Gap years are common in many nations around the world. After finishing public education, it’s a chance for young people to travel, see new parts of the world, experience new cultures, and gain work experience before committing to their future career paths, whether that involves college or entering directly into the workforce.
For many young people, gap years can take the form of service years: signing on with an organization that does charitable work for communities in need. While the pay for this work is nothing to write home about, it’s an opportunity to help others, gain hands-on experience in practical work, and bolster their resumé with potential employers and educational institutions.
Service Year Alliance connects young people with organizations that offer these opportunities. Service Year Alliance does not host service year programs, and people do not serve with them directly. Instead, Service Year Alliance supports service organizations with resources and tools to help them improve and scale their programs. And it advocates for additional funding for service organizations at the federal and local levels.
