Cancellation of YAGM Program
[Ed. Note: Excerpt of letter from Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla, January 28]
We are communicating to you the difficult news that we have decided to cancel our 2021-2022 year of service for the Young Adults in Global Mission program. This means we will not be sending volunteers into service this year, resulting in two years in a row with no active volunteers.
As you might guess, this decision is due to the continued uncertainties and difficulties presented by COVID-19, and its variants. In our mission partnerships, our first priority is the health and safety of our companions and hosts, and also that of our volunteers. With heightened travel restrictions, changing variants, and growing number of cases in many parts of the world, we are not able to guarantee the safety and stability of another program year.
The ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program is a one-year, international service-learning and faith-formation opportunity in churches and social service ministries for young adults, ages 21-29.
Update: While YAGM will not be sending volunteers for the 2020-21 program year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we plan to resume sending volunteers this year in August 2021. Applications will be open from Nov. 1, 2020, to Jan. 15, 2021.
Nine Young Adults from our synod served in 2020 in their respective sites until they were called home due to COVID-19. We pray for those who were unable to finish serving.