About YASC

YASC service trips are community-driven service; the host community has identified its needs. YASC and the host community have identified the projects for a particular trip to address the community’s needs. The Trip Producer and YASC staff will solicit input from volunteers regarding project interests and preferences, individual volunteer skills and abilities, and volunteer ideas for the identified project. Every effort will be made to assign volunteers to a project of their choice but cannot be guaranteed.

Volunteers aged 12 and above are welcome, provided they are accompanied by a parent or   guardian and participate in their assigned service activities. All youth 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or designated guardian. Participants under the age of 14 will be assigned to the same community service activity as their parent or designated guardian who will be responsible for providing supervision during the assigned service project and throughout the duration of the service trip. YASC does not accommodate individuals below the age of 12.  YASC welcomes the spouses and friends of alumni to register and participate as volunteers. YASC does not accommodate individuals who do not participate in assigned service activities.

No. YASC is a volunteer-led initiative of the Yale Alumni Association (YAA).

No. The Yale Alumni Service Corps and Yale Alumni Academy are separate entities. In 2021, Yale Educational Travel became Yale Alumni Academy. The Yale Alumni Academy offers travel programs led by Yale faculty and experts.

YASC service trips support the University’s goals to enrich and enhance teaching, research, learning and service that explore and contribute to sustainability solutions. The service trips are a part of Yale’s mission to provide opportunities for alumni, students, faculty and Yale affiliates to engage and collaborate across disciplines and endeavors to shape a better future.

Yes, YASC is committed to fulfilling Yale’s dedication to sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For more information about Yale’s commitment to its leadership role in sustainability teaching, research, operations and service, see Yale’s sustainability website.

In general, YASC service trip itineraries are full and active with a broad range of locales, service projects and activities. Typically, participants start the day with a morning meeting around 8:00 AM and work in the community until approximately 4:00 PM, followed a team meeting, dinner and a few hours of intercultural activities.

Physical and Mental Health: All participants must be in good physical and mental health. YASC service trips differ from recreational travel programs in the degree of remoteness, physical activities, intense cross-cultural immersion, and interpersonal participation with the community and fellow volunteers that participants engage in. Any condition that may require assistance or special medical attention must be reported at the time of your reservation. 

Depending on the service trip location and service projects, the level of extended or strenuous activity can vary. These service trips may involve extensive walking over uneven surfaces, climbing stairs at locations with limited accessibility, and climbing in and out of various conveyances to reach the service project sites.  So that all involved may enjoy the experience, participants must be in good physical and mental health and be able to keep up with the pace of the group. Anyone requiring extraordinary assistance must bring a travel companion who will be responsible for providing such assistance. Due to their service trip responsibilities and potential liability, YASC cannot ask project leaders or our staff to provide such aid. 

It's important to choose a service trip that will accommodate you. Please contact YASC Director Joao Alexio to discuss your needs at (203) 432-1943. Once YASC has an assessment of your needs, we will work with you to determine if the service trip is right for you.

Some countries are particularly challenging for those with physical limitations — cobbled stone streets, long staircases with no railings, locations with corridors that are too narrow to allow wheelchairs etc. Some sites have very limited access for those with impaired mobility. Anyone requiring extraordinary assistance must bring a travel companion who will be responsible for providing such assistance. Due to liability, our program staff cannot provide such aid.

To help you choose the service trip best suited for you and to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of our service trip, a more detailed description of activity requirements can be found on the particular service trip’s web page on the YASC website. These descriptions summarize the rigors or ease of the location, service projects and other activities, as well as additional information such as travel conveyances, accommodations, altitude, weather conditions and more. YASC recommends that your level of stamina, fitness, and overall ability match the activity requirements for the service trip and service project you select. 

By submitting a deposit, participants certify that they do not have any physical, mental or other limitation that would create a hazard for themselves or other travelers. If you have any questions regarding the fitness level of a particular program, please contact YASC Director Joao Aleixo to discuss your needs at (203) 432-1943.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has country-specific recommendations for vaccinations on its CDC Travelers’ Health website. YASC recommends that participants adhere to its recommendations for the well-being of both the trip participants and our local service community.

Check with your health insurer to verify whether your U.S. health insurance will cover you on the trip. In most cases, your health insurance is invalid in foreign countries. Although YASC does not recommend particular insurers, there are many reputable travel health insurers which are easily found on the Internet.

For your protection, YASC strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance to help address possible issues such as your need to cancel your trip for an unexpected reason, flight delays or cancellations, lost luggage and other mishaps. After the final registration date, YASC trip fees are non-refundable.

Vegetarian diets generally can be accommodated. When registering for a trip, you must disclose any dietary restrictions or needs. For information on a particular trip, please refer to the service trip’s web page on the YASC website or contact YASC Director Joao Alexio to discuss your needs at (203) 432-1943.

No. Please do not provide gifts directly to individual members of the community or to local organizations. Personal gifts disrupt the community nature of our work, may establish inequity and disruption, and may establish unrealistic expectations in the community of future gifts.

Yes. If you have an idea for a gift that you would like to make, please discuss it with a member of the YASC staff, the Trip Producer, or a member of the YASC Board. Gifts from volunteers are welcomed by YASC but are provided to the community by YASC as an organization.

There may be items needed for particular projects on a service trip. Please coordinate donations of needed project supplies through the Project Leaders.

Yes. Donations may be made to YASC and should be coordinated through YASC staff or a member of the YASC Board.

YASC maintains a fund built with financial donations that enables YASC to offer financial aid assistance for students and/or alumni to participate in a service trip. YASC encourages those volunteers who can to contribute to the fund.

No. YASC does not offer scholarships for the optional excursion trip. Purchasers of the optional excursion trip are ineligible for scholarships for the service program.

It is the expectation of YASC that its volunteers devote 100% of their time to the program while in the host community and that volunteer use of cell phones/computers will be limited to scheduled program downtime and emergencies only.

• As a YASC volunteer, I understand that I am an ambassador for and a representative of Yale and YASC and as such, my actions will reflect the core values and mission of Yale and YASC at all times during the service trip.
• I understand that YASC, in partnership with the local host community, has identified the needs of the community and developed goals and projects for the service trip.
• I understand that I am a guest of the local community and as such I will be respectful of the local values and traditions. I will seek to learn about our host community and culture, understand our similarities and our differences, and interact without assumptions or judgment.
• I will maintain an attitude of respect, courtesy, and understanding at all times, with an open mind to new ideas and procedures.
• I will communicate my skills and project preferences to the Trip Producer and will remain flexible in any way necessary to maximize the success of the service trip and the benefit to the host community, including adapting my project plans and skills to the needs of the specific project to which I am assigned.
• I will commit to working with other volunteers as a team and will accept the guidance and leadership of the Project Leaders, the Trip Producer, and YASC staff.
• I understand that youth volunteers age 12 and above are welcome on YASC service trips, provided that I, as their parent or guardian, accompany them and they participate in their assigned service activities. All youth 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or designated guardian, Participants under the age of 14 will be assigned to the same community service activity to which I am assigned. I am responsible for providing supervision of the youth accompanying me during the assigned service project and throughout the duration of the service trip. I will not have individuals accompany me on the service trip who are under the age of 12 or who do not participate in assigned service activities.
• I understand that participation in a YASC service trip requires a commitment of time and effort in preparation for, as well as during the trip. I will commit to using my best efforts to: respond promptly to communications from the Project Leaders and the Trip Producer; participate in orientation activities as offered prior to the trip; and read all pre-trip newsletters. I will communicate clearly with the Project Leader regarding my availability to participate in pre-trip planning and will commit to making a best effort to support my team in planning and preparation.
• I understand the expectation of volunteering with YASC entails devoting 100% of my time to the program while in the host community and will restrict my use of a cell phone to scheduled program downtime and emergencies only.
• I will strive to remain flexible and adaptable throughout the trip, to keep an open mind, and to be prepared to change my understanding and my plans as needed.
• I will communicate any concerns as needed to the Project Leaders, Trip Producer, or YASC staff.
• If a problem or misunderstanding arises between myself and other trip participants, I will communicate respectfully with trip participants and attempt to resolve any problems cooperatively; discuss the matter with the Project Leader, Trip Producer, or YASC staff if I am not comfortable with direct communication or unable to otherwise resolve the matter.
• I understand that YASC in its sole discretion may revoke my admission or limit or terminate my participation, at my sole expense and without the refund of any service trip fees or other costs, at any time, if in YASC’s opinion, my behavior, actions or condition do not align with YASC’s service goals and objectives, jeopardize the success of the service trip, are disruptive, or when such an action is determined by YASC to be in the best interest of the my health and safety, or the general welfare of others.

• Julia Bailey ’93 MPhil, ’96 PhD, Board member since 2024
  Pasadena, CA
  Profession: Professor, Small Business Owner (costuming)
  #YASC Trips: 1
  Fort Mojave 2024
   
• Andrew Burgie ’87, Chair, Board member since 2019
  Queens, NY
  Profession: Industrial Hygienist
  #YASC Trips: 11
  China 2011, Nicaragua 2012, Ghana 2012, Nicaragua 2013, Ghana 2013, India 2014, Brazil 2016, Brazil 2017, Puerto Rico 2020, Puerto Rico 2023 (trip producer), Panama 2024 (community liaison)
   
• Rosalia Burke ’92, Vice-Chair, Board member since 2023
  Willis, TX
  Profession: Physician (Otolaryngology)
  #YASC Trips: 4
  DR 2019, Puerto Rico 2020, Puerto Rico 2023, Panama 2024 (community liaison)
   
• Karen Green ’78, Board member since 2018
  Playa Del Rey, CA
  Profession: Attorney
  #YASC Trips: 3
  Fort Mojave 2017, Cape Town 2019, Fort Mojave 2024 (trip producer)
   
• Ann Kennedy, Secretary, Board member since 2020
  Arlington, VA
  Profession: Professor
  #YASC Trips: 7
  India 2015, Brazil 2017, Cape Town 2018, DR 2019, Puerto Rico 2020, Puerto Rico 2023, Fort Mojave 2024
   
• Nancy Malone ’92 MBA/MPH, Board member since 2017
  Hackensack, NJ
  Profession: Consultant
  #YASC Trips: 2
  Brazil 2017, Panama 2024
   
• Danielle Morgan ’00 MSN, Board member since 2020
  Guilford, CT
  Profession: Nurse Practitioner
  #YASC Trips: 1
  DR 2019
   
• Alicia Morris ’99, Board member since 2024
  Miami, FL
  Profession: Professional Coach & HR Consultant
  #YASC Trips: 3
  Brazil 2016, DR 2019, Panama 2024 (trip producer)
   
• Arikha Moses ’98 PhD, Board member since 2017
  Larchmont, NY
  Profession: Medical Devices
  #YASC Trips: 4
  India 2015, Ghana 2016, Cape Town 2018, Panama 2024
   
• Jeff Necio, Board member since 2023
  Wallingford, CT
  Profession: Clinical Informatics Specialist
  #YASC Trips: 7
  Nicaragua 2013, Nicaragua 2014, Brazil 2016, Brazil 2017, DR 2019, Puerto Rico 2020, Puerto Rico 2023
   
• Jamie Nicholson-Leener ’81, Board member since 2024
  New York, NY
  Profession: Emerging Markets Finance (former)
  #YASC Trips: 3
  Nicaragua 2014, India 2015, Ghana 2016
   
• Lata Prabhakar ’97, Board member since 2024
  San Juan, Puerto Rico
  Profession: Financial Software (former)
  #YASC Trips: 12
  DR 2008, Brazil 2009, Mexico 2009, China 2011, Ghana 2012, Ghana 2013 (co-trip producer), California 2014, Brazil 2016, Cuba 2017, Cape Town 2018, Puerto Rico 2020, Puerto Rico 2023
   
• Alfred Renaud ’97, Board member since 2018
  Toronto, Canada
  Profession: Healthcare Informatics
  #YASC Trips: 4
  Brazil 2016, Cape Town 2018, Cape Town 2019, Fort Mojave 2024
   
• Jennifer Rendon ’20 DNP, Board member since 2024
  Canyon Lake, TX
  Profession: Nurse Practitioner, Assistant Professor
  #YASC Trips: 1
  Fort Mojave 2024