Youth Service America Youth Venturer

Posted by on November 12, 2004

Get up to $1,000 in start-up funds for sustainable NYSD projects by becoming a YSA Youth Venturer!

Want to help your community or change the world? Need some funds and support to help get things going? Youth Service America (YSA) and Youth Venture can help! YSA and Youth Venture are teaming up again to make everyday National Youth Service Day (NYSD).

Youth Venture is a national nonprofit organization that helps teams of young people (ages 12-20) by providing them the tools necessary to start their own sustainable clubs, organizations, or businesses called Ventures that give back to their communities.

Ten awards of up to $1,000 in start-up funds are available for youth who want to create YSA Youth Ventures. Youth Venture will work to give you access to scholarships, awards, special conference invitations, media opportunities, workshop training, and a national network of active young people once you successfully complete the application, present your plan to a panel, and meet certain Youth Venture requirements. Youth Venture will also provide support in getting you prepared to present your idea and launch your venture. In addition you will have access to all NYSD planning materials and tip sheets through YSA to plan your National Youth Service Day event.

To be selected as a Venturer, you must have:
* Motivation to make a difference in your community!
* A youth-lead team that utilizes adults as resources, not as project directors.
* Clear, attainable goals.
* A credible plan and budget, including a strategy to evaluate progress and community impact (we will help you develop these).
* The energy and skills to succeed
* An Ally (mentor) committed to the organization?s independence and success.
* A plan for how your venture will be sustainable.
* Ethical standards ? know right from wrong, and be trustworthy and responsible.

YSA Youth Venture teams have done everything from using a theatre to provide a positive activity for urban youth to running park clean-ups. There are Venture teams that provide support to teen mothers and publish writing and art journals. One Venturer even built a skate park. Our Venturers have been featured in Forbes, Teen People and Urban Teen Scene. What’s your passion? You DREAM IT and we’ll help you DO IT.

If you’d like to find out more about our Venturers or how to become a YSA Youth Venturer and download an application go to <a href="http://www.youthventure.org">http://www.youthventure.org</a>. You can also write to myoung@youthventure.org for more information.