What is Youth TimeBanking (YTB) ?
Youth TimeBanking (YTB) is a 501(c)(3) virtual nonprofit—a youth-adult program of service activities designed to empower young individuals and foster their personal development through a TimeBanking system.
YTB is a system where youth earn time credits by leading and contributing to community projects, or providing services such as tutoring, mentoring, or organizing events. These credits qualify the youth for training, resources, and opportunities for social, digital, and educational inclusion.
The table below suggests some ways that YTB may differ from other TimeBanking programs. Any TimeBanking program can include youth and some YTB activities involve participants with an age range of seventy years. YTB is an approach to TimeBanking that aims to engage youth in the TimeBanking Movement for more community to benefit from Youth ARE: Assets-Resources-Energy.
TimeBanking | Youth TimeBanking (YTB) | |
|---|---|---|
Age range | Less than ten percent of members are youth. | Mostly high school age and above. |
Exchanges | One-to-one service activity is common. | Youth-led projects and activities. |
Currency | Time. | Time, resources, opportunities, in-kind
donations. |
Time credit | One hour or more is common. | 15-to-30-minute increments. |
Reporting | Web site application. | YTB mobile app. |
Outputs | Hours, members, exchanges. | Hours, members, projects, activities. |
Outcomes | Self-reports on friendships, trust, networking. | Social connections, check-in data to track Strengths-Needs. |
Impact | Community stories of meaningful connections. | Improved literacy, digital inclusion, community development. |
Member Offers | Service provided to another TB member. | Project or service for individual, group, school, or organization. |
Member Requests | Service received from another TB member. | Service, resources, opportunities, in-kind donations. |
Safety | Adults are responsible for their own safety. | YTB Coordinators provide support. Activities are done in groups and-or remotely and-or virtually. |
This is how YTB Works
Youth develop strengths, increase social capital, co-develop/co-deliver projects and serve as cross-age YTB coaches.
YTB helps youth changemakers build strengths and social connections by providing them with training and resources for their community projects.
Impact: Positive Youth & Community Development
Impact Stories
See how youth leaders gain a bigger support team, a greater awareness of local businesses and organizations, and more experience working on project teams and using physical and digital tools.
Youth ARE: Assets, Resources, Energy for connected community.
Kalea, a senior college student, was our YTB PhotoVoice coach during the three-session series. Kalea learned about YTB and helped with testing the YTB app. During her six weeks of time contributing to YTB we have had a win-win experience of meeting people and learning new things that we will use going forward.
Kalea
Ryan, an artist, and industrial designer taught himself techniques in sculpture and welding during Covid-19. Recently, he started a project called “Give A Hand Uganda (GAHU)” inspired by his experience with YTB. Ryan is giving a hand to fellow youth by teaching them skills with welding and sculpture. YTB is supporting Ryan’s outreach by providing tools and safety equipment. Ryan has been creating a positive upward spiral of training and experiential learning for himself and others in his community.
Ryan
Victoria, a 17-year-old high school student, is showing other youth how to play chess. She is helping others by being a cross-age instructor. She is receiving transportation into town to shop for the chess board and having use of the chess board herself. She oversees the project to manage who can borrow the learning games. She enjoys that and is developing strengths with sharper critical thinking, strategic thinking, interpersonal skills, negotiating the demands of others, and explaining concepts involved with chess.
Victoria
How is YTB different from traditional volunteering?
Unlike traditional volunteering, TimeBanking empowers young people to engage in reciprocal exchanges of services within their communities. Through the TimeBanking system, YTB allows youth to contribute their skills, talents, and time to assist others, while also receiving assistance or services in return, fostering a sense of mutual aid and interdependence. Over time, this approach fosters stronger relationships, trust, and a sense of belonging in various aspects of life, from school to the global community.
YTB's Project Themes: CALM
CARE
Activities are service-oriented involving others, the environment, and animal care
frames
Youth serve: Community gardening, socks-soaps collection, recovery support...
Receive resources: shipping costs, seeds, tools, composting kits, garden frames...
APPS
Activities involve the use of technology for good
Youth design: Logo, video editing, community apps, digital navigators...
Receive resources: Adobe software, digital inclusion, cameras, reproduction...
LEARN
Activities develop community literacy and advocacy
Youth learn: YTB LinkedIn, Global Writers, animal care, digital literacy, interviews...
Receive resources: Little Free Library, books, projector, screen, batteries...
MAKE
Activities are hands-on and inspire community engagement
Youth build: Bracelets, scarves, imprinting, community art, rock painting...
Receive resources: Crochet hooks, Cutting machine, heat press, vinyl, yarn-needles, acrylic...
Explore our Youth Projects!
These opportunities help youth develop strengths and experience something bigger than themselves. They take on roles – individual or team – facilitating online sessions, building stories, completing activities, providing
service; forming peer-to-peer, near-peer, youth-adult, and intergenerational relationships.
