been on 1 trip with Youthlinc and I have to say it's one of my favorites, I went to Guatemala 2 years ago and had the time of my life... The leaders Ruth and Jordan were rad our team got very close and we did a lot of great work even when things were not that fun we made it fun.. The work was hard and busy but the trip in all was fun and rewarding...

My experience with Youthlinc is something I hold near and dear to my heart. My experience started out in 2012 as a volunteer to Kenya. After falling in love with the mission, I knew this was a organization I wanted to work for.

I was employed at Youthlinc for over two and half years. In this time, I was able to see the immense effort that the staff plays in making sure everything runs smoothly. This organization goes above and beyond to make sure every person has a positive experience. They are always seeking to improve their processes.

The people I encountered during my experience are truly some of the best people I know. Youthlinc attracts wonderful people, staff and volunteers alike. I would recommend this organization to anyone!

I have been on two trips, my first trip as a student and my second year as an alum. My first trip was fantastic although I felt like we weren't doing much other than playing with kids and teaching them a few words of English. (I'm not sure how English would help them at all in Thailand) I loved playing with the kids and frolicking around but I wanted and expected to do more then just go take pictures with kids? I was hoping we would do you some type of construction. But the first year the only type of construction we did was level out a "field" which is an area that is often flooded that at the end of the two weeks was unleveled again.
The only type of construction I did the second year was dig trenches for rain (which would fill up and disappear in one day) to me it just kinda felt like busy work and trying to pretend we were actually helping. The second year was when i was an alum we were supposed to build the bathroom but instead they hired several local workers to build the bathroom which is understandable because they did it 10x better and faster than we would have. But then were kinda left with nothing to do other than dig holes in the mud and bring the works some water.

I'm not complaining about the work of digging in the dirt at all. I wanted more of it. Just the work we seemed to be doing was just to make it look like we had something to do while we weren't playing with the kids. Don't get me wrong, these places really do need help. But the help we were offering didn't seem to be very helpful.

Now on to the leaders of my trips,
First year- Bobby and Carson. The most fantastic positive people you'll ever meet. Love them to death and they are the reason I signed up the second year.

Second year- Dave and Linda. The reason i hate Youthlinc. Not only did they favor their kid who was on the trip and her friends. they were completely clueless and unhelpful to the whole team. NOT leaders. A girl went MISSING IN THAILAND ON MY TEAM and the leaders/ mentors were talking about adding each other on Facebook while the whole team was looking for her? Then when we found her Dave tried to comfort her but made her more homesick and MORE uncomfortable. Oh let's not forget when the kid rented a motorbike and rode into downtown in the rain and bought alcohol. Did Dave or Linda ever find out? Yeah at the end of the trip when our group had a charge for a motorbike on it. But the kid was gone for hours and missed dinner. Why didn't they know? Oh probably because they were chatting about Facebook. When we were on location Dave and Linda sat in the shade all day and yelled at people for not working. Dave told one of my team mates to "get back to work" when they had just sat down to drink water then got passive aggressive when they asked if they could have minute just so they could have some water? This trip was complete chaos. Kids renting motorbikes, girls missing and under age kids drinking? Not to forget that Dave is a complete and total sexist bully. Let's talk about the team doctor (not a doctor a fertility nurse ?) she knew nothing about medicine and everytime someone would ask her for help or was having a health problem she would say take and Advil or put a bandaid on it. Some of my teammates were riding elephants when the elephant slipped and sling shoted them into a tree and also get one of them stuck under the elephant. You know what the doctor did after that to help? Nothing. One of the bus drivers pulled out a first aid box and helped the girls out. Then later at dinner she said do you need an Advil (of course)

My final thoughts and advice for Youthlinc,
Interview your leaders better and don't pick any stupid adults with the money. They are watching teenagers and need to pay attention.
Do more construction and less pictures? I feel like this a tour group or something and not a humanitarian trip.

In the end I do not regret signing up for Youthlinc because of the friends and memories I've made . But they need to improve because my last trip was straight up chaos and negative

I have been a part of this organization for two years and it has given me the two greatest experiences of my life by far. Being able to participate in the local service as well as the international gives a truly unique experience. I have met some amazing people through this and it has opened up my views on things as well as encouraging me to stay involved. It sounds very cliché, but going on a trip with Youthlinc will truly change your life and I recommend it 100%.

Youthlinc was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I truly felt like I was part of a family in which everyone cared for and loved each other. The privilege to serve children and families in need is one I will never forget, and I will continue to recommend Youthlinc to my fellow peers looking for a life changing experience.

Going on a humanitarian trip to Guatemala was so rewarding in so many ways! I was able to come back and be a more appreciative and grateful person. There are so many great memories I will forever cherish! My leaders were amazing and I truly miss my mentors who were there for me every step of the way. I learned a lot from being in their community and about team work. I do think that there needs to be more emphasize on being a civically engaged person in the community (long term) coming back home.

Youthlinc is an amazing organization that allows youth to associate with other service minded teens and adults. My team went to Peru and I couldn't have asked for a better leader, assistant team leader, or team in general. We all became very good friends over the course of the service year. This cohesiveness that we developed was crucial to our success in country. We were able to complete various projects in our village including cement work, chicken coops, and a mural.
In addition to relationships within the team, I built relationships with the people of Santa Isabel that I wouldn't have without the opportunity that Youthlinc gave me to serve them.

Youthlinc isn't just some way to be able to travel outside the country, it requires students to complete 80 hours of local service before the international service trip. My local service site was a nearby elementary. I had amazing experiences with the kids that I tutored there. Overall, Yourhlinc provided me with such a wonderful experience that definitely leaves me wanting to continue serving people, both locally and internationally.

Youthlinc is an incredible organization. I have learned so much over my 3 years of participation. It is a great way to get involved in service and humanitarian work, especially because it is so hands-on. Youthlinc has changed my life and given me a huge appreciation of all of the many things I have.

A service trip will always change your life for the better. It makes you think of others before yourself and helps put things in perspective.
Youthlinc is a wonderful way to do such a trip. It is extremely well organized, brings the best out in people, and teaches you life long lessons. I will recommend Youthlinc to anyone interested in working hard, making a different in other peoples life and wanting to learn about other peoples culture.
I loved my experience as a mentor.

My daughter went to Peru with Youthlinc. It was a wonderful experience, but I'm not going to lie, the year leading up to the trip was difficult. She was awarded a scholarship for the trip but had to come up with the rest of the money herself. Working part time while going to school and doing regular community service was very hard. However, she would not have changed anything. Her local service site was amazing and helped shape her thoughts about future careers. She wants to go again but this time she thinks her parents should come!

My son participated in the Nepal July group with Youthlinc. The team was assembled before the devastating earthquake. The communication with parents after the earthquake was outstanding. The leadership for the team was wonderful.

The structure of Youthlinc's program is fantastic! I was so impressed prior to the team's departure and am even more so now they are home. Kids are engrossed in service prior to leaving. This continues on the service trip. These kids worked very, very hard for the villagers in Suntakhan village. They met many new friends.

So grateful. Thank you, Youthlinc!

Youthlinc has shown me how I want to spend the rest of my life: serving others. I could not be more grateful to this organization and to the wonderful people who help make it what it is.

This organization has helped me realize the importance of service and what it can do for your own community as well as international communities. It was a wonderful learning experience for me and I will surly do this again!

Being a part of Youthlinc has changed my life for the better! I would recommend it to anyone whether they are interested in service or not.

Youthlinc provides an amazing opportunity for youth and adults to come together and work on creating a better world by doing local and international service. You may think that the international trip is the whole reason for all of the work that you do, but really, that's just an added benefit. Doing service anywhere and everywhere is the main reason for even joining Youthlinc and you should enjoy giving your all to help others. I loved being a part of the Youthlinc team and helping those around me both internationally and locally. I loved getting to know the people and youth I worked with on a much deeper level at my main service site. I loved creating bonds with the people on my team, and with those we worked with at our international site. In all, Youthlinc is an amazing program and by participating, you will gain new opportunities that you may never get again in your lifetime.

I served as a mentor in the Youthlinc Guatemala 2015 team. I am impressed with both the Youthlinc model and learning philosophy. Students must undertake 80 hours of domestic service prior to their international summer trip along with monthly meetings--this is true committed service and not just a vacation tour masquerading as a service experience. Pedagogically, Youthlinc is very much committed to an engaged learning model coupled with reflection as an intentional piece of the educational process. In Guatemala, Youthlinc partnered with a boot-on-the-ground NGO that was a model for engaged and sustainable development. It was a pleasure all the way around working with the students, community, and NGO as we collectively made a contribution the betterment of us all.

I loved the whole youthlinc experience. i think that the organization as a whole is a much better humanitarian group than many others because of the service hours required. I loved my main service site, it was such a fun way to get involved in my community more and serve. I loved the international trip, i loved the leaders on the trip, my group was the best group ever. definitely one of the best experiences i have ever had in my whole life

I served a trip to Thailand in 2014 and now in 2015 returned to Nepal. As an alum leader this time, I had new experiences and responsibility. From the beginning of the year, I knew as an alum leader I was held up to a standard as a leader. This new responsibility helped me focus and direct my attention to my team and I felt more involved. Nepal was a new and wonderful experience. With the recent earthquake, there were many things that I saw that changed my views on everyday life. Many people had lost their homes and family members to the earthquake and were out of hope in their life. The children in the village were loving and accepting to everyone that helped. The love you feel for the children and your team after every trip is unreal, you love them as you would love your family. In Thailand, I spent most of my construction time painting and washing floors. As much as painting and cleaning floors is important and the work still needs to get done, I decided before I went to Nepal that I would spend my time doing hard, intense labor. When it was time for the handwork, I made sure that I was willing and happy to help out. The work was hard and very tiring but the overall experience was great. As much as I was tired, I decided long before that I was going to work as hard as I could. At the end of the trip, I felt like I impacted the team and the overall projects with my work. If I have any advice to give to future Youthlinc participants it would be to work as hard as you can. What you end up getting out the trip is so much better than just sitting around. Your sense of accomplishment and that you helped contribute to something boosts your confidence and overall happiness on the trip.

Youthlinc is the most amazing way to meet new people and serve others. I had the best experience. You're able to connect with new people and make memories that will last a lifetime. It's a great way to experience different culture and better the lives of others. I would definitely go on a trip again

Can I just say, I LOVE Youthlinc!!! My daughter heard about Youthlinc at her high school and she told me about it. Between us, we've done 5 trips. She went as a volunteer and as an alum leader. I have mentored 3 trips. From a parent standpoint, I love the connection between local and international service. I also love the organization and safety of the international trips. I slept well knowing my daughter was in good hands. As a mentor, I am so grateful and inspired. Seeing youth rise to the opportunity of service never ceases to amaze me. The growth I see over the year is huge! Students bond with each other and form international relationships that will touch their hearts forever. I will be forever grateful to Youthlinc!