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It may be “from the archives,” but pre-departure sessions are actually part of YCI’s recent history. In fact, this month marks the first anniversary of the launch of YCI’s distance pre-project learning program.
Volunteers during pre-departure in YCI's Maud Street office
For more than 15 years, volunteers headed to YCI project locations first flew to Toronto to participate in an orientation session. These sessions lasted two to five days in length, and featured workshops on intercultural effectiveness (with support from the Centre for Intercultural Learning), group dynamics, health and hygiene, gender and international development, amongst other topics. Program Manager, Amanda Stephens, wrote this blog post about what a day of pre-departure might look like.
While pre-departure was a great way for volunteers to meet one another, learn more about YCI, speak with alumni mentors and practice faciliating workshops, it came at a high cost—volunteers from all over Canada were required to fly to Toronto prior to their project, which increased their individual fundraising goals substantially. And with the launch of our new partnership, Youth Challenge America, it became clear that the cost was too high for volunteers to fly to Toronto prior to flying to their destination country.
Volunteers learn more about their project country
In July 2009, YCI hosted our last Toronto pre-departure for a large group of volunteers participating in projects in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Tanzania and Ghana.
Now, prior to their projects, volunteers participate in an intensive online pre-project learning program. They are able to meet, connect and talk to one another through online learning sessions. They are also required to complete pre-project learning modules and answer reflection questions to demonstrate their learning. A long-time favourite of the Toronto pre-departures, the Alumni Speaker’s Session, remains a core component as well—volunteers are able to login online and view presentations in realtime and ask any questions they may have.
Screenshot of the Online Alumni Speaker's Session. Through our current platform, Elluminate, participants can chat, share files, write on a group whiteboard and view presentations.
Once volunteers arrive at their destination, they participate in an in-country orientation hosted by the partner organization and YCI field staff. In 2010, YCI is continuing to develop and refine our pre-project learning program, in order to ensure volunteers are equipped to meet their project goals and hit the ground running when they arrive in-country.
“Once we have received your complete application, you will be invited to a Selection Day in one of several locations across the country. Selection Days are designed to test your resourcefulness, judgement and compatibility, as well as your willingness to contribute some sweat! Education and athletic ability are not essential criteria–high motivation, drive and energy are! There are no selection quotas–only suitable candidates will be selected.” -YCI Website 2000
YCI Staff in the late 1990s, including current board member, Steve Gilbert.
Then: From 1989 until 1998, YCI selected volunteers (then known as “Challengers”) during a two-day “selection weekend.” The genesis of the selection weekend was a British military invention designed in the 1970s for efficiency and stress inducement. It was used to cull large numbers of applicants for the adventure-based Operation Raleigh (the organization from which YCI was born) expeditions. By 1999, YCI had changed from a Selection Weekend to a Selection Day to improve the efficiency of the selection process, reduce costs and make it more accessible to candidates. The fundamental purposes of both the Weekend and the Selection Day were to give YCI an opportunity to evaluate applicants, and to give applicants an opportunity to learn about, and be inspired by, the program.
Now: Selection Days continued until 2001, when YCI began conducting telephone interviews, which allowed volunteers from as far away as Sachs Harbour, NT, to be considered for YCI’s programs. Today, after applicants submit an application, they participate in a 30-minute telephone interview, which is an opportunity for candidates to share their motivations for becoming involved in an international community development project, as well as to ask staff any questions they may have.
During the interview process, staff not only assess whether applicants are a suitable candidate for YCI’s programs–they also determine what country or program a volunteer is best suited for, based on their skills, experience and education. (With programs in eight countries on four different continents, projects vary greatly.) We also look for volunteers who are sensitive to cross-cultural challenges, demonstrate the ability to take initiative, and who are eager to participate in youth-driven programming. Motivation, drive and energy still remain key indicators, but the education and career goals are also taken into consideration.
I loved this blog post that Evergreen wrote for the launch of their new website. And with the new YCI website in development, I couldn’t help but take a trip back in time, with a little help from the Wayback Machine. Here’s what I found:
I was surprised to discover that YCI was online as early as the mid-90s, when people would still refer to “surfing the world-wide web” and “sending electronic mail.” In 1996, volunteers visiting the YCI website had the option to learn more about YCI, “Go Behind the Scenes” or “Get Real!” (Another blast from the past: the site was optimized for Netscape.)
By 2000, volunteers had the option of applying for a leadership practicum, a community development project or a classroom project. Countries of operation included Guyana, Costa Rica and Vanuatu. The site represented the organization’s focus on providing leadership opportunities and development experience, but also adventure. Both international and Canadian volunteers were able to apply to the program online.
Another screenshot from 2000.
In 2005, with the help of AKA New Media, the YCI website and branding underwent a major overhaul. Not only did we have a new logo, but all materials took on our now signature blue and green hues. With organic materials featured in the banner, an element of adventure was still present, but the site took on a development focus.
Even though we’d come a long way from inviting website visitors to “Get Real,” by 2010 it was time for a change, especially with the launch of our partner organization, Youth Challenge America. YCI is now active on social networking sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter (and, of course, this blog)–incorporating these elements into our new site was an important aspect of the overhaul.
To check out the new site, please visit www.yci.org. Be sure to let us know what you think!
-Jessica Lockhart, Program Coordinator
From a letter dated May 20, 1997 from YCI’s Fundraising Coordinator to a potential sponsor:
“. . .Over 1,000 Challengers have participated in 21 field projects implemented to date in Guyana, Costa Rica and the Solomon Islands. Collectively they have: helped in pre and post-operative care on 1,170 sight-restoring operations with CANSEE International; built or repaired 70 schools and health centres in some of the most isolated communities of the world; built 100 kilometers of park trails in various projects in Costa Rica aimed at protecting the environment and helped identify at least 20 new species to science in collaboration with scientists from the Royal Ontario Museum.
Our annual 5k Run and 2k Pop and Tot Trot is the key fundraising event we put on every year to attract both attention, as well as funds to our organization. It is held every Father’s Day (June 15th this year) in Wilket Creek Park in Toronto. There are cash prizes for the top timed male and female runner and prizes offered for the best times in each of the age categories. . .”
Guyanese and Canadian volunteers (or “Challengers,” as they were known in 1990) pose in front of Kawall Primary School, in Region 3 of Guyana. The renovation project was completed in September of 1990 by Youth Challenge International volunteers.
Happy Independence Day to Youth Challenge Guyana!
