YEP Starters Kit

8/14/2019 YEP Starters Kit

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Edited: 11 October 2007 2

How big is your world?There is a whole world out there. Come experience it. Embark on an exciting

journey to serve; make new friends; live and learn with them.

Join the Youth Expedition Project today. Be part of the world. Be part of thesolution.

WHAT IS YEP?

Youth Expedition Project (YEP) is an International Service-Learning programmefor young Singaporeans between the ages of 17 35. YEP is administrated bythe National Youth Council (NYC) of Singapore. We provide subsidies fortraining and networking support to help you make a difference to communitiesboth locally and abroad.

Since 2000, more than 12,000 young Singaporeans have taken up the challengeof a Youth Expedition Project to serve and learn in ASEAN, India and China.Collaborating with overseas communities, volunteers provide support in areas

like community income generation, education, environmental conservation,health care, and technology transfer.

OBJECTIVES OF YEP

1. Combining the elements of community and adventure, the desiredoutcomes of the YEP are to develop:

a. Self-Confident Youth who are able to work as teams

b. Youth with strong convictions about their roles and obligationstowards the community;

c. Youth with a strong Singaporean heartbeat, and a betterappreciation for our systems, policies and way of life.


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HOW DO I START?

I am interested to be a YEP Participant.

If you are interested to be a YEP participant, you can either form your own teamand partner an organisation or sign up as an individual with the organisation. Inaddition, some educational institutions also organise expeditions for their ownstudents. Please refer to http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/index.html for a list of links toorganisations with expertise in overseas community services.

I am interested to be a YEP Leader

If you are a Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident, age 21 years andabove at the start of the expedition, then you may apply to be a Leader.

The YEP Leader is the overall in-charge and must be at 21 years of age beforethe start of the expedition. As the leader, you are responsible for the operationsand safety of the expedition. You will need to conduct a reconnaissance trip,and attend the YEP Leader Course. (http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/training.html)

The role of another leader is to handle part of the operational aspects of the tripand focus on the learning aspects. Specifically, you will need to design learningactivities, conduct facilitation sessions and work closely with another leader tomanage group processes. You will need to attend the YEP Leader Course.(http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/training.html)

For more information about Pre-Expedition Phase, please refer to(http://www.yep.sg/aboutYEP/pre-expedition.html).


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PRE-EXPEDITION PHASE

The Pre-Expedition usually last about 6 months. It comprises Research,ProjectProposal and Preparation.

ResearchAt this preliminary stage, you are encouraged to focus on a social issue orcommunity need that you feel strongly about. Discuss what could be the possibleroot cause/(s) of the issue/need. Find out what is being done and research onhow you can value-add to the situation. Next, identify possible local and overseaspartners. Call the YEP Team at NYC if you want to bounce your ideas off us.

Project Proposal

Applications should reach YEP at least 3 months before the proposed starting dateof expedition. It should include:

Brief write up on the issue of interest and the service intent Proposed Local & Overseas Host Partner/s

Reconnaissance Plan Proposed Programme that includes the Pre- and Post- Expedition ideas

and projects. Endorsed Evacuation and Emergency Plan Endorsement letter

Please refer to project proposal template (www.yep.sg- Toolbox, nuts and bolts) for moreinformation.

The following are broad YEP approval guidelines:

There should be an indication of the learning focus of the expedition. The service project must meet real community needs and should be

sustainable. There should be evidence of proper research, planning, including an

assessment of the associated risks. The expedition must be free from any religious, racial, political connections

or any other affiliations that may be construed as inappropriate.

Funding Guidelines: Please read the funding guidelines carefully beforeproceeding with you application.

The YEP team will keep you updated on the status of your application. You maybe required to meet with the YEP staff to discuss your proposal.


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Project Preparation: Training

YEP Leader Course

Leaders have to attend the YEP Leader course conducted by YEP-approved Training Agencies before the expedition. YEP strongly

recommendsthat leaders schedule their YEP Leader course AFTERcompleting the First Aid Course and BEFORE your reconnaissance trip.Leaders have to be at least 21 years of age at the date of departure of theoverseas expedition.

First Aid Course

YEP Leaders must have a current first aid certification from RecognisedFirst Aid Training Agencies (http://www.yep.sg/funding/yep_project_grant.html)before departing for expedition. It is recommended that at least 2 membersof the expedition are trained in Basic First Aid.

A Wilderness First-Aid certification will be needed for some types of YEPprojects (wilderness or very distant rural areas).

Others

Depending on your project, your team may require skills or languagetraining. It is also very important for your team to understand the socio-cultural issues surrounding the service your group is providing.

Project Preparation: Reconnaissance Trip

A reconnaissance (recce) trip to firm up operational, learning and safety matters iscritical and should be conducted at least two to three months before theexpedition. The recce costs are part of the total project costing. The details areelaborated in the guidelines.

Project Preparation: Team-Building

Teams are strongly advised to have regular bonding and learning sessions priorto the expedition. A well-formed team with clear expectations will be in a muchbetter position to provide good service and focus on learning.

Project Preparation: Local Community Service

You need to implement a local community service project before your groupleaves for the overseas expedition. Apart from team bonding, this local serviceproject will help your group better understand the key principles and ethics ofcommunity service-learning. We strongly recommend that the local service is


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similar or linked to your overseas project to pick up necessary skills, and to betterunderstand strategies used by different societies to approach social issues.

EXPEDITION PHASE

Your expedition should last at least 14 days in ASEAN, India and China. At least70% of the total time should be spent on the service project.

There are many possibilities for projects, depending on the expertise of yourgroup. You have to ensure that minimum quality and safety standards are met.Examples of past YEP projects include:

Infrastructure projects e.g. small schools, clinics, seed banks,

Water filtration units, rainwater harvesting, bio-gas units, seedbanks

Education, e.g. Computer literacy, libraries, sharing of teachingmethods.

Public awareness and education through drama and theatre Enhancement programmes for people with disabilities, orphans Culture and knowledge documentation Marine and terrestrial conservation

Health projects, e.g. surveys, vaccinations, awareness.

Your team will be responsible for all logistics, operations and programmes. Incase of emergencies, your organisation is responsible for the crisis management.Hence it is important to have a good crisis management plan, which you have tosubmit to NYC, together with your application. It is highly recommended thatyour team members read and understand the emergency management system.

POST-EXPEDITION HOME-RUN

Many participants return from YEP feeling inspired to continue to engage thecommunity. Your team will have to complete a simple but community engagingPOST-EXPEDITION COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT upon return that ispreferably linked to the pre-community service programme. Teams often return tothe organization or community that taught and prepared them for the overseasexperience and shared reflections and learning points with the organizationsmembers. More insight into the issue and perhaps further contribution can bemade to improve the situation at home.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the guidelines concerning faith-based work?

Your group may work with overseas faith-based partners provided theservice benefits the entire community and not just a particular faith orreligious group. The group is not allowed to engage in proselytizing andany other work with religious connotations. For faith or racially-basedorganisations planning a YEP, we require including at least 20%members who are unaffiliated to the faith/race.

Can I form a YEP team that is not affiliated to an organisation?For now, we support applications with organisation endorsements. Ifyou are not a member of any organisation and want to join an expedition,please refer to http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/index.html for a list of links to

organisations with expertise in overseas community services.

Can volunteers who are ineligible for funding still participate if theyare willing to pay?Yes, provided they do not exceed 20% of the total group and are unlikelyto disrupt group dynamics. As a general principle, it is good for yourgroup to have volunteers from different walks of life as this provides for awider diversity of ideas.

If I have already attended the YEP Leader course conducted bySingapore International Foundation, or if I already have experience

leading an overseas community service project do I still need toattend the YEP Leader Course?Yes. Please refer to the type of leader course available on the YEPwebsite.

Can we seek alternative funding?Many groups raise fund, seek sponsorship or access organisation funds.However, as an indication of commitment, we strongly encourage cost-sharing by participants. This can be through personal payment or pro-active fund-raising campaign run by the team members themselves.

Please note: If you are from an Institute of Higher Learning, you shouldNOT seek sponsorship from the Singapore Totalisator Board (STB) asthere is already a funding arrangement between STB and YEP.

If I am a certified nurse or was trained as a Medical Orderly, do Ineed to attend the First Aid Course?Current certification of competency is required as YEP acknowledgesthe professional certification includes regular /periodic tests and


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examinations. For nurses in specialized vocations (eg. psychiatricservices, communicable disease control) may require proof of First Aidcompetency in trauma situations.

If this is not the first time I am working with the partner, do I still

need to conduct a reconnaissance trip?YEP recommends that recce trips be made for specific projects. Theonly exception that can be made is when a leader has conducted therecce for the project during a YEP trip itself and that s/he willsubsequently be doing in the next season, and that all aspects of a recceare covered. (the service, the learning, risk and emergencymanagement preparations).

Are the pre- and post- expedition community service projectssubsidized and are there guidelines?As recommended, the team considered the project as a whole learning

experience. The experience will enable the youths in the team to learnabout an issue of interest starting from an organization (Eg. SpasticChildrens Association) in Singapore and then explore the similar issueoverseas. After which, the team will re-engage with the organization toshare and learn deeper aspects of the issue.

Subsidy for the YEP programme includes the pre and post-expeditionprojects, and is capped at $20 000 per team. (Please refer to projectfunding guidelines for details.)

If my expedition is not in ASEAN, India or China, do I still qualify for

subsidy?Your expedition will still qualify for subsidy if you are engaged in post-disaster work AND if there is a national (Singapore) effort to providehumanitarian support to that country. Such applications will be approvedon a case-by-case basis. However, due to limited finds, preference willbe given to YEP programmes conducted in ASEAN, India and China.

Documents

YEP Starters Kit