Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads

Why YVCHR? We provide team-based service-learning experiences YEAR-ROUND for youth (ages 11-18) that provide critical job skills for future employment and improved life trajectories. This service addresses unmet needs in the community and has positive ripple effects for countless local agencies and residents. YVC helps youth learn to see the needs of others and meet them. This enhances young people’s confidence and self-worth. Youth gain new perspectives and become less self-focused as we strive to inspire a lifetime service ethic!

How? All of our volunteer opportunities incorporate a unique service-learning method to help youth understand the impact and value of their efforts. With fun team-building games, diverse groups of youth learn how to work together and develop new skills. Every project is organized and led by our trained team leaders who are there to motivate and inspire our local youth volunteers.

Why does my gift matter? Your contribution makes ripple effects in the community as youth discover the best in themselves while serving others!

You help youth like Rudrani, who started volunteering with YVCHR in 2017--the summer before 6th-grade. She became a faithful youth volunteer, serving at a variety of projects and learning how--even as a young person--she can make an impact. In her senior year in high school, she was a member of our Youth Advisory Board and attended the YVC Summit in Kansas City as an ambassador from Hampton Roads. The best part? She and her peers were the youngest presenters at the Hampton Roads Social Justice Conference in 2023 and generated an impressive crowd as they spoke about gun violence. Rudrani shared, "I see now that my years as a youth volunteer prepared me for this moment. My experience serving others with YVC for as long as I can remember has opened my eyes to issues in the community, and I just wanted to thank you all for helping me find my voice as an advocate for change." Fast-forward and now Rudrani is completing her second year in the B.S. to M.D. program at Sienna College on her path to become a medical doctor. She credits YVC with shaping her mindset toward serving others both as a volunteer with various organizations in college and as a future physician.

You help youth like Sahanah, a high school mentor in our Service Through STEM program. She says, "Before joining Service Through STEM, I was unsure of what career I wanted to pursue. Now I've had many opportunities to encourage learning in others while also developing my communication skills and STEM knowledge. Teaching other people how to enjoy STEM-based activities has strengthened my love for the sciences."

You also help youth like Aarman, who participated in one of our bed build projects. In his words, "The bed build was a great experience for so many reasons but there are three main ones that come to mind. First, I got exposure to new tools, equipment, and techniques that I had never had before. The next is that the service-learning lesson for the bed build was so impactful because you could really imagine how your efforts would benefit a local child who needs a bed. Lastly, it was a project that really combined productivity and meeting new people, which really spoke to me and made time fly." 

In 2024, YVCHR engaged 1,261 youth in over 13,000 hours of team-based service... and in 2025, we are aiming to exceed these numbers. Your gift will help expansion efforts as we increase program opportunities on the Southside, add Service Through STEM to more schools, and create new partnerships with local nonprofits to address a variety of needs throughout the year. With your support, we can help youth acquire work and life skills while building empathy, creating meaningful community connections, and developing our future generation of leaders!