The International Association for National Youth Service (IANYS) was established
in 1996 to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of information about National
Youth Service, and to help realize the promise of National Youth Service (NYS).
A Global Conference in the United States in 1992 led to others in Nigeria in 1994,
Papua New Guinea in 1994, the United Kingdom in 1998, and Israel in 2000. Participants
have come from several international organizations as well as 46 countries on
six continents, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. The 6th Global conference
is to take place in Argentina in 2002.
National Youth Service is an organized
activity in which young people serve others and the environment in ways that contribute
positively to society. NYS participants normally serve full-time for a period
of six months to two years and receive support - whether from NGOs or government
- sufficient to enable them to serve. Major areas of service are health, education,
environmental conservation and care for the very old and the very young. NYS also
embraces service- learning, where students utilize their education to serve others
and then reflect on their service experiences to inform their learning. Service-
learning in secondary school is often a prelude to full-time NYS.
NYS
programs have various names such as Community Service Volunteers in the UK, the
Chinese Young Volunteers Association in China, Zivildienst in Germany, AmeriCorps
in the USA, Trabajo Comunal Universitario in Costa Rica, the Green Corps in Australia,
and the National Youth Service Corps in both Ghana and Nigeria. Countries initiate
NYS programs for varied reasons, including the delivery of social and environmental
services, the alleviation of youth unemployment, as an alternative to required
military service, as an experiential complement to classroom education, and as
a form of nation building.
The outcomes of NYS programs depend on program
design, what young people bring to their service, and their experiences in service.
Almost all evaluations to date have shown that the value of services rendered
by NYS participants equals or exceeds program costs. In addition, participants
benefit from work experience, career exploration, increased self- esteem, and
increased awareness of the needs of others. Many NYS participants acquire new
skills, good work habits, decision- making ability, social maturity, and a new
understanding between races and age groups.
The Association is pro-active.
It recommends that every country consider NYS seriously. Its members exchange
information and assist nations wishing to consider the introduction of NYS. It
welcomes participation of people from countries where NYS is being considered
or just starting. In the future, the Association plans to facilitate exchanges
of NYS participants and officials, to organize a global network for the exchange
of information on NYS, and to mobilize multi- national teams of young people to
serve in areas such as emergency relief and rehabilitation.