How can we encourage volunteerism amoung youth?

Question

Have you done any interesting/fun/engaging volunteer work? How can we promote long-term volunteerism, especially amoung schooling students with tight schedules? online volunteerism? attachment programmes? Kids to work with kids? all ideas are welcomed!

Answer 1

I think the big problem is that in the US we do not have a culture of volunteerism. Parents and other influential adults in kids' lives do not do much in the way of volunteer service. I think that if there was more incentive for adults to engage in volunteer services, kids would naturally follow

Answer 2

Well clubs are great, especially because it looks awesome on college applications.

I was a part of Key Club most of my high school, and we did volunteer work non stop. Some kids think that they have to devote all their weekend to service, but our club worked it out with soup kitchens and community shelters by creating shifts. We, on average, worked 2 hours a week cooking or cleaning. We also weeded gardens and fund raise by doing car washes.

To be honest, kids today will put little effort into things unless they are important. We chose to appoint each and every member a job. We also made a goal at the end of the year, a major party or trip somewhere where students who devoted time go for free.

Students will rarely work unless they get something in the end. Once they start enjoying community service, they'll do it knowing they are helping society.

Answer 3

I know my school assigns mandatory community service, and when the teachers deal with it right, which I believe ours did, the effects are not short lived. It makes a huge impact on people's lives. Especially when the chosen service is working with disabled children around our own age. The way our teachers went about the project was as such: "This is the basic outline for the project, have it done by...." We were NOT given a project, yet had to find our own to fit the guidelines, it was a great experience for most of the classes.

Answer 4

If you're talking on the governmental level - I think creating programs where
people spend a year overseas are wonderful - they give a new perspective
and they can put labor where it is really needed.

Around here, certain types of civic/volunteer work are required for
graduation from High School. I have *YET* to hear anyone look back
at it and regret it (though there is often mumbling during it). This is a
public school system.

Answer 5

An important question. I didn't start feeling that I owe the world anything until I visited some poor countries and realised how well-off I am compared with some people, instead of just resenting those better-off than me. Treat kids decently and chances are that they'll treat others well too. Abuse them and they'll grow up and treat others likewise. I came from an abusive family and the only thing that straightened me out was meeting some nice people. Brutal discipline doesn't straighten out selfish vicious people, but good example often does, if it isn't left too late.

Answer 6

I have found that young people gain a sense of purpose in life when recognised as having experiences, views and passion worth sharing. This is an empowering way of creating REAL and positive change in their lives rather than the disempowering approach of trying to fix their 'problems'.

Answer 7

Offer some weed

Answer 8

by offering obsene amounts of cash, non stop party atnosphere, lotts of chicks, and free drugs and alchohol, this should get you a endless line of volunteers

Answer 9

If children see their parents volunteer they will volunteer.