Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut

The Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut is a team based volunteer corps of diverse youth from all socio-economic backgrounds. The participants learn about and address community needs through participation in action projects while developing a lifetime commitment to service.

The four goals of the Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut are:

• To engage young people in service learning projects that are challenging, rewarding and educational
• To serve the unmet needs of our community and its residents
• To promote among young people a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity of our community
• To promote a lifetime ethic of service among young people

Since the Youth Volunteer Corps of America inception in 1987, 47 national YVC programs have engaged over a million youth volunteers aged 11-18 in team-based community service projects that have helped meet a wide variety of local needs. Through their service these volunteers have had life-changing experiences and have impacted the lives of innumerable people in positive ways. The Youth Volunteer Corps of Western CT is the first of its kind in Connecticut.

Youth volunteers will have the opportunity to:

• Perform volunteer community service that is challenging, rewarding and educational
• Learn about their community and the diversity of its residents
• Develop important job-related skills and
• Develop their leadership potential

During the school year, young people (ages 11-18) volunteer on service projects conducted after school and on weekends. Participants will spend time learning about community needs, which might include hunger, literacy and the environment. The youth will determine which community needs the Corps will address through their service projects. During the summer, YVC participants will work together in our “Youth Volunteer Corps Boot Camp”, an extension of the school year component.

This unique program brings together youth from across Western Connecticut to focus on regional issues and how they, as agents of change, can have an impact on the problems of their communities. We partner and work collaboratively with existing youth groups and schools.

For more information about The Youth Volunteer Corps of Western Connecticut, contact Jessica McKeown at 203-797-1154 or e-mail yvc@volunteerdanbury.org