What is the YAV Experience?

The YAV Experience

Want to put your faith into action?
Want to grow as a leader in Christian service?
Want to see what God is doing in the world while serving a local community?
The YAV Program might be just for you…

Meet Currently Serving YAVs

The Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program is a faith-based year of service in 22 sites around the world and in the United States. YAVs accompany local agencies working to address root causes of poverty and reconciliation while exploring the meaning and motivation of their faith in community with peers and mentors. YAV, a one year service opportunity for young adults (ages 19-30) occurs during the academic year from August to August.

All YAVs participate in a mutual discernment process to be placed at a specific site for the year, attend a program-wide Orientation Event, receive on-site orientation at each site, practice vocational discernment throughout the year, and integrate the whole experience at a program-wide Transition Retreat after a completed year of service.

Program benefits include a regular stipend, housing, transportation and student-loan repayment options throughout the duration of the service year. For more info, visit the FAQ tab at the top of the YAV homepage. Also, following @yavprogram on social media is a great resource.

Typically, YAVs:

• Serve for one year accompanying local people of faith both in the United States and at sites around the world.
• Meet regularly for faith-development, vocation and deep-reflection practices.
• Work with mentors to explore and grow in their expression of their Chris­tian faith.
• Engage in addressing root causes of poverty and reconciliation in their site-context.

Encourage a young adult you know to apply today!

What we look for in a Young Adult Volunteer:

Volunteers should exhibit crosscultural sensitivity and a creativity and willingness to work with diverse communities.

They serve for one year in communities of need in the United States and around the world.

They meet regularly for prayer and Bible study.

They work with mentors to explore and grow in their expression of their Chris­tian faith.

They build each other up as Disciples of Jesus Christ.

They are supported in their faith journey through orientation and an end-of-term debriefing event.

Goals of the YAV Program:

THE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED WITH SEVERAL GOALS IN MIND:

Intentional Christian Community
YAVs explore what it means to be a Christian community with one another and their neighbors. While some will live in housing together and others spread throughout their country, all YAVs will reflect together on their service and explore their relationship with God, the church, and their ministry in a broken world.

Simple Living
YAVs are challenged to practice simple living – living an abundant life with less. Living simply pushes YAVs to evaluate their true needs with their lifestyle and beliefs.

Cross-Cultural Mission
YAVs will intentionally explore the diversity of God’s creation, living and working outside of their comfort zone. YAVs will work to confront the systemic challenges of race, class, gender, and power, while learning to examine their own lives and actions.

Leadership Development through Faith in Action
YAVs develop their leadership by serving in marginalized communities alongside local people of faith responding to poverty, violence, and injustice in their communities, sharing the gospel through word and deed.

Vocational Discernment
Through theological reflection and spiritual practices, YAVs will participate in the process of vocational discernment—unearthing God’s desire for each person’s life and work.

Do you have more questions?

Explore our Frequently Asked Questions to discover more

Or feel free to call the YAV office at (888) 728-7228, x5024.

The Young Adult Volunteer program is one of many ministries of Presbyterian Mission Agency that serves young adults.  For more information, visit our young adult website.