From its spectacular scenery to its vibrant cities and hospitality, Liberia offers a wealth of opportunity to its visitors. Liberia is regarded as the oldest African countries to gained independence in 1847 by free black slaves from America.

Our volunteer program will help you experience, learn and undertake projects, campaigns and share ideas on issues that are affecting our world today. By volunteering with YCWLiberia is an opportunity to give something to the Liberian people and most importantly, volunteers will also have the opportunity to work within different communities with various sites of Youth Crime Watch as well other institutions.

What Volunteers Do?
With support from YCW’s caring staff environment, interns and incoming volunteers are guided, inspired and assisted to take action, help design programs that empower youth and advice them on how to implement action projects successfully.
We also placed volunteers in schools to teach as way of contributing to the education system of Liberia. Youth Crime Watch of Liberia understand Liberian’s population is made up of mostly youths and about 65% of these youths are uneducated and women form the bulk of that number. Government’s effort to expand educational activities to all and especially to the girl child through the some education projects still have some gaps in strengthening the education system. There is an urgent need of trained and qualified teachers/ lecturers in the educational sector, provision of up to date technologies that will meet with present needs of the education curricular.
Conclusively it could be realistically judged that children who form the bulk of the population in this country are seriously deprived of quality educational services. You can help these young and unfortunate people in Liberia by volunteering in schools in Liberia.

Successfully recruited volunteers will fill up vacancies or will support already existing officers in working on/in these sections or programmes/projects: Newsletter, Website marketing and regular updating, Proposal writing, Youth MDGs Programme, ICT, Leadership and Entrepreneurship programmes, Communication and Information Dissemination, Teaching in Schools, women empowerment projects, Connecting communities and working with Schools &Youth Groups, establishment of Youth Crime Clubs schools and communities, Community Outreach Advocacy, computer Literacy programs and support the MRU Technology Hub/platform for Liberia. YCW-LIBERIA staff and volunteers will work together to provide support in implementing community service projects. Volunteers are encouraged to be proactive and entrepreneurial to develop their own projects and programs that are in connection with the broad vision and mission of YCW-LIBERIA.

YCWLiberia offers opportunities for nurses, doctors, opticians, and dentists to use their skills in the field. Medical volunteers have a chance to work a team of medical practitioners in designated areas to provide free medical care. This program is intended for volunteers to work in community clinics and hospitals to increase access to basic healthcare and promote health education in rural and urban communities in Liberia. Volunteer will also be placed in schools to teach as way of contributing to the education system of Liberia.

Youth Crime Watch of Liberia understand Liberian’s population is made up of mostly youths and about 65% of these youths are uneducated and girls form the bulk of that number. Government’s effort to expand educational activities to all and especially to the girl child through some education projects still have some gaps in strengthening the education system. There is an urgent need of trained and qualified teachers/ lecturers in the educational sector to meet with present needs of the education curricular.
Conclusively it could be realistically judged that children who form the bulk of the population in this country are seriously deprived of quality educational services. You can help these young and unfortunate people in Liberia by volunteering in schools in Liberia.

Who is eligible to volunteer with us?
YCW-LIBERIA’s International Volunteer programme encourage persons 16 years and older with no upper age limit for participation. Volunteers range from undergraduate/ college students to professionals, business students, filmmakers, photographers, social workers, teachers and educators.

YCW-LIBERIA welcomes volunteers who may not have previous youth or community development experience. Volunteers receive all necessary orientation from YCW-LIBERIA so that they are able to work effectively and produce quality results on their assignments.
Benefits for Volunteering with YCW-Liberia

Successfully recruited volunteers or intern have the opportunity of:
• Knowing and learning more about host country and communities
• Developing a new career path or improving on their career path
• Enhancing their job-finding network by connecting to a hidden job market
• Having a “plus” to their CV as they can make reference to YCW-LIBERIA on their contribution to the development of Liberia and the world as a whole. On completion of the volunteer program participants are given an internationally recognized certificate of honor;
• Knowing and working with youth and other interest people alike who are committed to making the world a just one;
• Enhancing their educational experience with practical work assignments;
• Having the chance to meet different people from all works of life through participation in action projects and also through their participation in conferences or other meetings;
• Know much about the work of the United Nations Statement of Purpose since we are working with some of the frameworks of the UN

Duration of Placement: Placement options can be secured for not less than 2 weeks and more. Cost of Placement: The total likely cost to volunteers and interns excluding travel costs ranges between US $600- US$ $2,780. (Note: Prices are reviewed periodically. Contact us to know about current prevailing rates or to confirm rates)
Cost Description: This contribution will cover the following:
• Airport pickup
• Airport drop-off
• Accommodation in a comfortable Home-stay or hostel setting throughout your internship
• Project-related expenses
• Internet facility
• 24/7 In-country support

Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
Contact us at info@ycwliberia.org to find out available opportunities. Virtual Volunteering is volunteering in whole or in part from any location. Your physical presence is not required at an organization’s premises or even a specific area and a significant amount of the volunteering is carried out through using online tools such as the internet or email or via the telephone.

Example volunteer activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Developing information newsletters;
• Website marketing and regular updating,
• Creating networks,
• Designing projects,
• Graphic design and web page development;
• Managing and marketing YCWL online programs like: facebook, twitter, myspace, etc

Volunteer Positions at YCW-Liberia
Being sensitive to the time needed to make some cultural adjustments, YCW-LIBERIA offers different positions that correspond with volunteer’s studies at school and also your future aspirations. Shorter-term volunteers are normally put in roles where they can add the most value within the shortest possible time to their practical experience. Longer-term volunteers are matched with specific projects or programmes that are also of interest to them.

Beside the task that you will have to accomplish during working hours. You will have weekends and evenings to have fun and explore a new culture. Supported with YCW’s caring staff environment, interns and incoming volunteers are guided, motivated and supported to take action, help design programs that empower youth and advise them on how to implement action projects successfully.

Example volunteer activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Introduce a young people in schools or youth groups to the Millennium Development Goals;
• Assist members of YCW-LIBERIA programmes/Youth Crime Watch Clubs in schools/communities to develop action plans;
• Developing information newsletters;
• Basic ICT, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training
• Graphic design and web page development;
• Assist young people with Internet research and to prepare them for a better performance in major events;
• Coordinating young teams to produce a tool kit;
• Organize YCWLiberia Annual Retreat for students/youths
• Gender & Capacity Development Initiative
• Crime Reporting
• Education; schools, community services etc.
• Mentoring & Mediation
• Community Peace building & Conflict Resolution
• Peer and Cross Age Teaching/Training
• Action Projects
• HIV/AIDS
• Environmental Campaign
• National Youth Solution Forum

Our goal is to keep our volunteers program within your means so that more volunteers can take advantage of this great experience. This program gives interns the chance to impact our organization and to make a difference in the life of others with the innovative ideas and skills they bring.

Program fee covers the following:
• Airport pickup upon arrival and to Airport on departure
• Accommodation
• A safe in the house for personal belongings
• Meals-breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday
• Arrival orientation
• Pre departure information
• Internet facility
• Utilities and other resources
• Letter of recommendation and/or certificate of participation after completion of program.

Interns are to take note of other requirements as follow below. YCW-Liberia will provide assistance as needed to help interns obtain those at their own cost:
• Visa to Liberia
• Required vaccinations
• Airline ticket

Accommodation:
YCW-LIBERIA will provide each volunteer a stay at its guest house or a family stay accommodation. This means that interns will stay either at our guest facilities or with a family as their host. Staying with a host family is very ultimate and cost saving for both the intern and YCW-LIBERIA. The intern is able to adapt to the Liberian culture faster. Both accommodations also provide a high level of security and safety is ensured. In a room, each intern will have a bed, pillow and bedspread of his/her own. Interns will also have access to bathroom, kitchen, lounge, radio, water. The intern's health is well ensured and each intern will be issued a mosquito net. The cost of accommodation is part of the total program fee. In most cases, an intern is assigned to one room. Occasionally, there may be two interns per room with separate beds.

Food:
At our guest facilities, YCW-Liberia have a guest cook, who prepares dishes according the guest suitability. In the case of a Home stay, host families are responsible for providing breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. In some instances, due to the distance between project site and home, interns go along with a lunch pack. The foods served mainly consist of continental dishes comprising rice, chicken, beef, tea, coffee, bread, eggs, soup, potato, oaths, fruits, fish, etc. Local food that is mainly made from the above, torborgee, potatoes leaves, beans, cassava leaves and palm butter is served alongside. It is also very common for an intern to find a familiar dish in restaurants in different cities.

Drinking water:
Interns are provided with well treated water which is purchased from certified producers of hygienically bottled or bagged water.

Laundry:
A member of the host family is likely to assist the intern with his/her laundry and teach how to wash with hands. Learning to wash and see the sun dry your clothes with the smell of the African aroma in your clothes can be exciting.

General living:
The intern might find himself/herself washing clothes with hands, cooking with a firewood and discussing youth led development initiatives or cultural experiences behind candlelight. These are typical Liberian routines. Accommodation in hostels and dormitories are organized for interns who so desire but in groups of not less than six working on similar project(s). After comparing figures and services with other programs offered by other companies /organizations and speaking with past volunteers, interns shall come to the conclusion that, our services /programs are better, well packaged, organised and affordable. Unlike others, there are no extra fees to be paid upon arrival in Liberia. Therefore, an intern does not end up spending beyond his/her planned budget.