Our application for 2022 Summer candidates is open for PT Returners on October 15 and new applicants on November 1.
Summer of Service Experience
Project Transformation’s faith-based Summer program for young adults offers hands-on opportunities to build mutually enriching relationships with children in low socioeconomic areas, live in intentional community, and explore various careers in ministry and service.
Applicants must have completed one year of college or be at least 19 years old and must have the legal right to work in the U.S.
Are you up for this? PT is for you if:
- You are a highly motivated self-starter
- You believe in the power of diversity and open-mindedness
- You love God and neighbor above all else
- You believe in hearing others’ stories, owning your own story, and living beyond comfort zones
- You believe in the silliness of childhood, creativity, smiles, and that “they are all our children”
There are five primary components to the Project Transformation service experience:
Day Camp
During the summer program, Project Transformation young adults work in teams, implementing an eight-week summer day camp for 30 to 80 elementary children. Sites are located in churches in the heart of low-income communities in Austin, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley areas of Texas. Components of the program include team building, games, Bible lessons, one-on-one reading and literacy activities, recreation, art, health and wellness, brain breaks, dance parties, and more. We intentionally open space for young adults to share their joys, passions, and talents with the children.
Intentional Community Living
An integral component of Project Transformation’s young adult program is living in intentional community. Young adults participate in an intentional community experience, living in a Christ-centered environment with other young adult interns, embracing: diversity, life beyond comfort zones, and all the joys and challenges that come when living and building relationships with new people. In intentional community we: share stories, have jam sessions, do chores, put others first, share hobbies and passions, create fun social events, explore our city and neighborhood.
Ministry Exploration and Spiritual Development
Each Friday, young adults are exposed to various vocational opportunities in service or ministry through guest speakers, field trips, service experiences, and interactions with lay and ordained church leaders.
Project Transformation invests in the spiritual development of each young adult, opening their eyes to the needs and opportunities of ministry. We do this through:
- Morning Devotion
- Prayer
- Worship
- Service
- Tough questions
- Deep conversations
- Intentional Relationships
- Exploration of Call
Church Involvement
Each week, Project Transformation teams worship with each other at their site church. This connects the teams and families with the church community, building sustainable relationships that last long past the summer. Beyond this, young adults connect partner churches with the program by recruiting volunteers and sharing stories of their experiences.
Specifics
Dates of the 2022 service experience are May 25-July 30. This includes pre-program training and eight weeks of day camp.
- Young adults will live in community in housing provided through Project Transformation. Dinners will be provided from Sunday through Thursday evenings.
- If a major requires an internship or field placement hours, PT oftentimes meets those requirements. Please note this on the application and contact us with questions.
- During their summer of service, young adults cannot have commitments outside of Project Transformation, such as summer school or another job.
- Sunday through Thursdays, young adults must attend nightly dinners that are prepared by partner churches in order to share the summer service experience with partnering volunteers. One night per week, communities participate in a group worship time.
- On Fridays, young adults explore vocations in ministry and service through field trips and dialogue with lay and ordained leadership of various partnering non-profit organizations, businesses, and United Methodist institutions.
- Each week, Project Transformation young adults attend their site church to connect with the site congregation and families in the community.
- At least once during the summer, young adults may speak to one of Project Transformation’s partner churches about the summer service experience – this could be to a Sunday school group, the congregation, youth group, or other community partners.
Committing to Project Transformation Rio Texas is more than accepting a summer job, it is embracing a transformational experience. The expectations are great, but the potential for personal rewards that come from this kind of commitment is even greater. While much is expected of each young adult, much is given in return—love from the kids, fun and support from living in community, and the energy created by exploring your personal potential to impact the world around you.
**We acknowledge that COVID-19 may impact our Summer 2022 program. We value the safety of our staff, children, and communities and will adjust programming accordingly. Programming and dates are subject to change based on city, state, and federal regulations regarding COVID-19. Changes could be smaller number of participants at sites, contactless supply distribution, virtual programming with children and volunteers, and other possible changes.
Time Off
Friday evening-Saturday evenings each weekend.
Compensation
$3,200 potential earning for the summer + housing + meals + training + gear and other benefits
Application Procedure
Applicants apply online. A professional resume and contact information for 3 references are required for application completion.
If you have a local faith community, we hope they will want to support you in this work. Please read the Partner Church Letter of Commitment and be prepared to speak to your pastor.
