What is the Youth Day of Service?
Youth Day of Service (YDoS) is an annual week-long, Pan-African youth-led social impact campaign that is celebrated alongside the UN International Youth Day which begins on August 12 every year. YDoS is designed to ignite the agency and creativity of young people across Africa towards community/sustainable development.
The goal of the YDoS is to activate youth voices, renew the spirit of active citizenship and promote a culture of service within Africa’s Youth. The theme for the YDOS is ‘Youthful and Useful.’

How can I volunteer?
Two Simple Steps! You can choose to register a project as a Project Lead here or serve as a volunteer on an existing project. For more information click here

How do I volunteer on an existing project?
You can volunteer to be a part of various amazing projects on our website by visiting here. You will be able to search by location and by Sustainable Development Goal area.

Do I need to have prior volunteering experience?
No prior volunteering experience is needed to participate in the Youth Day of Service. All you need is a heart of service and a desire to collaborate with other people.

Who is my first point of contact as a Project Lead/Volunteer?
As a volunteer, your first point of contact is with LEAP Africa. Once you sign up to volunteer or register for a project, you will receive a welcome email containing all the necessary information including the link to join the YDoS Virtual Community. All Volunteers will also receive a private link to connect with Project Leads/ Volunteers on their chosen projects.

What are the requirements for volunteering?
We like to keep it simple. You are eligible to volunteer if you are passionate about the SDGs, willing to give back to your community and join an amazing network of youth African changemakers.

Is there an age limit for volunteering at YDoS?
Everyone young person in Africa between the ages of 15 -35 can volunteer.

Can I volunteer with my family or friends?
Definitely! However, they are encouraged to officially register on the volunteer portal so that we can capture all necessary details.

How much time do I need to volunteer?
This is really up to you. You can find volunteering opportunities that only take a few hours per day but should not exceed one week i.e. 12th – 18th of August, 2022.

Will I get a certificate for participating in the YDOS?
Most certainly! LEAP Africa will issue E-certificates to all participants of the Youth Day of Service as a way of acknowledging and appreciating the work they have done in the program. These certificates will be accessed through emails that will be sent at the completion of the program.

Do the YDoS volunteers receive financial assistance/ benefits?
LEAP Africa working with certain resource partners has made available some subgrants for projects implemented across Africa. Kindly apply here. Unfortunately, not all projects will receive subgrants/ financial assistance from LEAP Africa. We encourage all volunteers to pursue resource partnerships, and crowdfunding efforts & carry out projects within the financial capacity of their groups.

How do I protect myself while Volunteering?
We have created a health & safety kit for all volunteers on how to stay safe, and you can access it on our website here. In the meantime, if you are feeling sick or having signs of high fever, please stay home and rest.

All Volunteers are also urged to move in groups & seek permission from community stakeholders before embarking on on-site visits & implementing projects across communities (especially those in high-risk areas).

Can LEAP provide letterheads for stakeholder engagement and fundraising purposes?
LEAP Africa will not be providing letterheads for any form of fundraising and partnerships towards the YDoS. However, we would encourage all volunteers to apply the fundraising and financial management tips provided in the Volunteer Toolkit on our website.

How do I learn more about the Youth Day of Service?
You can learn more about the Youth Day of Service on our website: www.youthdayofservice.org

Who can I contact if I have more questions about YDoS?
Speak to the YDoS Team via the website www.youthdayofservice.org or write to ydos@leapafrica.org for any further questions that you may have.