International Youth Corps (IYC)
Providing opportunities for youth, ages 18 to 30, from across the globe, to develop their leadership skills through nonviolence training, international exchange and social entrepreneurship
What is the IYC?
Realizing the Dream’s International Youth Corps (IYC) recognizes the integral role of young leaders in redressing conflict, whether regional or local, through means rooted in nonviolence, civic responsibility, and collaboration. The program establishes projects in countries around the globe where participants live, serve, dialogue, and learn side-by-side, all while enjoying a fulfilling experience that exposes them to the culture and lifestyles, challenges and opportunities that young people their ages face.
Meet the Corps! Including this month's featured member....
How Do I Join?
If you'd like to become part of the Corps, you may download an application, to be returned to RTD via either mail or email. Or, if you'd like more details first, please contact Chantal Pierre, Program Associate, at cpierre@realizingthedream.org.
What's Required of Corps Members?
These overseas deployments each involve certain core components—training in Kingian nonviolence, leadership development workshops, learning sessions on the host country, service-learning projects and cultural-enrichment activities. At the conclusion of each trip, IYC members are required to craft a proposal for a practical initiative to implement in their home community. These projects can be as large or small as the member chooses, ranging anywhere from a small tutoring project at a local school to a large scale conference on peace and nonviolence. RTD monitors these projects over time and supports them where possible, such as by featuring dedicated core members online.
Where's the Corps Been So Far?
To date the Corps has been on five trips: Bosnia Herzegovina, Kenya, South Africa, and twice to Israel & Palestine.
Israel & Palestine, March 2008 – For the inaugural IYC trip, RTD partnered with a series of organizations in taking 20 young leaders from the U.S. and Europe to the Middle East. After connecting with 20 of their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts, the Corps engaged one another in roundtable discussions and trainings, as well as in a day of service with a local childrens shelter.
Kenya, March 2009 – The IYC’s second deployment was to Kenya in early 2009, bringing together a diverse group of 10 Corps members from India, Ghana, Kenya and the U.S. Highlights of the trip included a day of learning at the International Young Leaders Summit (IYLS), a joint service project with youth from Kenya Red Cross, and an interactive dialogue with young leaders from several local organizations. View the photos or read the report!
Israel & Palestine, June 2009 – On RTD’s return visit to the Middle East, the Corps partnered with a sizable cohort of students leaders from local universities, whom RTD was ecstatic to enlist as new members. Along with several other Corps members from India, Kenya and the US, these youth spent a week traveling to various regions of the country, constantly engaging in dialogue, learning and service. View the photos or read the report!
South Africa, September 2009 – The IYC’s second visit to Africa landed them in South Africa, where a small collection of Corps members joined RTD’s staff for an outreach and recruiting mission in that country. During nearly two weeks of travel to rural and urban areas across South Africa, Corps members interacted with young leaders from numerous universities, children’s shelters, and international NGOs, while also seeing poverty first-hand through visits to townships and other disadvantaged areas. View the photos!
Bosnia Herzegovina, April 2010 – In a country still
plagued by lingering ethnic divisions, RTD brought together 16 corps members from around the globe - including from all regions of Bosnia - to help bring the “Beloved Community” to fruition in southeastern
Europe. View the photos!
How Can I Help?
Our Corps members are working hard to realize the dream in diverse communities worldwide. Please show your support by viewing (or donating to!) this month's featured Corps members by clicking here.
