Youth as Resources (YAR) is a program and a philosophy that recognizes youth as valuable resources in their community and engages them as partners with adults in bringing about positive community change. YAR programs are governed by local boards of youth and adults responsible for awarding grants to other youth who design, propose, and carry out projects that address community needs. Through these projects, youth in youth organizations, classrooms, community foundations, neighborhood centers, and clubs tackle a range of social issues that concern them—from health, housing, education, and the environment to drugs, gangs, illiteracy, and crime.

The YAR in service-learning strategy links community organizations and schools together for a common cause: to provide young people with opportunities for personal growth, to allow them to see themselves as contributing members of society, and to get real work done. Youth benefit, schools benefit, and communities benefit