Quaker Voluntary Service is a year-long Fellowship program in which young
adults between the ages 21-30 build intentional community, work full time at social service and
social change agencies, and explore themes of spiritual and personal growth with local Quakers.
An ideal QVS Fellow is committed to working with diverse community members, brings a
willingness to explore and practice spirituality, and is prepared to work in a professional setting.
QVS Fellows should be ready to ask challenging questions of themselves and each other about
how to live simply, with integrity and justice, while doing meaningful and mutually empowering
service.
The 11-month program runs from the end of August to the end of July each year.
Service Activities
The goal of a QVS year is to see what life can become when contemplative spirituality, social justice, and deep community are combined in an individual’s life. This year will ask a lot of you, but while QVS can provide the basic framework for your journey, ultimately the experience is what you make of it. Come ready to go all in.
Take a moment to watch one of our "A Day in the Life of a QVS Fellow" videos.
Here’s the perspective from QVS alumna Becca Bass-
“There is a Nelson Mandela quote I recently read that really resonated with me, and reminded me of what the decision to do QVS represents to me: “May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears.” No matter what happens in your QVS year, as long as you are seeking something from the experience—as long as you are taking the risk of desiring something meaningful—you will learn and grow and clarify what it is you hope for, and how, and why. The QVS year is also a time of unusual support, unusual access to communities of people who are grappling with similar questions about what it means to live a purposeful life, unusual flexibility to learn about different kinds of service work, and unusual space in which to ask the questions that will continue to inform the way you live. You sure won’t leave with answers to all your questions, but you’ll leave with a more useful set of questions around which to build your life. The QVS year wasn’t easy or always comfortable, but I’m grateful every day for the way it has helped me identify, process, and pursue the things I care about with a community of people I care about.”
Community Need Addressed
QVS Fellows will work at partner site placement organizations addressing a wide range of
social and environmental issues including, but not limited to economic justice, racial equity,
housing and homelessness, education, immigration, environmental sustainability, human rights
issues, mental and physical disability, and youth justice.
Position Outcomes
At the heart of the year is a deep emphasis on reflection. In regular one-on-one meetings with a spiritual nurturer, in a structured group setting with other Fellows, and in many informal ways, you will find both the space and the supportive context to engage difficult questions that arise through your work and life together. Particular attention will be given in these exercises and relationships to places of stretching or challenge as your spiritual understanding shifts and deepens to engage the injustice, inequality, privilege, and suffering that is an inevitable part of work for social justice and to learn skills to sustain you on this journey for the long haul. Through work and reflection, learning to listen to the guiding voice of your Inner-teacher, you will be led into a life marked by courage and creativity, responding to the movement of love and wisdom.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
QVS provides housing and utilities, a public transit pass, grocery
allowance or support registering for SNAP, support securing health insurance and mental health
resources as needed, student loan counseling and assistance, a simple living stipend, access to
conferences and trainings, dedicated time for reflection and community building, access to an
equity fund for Fellows with historically marginalized identities, and robust support from staff
and volunteers.
Education Benefits
College Degree, GED/High School Diploma, Credential or Certification
Skills you will gain
Project Management, Capacity Building, Boundry Setting, Community Skills,
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Turn taking
Creativity & Problem Solving
Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines
Planning
Create environment of contribution, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Understand and anticipate the needs of others