YouthBuild is a comprehensive, non-profit community development program as well as an alternative educational opportunity. Its goal is to unleash the positive energy of unemployed young adults to rebuild their communities and their own lives with a commitment to work, education, responsibility and family. YouthBuild runs on a 12-month cycle and offers job training, education, counseling and leadership development opportunities. Those involved will be constructing housing for low-income and homeless people in their communities.

The target group is unemployed young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, 20% of whom must be women. Participants will learn the construction trade while getting their high school diploma or equivalent. 80% of the participants will be ready for entrance into apprenticeship programs, employment in construction-related fields or other areas upon completion of the program. Those taking part will have their time divided between the classroom and the worksite. Participants will receive stipends of $7.00 per hour with possible 25 cent increases every three months.