YES Enhancement Activities

YES Enhancement Activities

YES students are required to participate in FOUR standard Enhancement Activities in addition to the four orientations. Each activity should be designed by the Cluster Leader with YES Program Goals in mind.

YES Cluster Leaders should hold two Enhancement Activities during the Fall Semester and two during the Spring Semester. These four Enhancement Activities must cover the following topics:

1. LEADERSHIP/CITIZENSHIP
The goal of this activity is to give students ideas and tools that they can use to become leaders and good citizens in their home country. Pay a visit to a local city leader, school board or city council member. Have students meet with volunteers for local political campaigns, voter registration volunteers, or local activists. For example, if there is a drive in your city to install a new traffic light, save a tree or beautify a park – get your students involved and show them how it's done!

Leadership/Citizenship Enhancement Outline & Participation Form

2. DEMOCRACY/GOVERNMENT
Arrange a visit to a government institution or politician. If you need assistance in arranging a visit to a local or state politician, please give the YES Program Administrator a call – the U.S. State Department may be able to assist with this.

Democracy/Government Enhancement Outline and Participation Form

3. FREE MARKET ECONOMY
Try to hold this activity to coincide with Global Youth Service Day (mid-April). Pitch in at a Habitat for Humanity project, help clean up a local park, volunteer at a food bank, homeless shelter, women's shelter or veterans' home. The possibilities are limitless for this project – let the students help choose the project based on where they want to help.

Free Market Economy Enhancement Outline and Participation Form

Ben & Jerry's Article

4. DIVERSITY/AMERICAN CULTURE
Arrange an activity that will demonstrate the diversity of American culture, and the tolerance for which our country strives. Try a visit to a Civil Rights museum, cultural festival, a Civil War re-enactment, or even a day at the Special Olympics.

Diversity Enhancement Outline and Participation Form

Six Steps Against Bigotry

YES Expense & Activities Proposal Form