FAQ's

Q:  Doesn't Young Life provide scholarship opportunities for at-risk adolescents?

A:  YL provides scholarships opportunities for international students.  Domestically, YL only provides camping subsidies for at-risk high schoolers.  However, there are no  scholarships to be a volunteer leader after high school.  Nor are there funds for housing, assistance with cars to to do ministry, school fees, etc.  Also, there is no funding for MINISTRY-RELATED activities such as: meals during discipleship activities, or attending YL Leadership Weekend Retreats.  For an at-risk student who has no financial margin to pay out-of-pocket for these critical ministry activities, being a volunteer leader is simply out of reach--regardless of qualification or commitment levels of the student, without a stipend of some sort, these students aspirations is out of reach.

Q: Why does Rising Leaders need to address social and emotional healing for at-risk adolescents after 18 years old?

A:  Our early work provided financial assistance to go to college while being volunteer leader.  However, without wrap-around healing or coaching, our students were like many others who received financial aid but failed to successfully complete college courses in a meaningful manner. We realized that money alone wasn't the answer to overcome growing up in hard places. Rising Leaders partners with Back2Back to provide social-emotional healing. And our mentors walk alongside Rising Leaders reach their full potential.

Q:  How can a student become part of the Rising Leader Program? 

A:   Please indicate your interest in nominating a student leader on the "Contact Us" Page. 

Q:   What are the requirements to be a Mentor? 

A:  A Mentor is someone who is called to facilitate Rising Leaders achieving their personal development plans. They must be a person of a mature faith, who has had enough life seasoning to coach an at-risk adolescent safely into adulthood. All this takes time to build a safe and stable relationship and therefore being a trusted adviser.  We provide significant training for Mentors. Mentors who are most impactful expend 6-10 hours monthly with their Rising Leaders. 

Q:   What is your Non-Discrimination Policy? 

A:  Rising Leaders is committed to equal employment and volunteer opportunity without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political belief, or veteran status.

This policy applies to all areas of employment and volunteer participation, including recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, transfer, termination, layoff, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, all other conditions and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.