Yap Welcomes Two Australian Volunteers to Support Youth Development and Legal Reform

Friday, October 16, 2026 /// DYCA PIO

Yap FM - The State of Yap welcomed two Australian volunteers on September 28, 2026, through the Australian Volunteers Program, bringing professional experience and a commitment to supporting local initiatives in youth development and legal reform.

Joshua Braine was assigned as a Youth Development Mentor with the Division of Youth Services under the Department of Youth and Civic Affairs (DYCA), and Amit Dogra, assigned as a Legislative Mentor at the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), will work alongside their respective teams over the next year to share knowledge, strengthen institutional capacity, and support ongoing development efforts.

Josh learned about the Australian Volunteers Program through a colleague who was volunteering in Vietnam. After exploring the available assignments, he was pleased to discover the youth development opportunity with DYCA.

Before arriving in Yap, Josh worked as an environmental education officer for a waste management company and as an after-school care educator at a primary school. He also volunteered with various youth programs and camps, experiences that helped prepare him for his current assignment.

As he becomes more familiar with the DYCA team and the youth of Yap, Josh hopes to contribute to initiatives that encourage young people to lead healthier lives, build confidence, and become more actively involved in their communities.

“Each person has a gift and an impact they can make,” Josh shared, explaining his goal of helping develop programs, systems, and events that encourage young people to approach the world with confidence, bravery, and joy.

Josh also expressed his appreciation for Yap’s culture, food, natural environment, and people. He described the community as kind and welcoming, noting that the positive reception he has received has already begun to make the island feel like home.

Meanwhile, Amit joined the program after discovering the Legislative Mentor assignment at the OAG through the Australian Volunteers Program website. He saw the opportunity as a way to apply his professional background in legal policy development and law reform to support Yap’s legal institutions.

Prior to his arrival, Amit worked for the Australian federal government, primarily assisting Pacific partners with legal policy development and law reform in the criminal justice sector.

Through his assignment, Amit hopes to gain a deeper understanding of Yapese culture and traditions while contributing to the work of the OAG and the Yap State Legislature in improving the state’s laws.

Although Amit had previously traveled to several Pacific countries through his professional work, he had not yet visited the Federated States of Micronesia. He welcomed the assignment as an opportunity to experience a new environment and learn more about Yap’s history, culture, and people.

Describing his first impressions of the island, Amit noted that Yap is quiet, clean, and green. He also expressed appreciation for the friendliness and helpfulness of the community and said he was pleased to have the opportunity to live and work in Yap for the coming year.

The arrival of the two volunteers reflects the value of international volunteer partnerships in promoting professional exchange, sharing knowledge, and supporting local development priorities. Through their assignments, Josh and Amit look forward to working with their local counterparts while learning from Yap's people and culture.

Their work will support ongoing efforts to strengthen youth programs and advance legal development, while fostering meaningful connections between Yap State and the Government of Australia.

(For more information, please contact the Department of Youth and Civic Affairs at 350-DYCA)