About SVN

Each volunteer, community partner, and community member contributes a unique set of strengths and skills. Working together, they can leverage these strengths and skills to make a meaningful and lasting difference.

SVN volunteers take time to learn about, honor, and create space for the diverse values, identities, and experiences of community members, community partners, volunteer team members, and themselves. SVN volunteers promote equity, inclusion, and belonging in their communities.

There is a phrase that is often used among advocacy groups and activist movements: Nothing about us without us. SVN volunteers prioritize collaborative, mutually beneficial partnerships between SVN volunteers, community partners, and the communities that are impacted through volunteer engagement.

The task of an SVN volunteer is never to fix, solve, or save. Instead, it is to support and amplify the work of community members and community partners in their efforts to strengthen their own communities. 

Each SVN volunteer has a responsibility to ensure that the positive outcomes of their volunteer efforts do not carry negative consequences as well.

SVN volunteers understand the importance of seeing their project through. They come prepared, they work together,  they work together, they strive to achieve the goals of the project, and they ensure a smooth transition when their project concludes. 

Spark projects are single-day, group-based events that take place at various local organizations throughout YCP's academic year. These projects are typically 2-5 hours long, and volunteer groups typically include 5-12 students. Spark Projects include the SpartanServe weekend of Service in the fall semester and the SpartanGreen Day of Service in the spring semester.

The SVN Flex Series features opportunities with flexible volunteer scheduling available. Flex Series opportunities may be short-term, ongoing, or both. 

An Evergreen project (formerly Changemaker project) involves a small team of student volunteers (or an individual volunteer) who partner with a local organization, and then volunteer with that organization in an ongoing capacity for 10-20 hours over the course of a semester (or multiple semesters). 

Through research and inquiry, volunteers and community partners identify a genuine community need and its root causes. 

Prior to the event, volunteers are encouraged to research and learn about their community partner and community.

Based on initial research, volunteers identify clear goals, timelines, roles, and follow-up.

Prior to the event, volunteers are encouraged to...

• make sure they understand the goals of the event for which they signed up.

• get to know their team and Team Leader.

• confirm logistics and requirements (such as supplies, travel, paperwork, etc) as needed

Volunteers implement their service-learning plan, and collect evidence of their project’s effectiveness and impact.

Throughout the event, volunteers are encouraged to...

• Collaborate with their teammates, Community Partner, and community member volunteers. 

• Communicate proactively and ask questions as needed.

• Take time to learn about the Community Partner, the community, and the goals of the event. 

• Work diligently to achieve the goals of the project.

• Take notes on what was accomplished.

• Adapt as needed.

Reflection takes place at every stage of the service-learning cycle to assist in understanding the connection between what is being learned, what is being accomplished, and the impact the volunteer's actions have on the community. 

At the conclusion of the event, volunteers are encouraged to consider...

• what was learned?

• What was accomplished?

• What's left, and what's next?

Volunteers showcase and celebrate what they learned, what they accomplished, and the impact of their volunteer engagement, and make recommendations for sustainability and expansion.

At the conclusion of the event, volunteers are encouraged to...

• communicate with their team, Community Partner, and SVN staff regarding what they learned, what they accomplished, what's left, and what's next. 

• share their experience with others and encourage them to get involved as well.