The AppalYouth Service Learning Project seeks to help build a stronger Appalachia through youth service, leadership, and voice.  AppalYouth was developed to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits and faith based organizations to support youth service learning and civic engagement in Appalachian Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.  The AppalYouth Service Learning Project supports youth leadership in three ways:

1. AppalYouth Fellowship
   The AppalYouth Fellowship is an opportunity for young people of high school age to develop their leadership skills while partnering with nonprofits to do service projects. In a series of retreats young people will gain valuable skills in effective communication with leaders and the public, be trained to sit on boards of nonprofits, learn how to analyze community and social issues and policies, as well as how to facilitate public deliberation. Fellows have access to grants to help them with their projects.
   
   
2. Youth Empowerment Grants
   These grants are available to nonprofits and faith-based organizations interested in developing a service learning youth leadership component to their organization.
   
   
3. Leaders Grants
   Leader grants are available to nonprofits and faith-based organizations who are interested in becoming certified Leaders in the area of service learning and youth leadership by further strengthening their programs.
   Possible Quote: I turn children into role models for adults! – Jane, AppalYouth Fellow

Recent Funded Projects

Arts through the Youth Theater Project
Young people in Braxton County, West Virginia educate the community about the importance of the Arts through the Youth Theater Project.

Youth Councils
Youth at the Children’s Home Society in Wood County West Virginia, participate in service learning projects that support community and youth voice, including serving on Youth Councils.

Learn and Serve Club
Doddridge County West Virginia’s Family Resource Network supports a Learn and Serve Club at the local High School that encourages service in and outside of the school in a variety of areas including addressing literacy and substance abuse prevention.

Youth Citizen Corps Council
In Gallia County, Ohio young people are participating in a peer training through the Youth Citizen Corps Council.  The young trainers will educate young peers on public safety and disaster relief preparation.

Community Meetings and Dialogues
Young women learn through serving in a variety of ways through their Community Meetings in three counties in south central West Virginia . These include facilitating community Dialogues to address local problems, developing education days about important women in history, and meeting with local school boards to infuse youth voice into key decisions in the school districts.

Staff

Timberly Singley - Program Director