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On average, youth in Canada spend more time than adults on volunteering for
activities in their communities. In 2004, 54% of 15-19 year olds volunteered compared
to 35% of 20-64 year olds. This may be due in part to school programs
requiring volunteerism for completion. But regardless of the reason, young people benefit in a variety of ways such as personal fulfillment,
opportunities to develop skills, and the ability to explore their strengths.
Youth who volunteer, talk about how volunteering gives them a feeling of being valued, of having something to contribute back to the community, and being part of something bigger than themselves as individuals.
Youth can get involved in their communities in a variety of ways, such as:
- being part of a youth planning group that sets the agenda and hosts a youth conference on health issues
- helping a charity by setting up for a local sporting event that raises funds
- leading workshops for youth on self-esteem or communication skills
- providing feedback to a municipality developing a skate park for youth.
| "It helped me grow personally and give back to the community." |
Why is it important to create opportunities for youth to get involved?
Meaningful youth engagement is about a lot more than fulfilling a volunteer requirement for school. It is about recognizing and
nurturing the strengths, interests, and abilities of young people and offering them real opportunities to get involved in their communities
and to have an influence on what affects them.
Meet August, Jourdan and Nathan: three young Canadians, with a lot of experience, who talk about what they get out of volunteering.
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August, age 22: What started with a broken arm has led to four years of volunteering with over 15 youth organizations
It was by complete coincidence that I became involved; I was 18 and had started acrobat training. On the second day of training, I
fractured my left arm. Depressed and despondent, my friends convinced me to come out to a youth week performance. It was there I ran into a
long time acquaintance and youth worker who convinced me to help out with in-school workshops that focused on anti-oppression topics.
That was the beginning of what would become four years of volunteering for over 15 different youth organizations and non-profit agencies,
ranging from community panels to working with homeless youth.
A lot of the people I volunteered and worked with came from varied backgrounds and were generous in sharing their time and knowledge. I
learned a lot of valuable tools that enabled me to grow personally, but also develop the self-confidence necessary to keep pursuing
challenges. I find myself now in a position where I can give some of that back to the community as a youth mentor. I think it's invaluable
that opportunities are there for youth to try something new — you never know where a broken arm will take you!
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Youth engagement teaches valuable skills, builds resilience
The years between 12 and 20 span a critical stage for young people as they begin to define
their identity and develop a sense of self-worth in their capacity to influence their environment. Youth are looking for opportunities
to express themselves as they evolve a more defined sense of self. For youth, there is a shift in focus from the family to a broader sense
of awareness that includes peers, adult mentors beyond parents, and other social influences.
Youth engagement creates avenues for young people to become connected to other youth and adults, and to understand their communities from
a new perspective. It also offers young people the chance to develop decision-making and problem-solving skills, develop meaningful
relationships, and bolster their self-esteem, all of which can lead to greater resiliency.
Engagement helps build valuable work and community experience that can help youth decide on a career and find employment. It allows them
to find out what they like and what they have an aptitude for. It's simple — being involved builds a sense of pride and connection to people
and the places we live.
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Jourdan, age 23: Learning skills and making a difference
For me, volunteering is an important aspect of my life, as it has allowed me to develop many skills and gain experiences, which I
otherwise would not have been able to enjoy.
Volunteering is about more than making yourself attractive to employers or making the resume look good — it's about helping people,
developing new friendships, making lives better for everybody, and exploring different opportunities. Also, by engaging in volunteer work,
I was able to develop decision-making skills and the ability to understand issues from the point of view of others. These skills have helped
in many aspects of my life and I probably couldn't have gained these skills anywhere else.
Volunteering has had a lasting effect on my personal life. Sometimes, it can be challenging and through these challenges, I've become a
stronger and richer person. By making a social commitment, I am able to empathize with others, thus helping me broaden my ability to think
about society. However, the most rewarding aspect of volunteering is the meaning that it has given to my life, because I know that I have
helped others make a difference in their lives.
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What does meaningful youth engagement look like?
While there's no one-size-fits-all model for youth engagement, there are some key aspects that are common to most successful programs.
- Make sure it's fun, welcoming and respectful. Don't underestimate the allure of having fun with other like-minded individuals who are
excited about being part of something bigger.
- Identify a common goal or purpose. Let everyone become a part of the big picture and have a sense of why they have come together.
- Focus on meaningful involvement where youth feel valued and fulfilled.
- Provide opportunities to learn. Be creative about learning opportunities and include opportunities for youth to learn from peers and
adult mentors or supports, through training, by experience, and by connecting with other people through workshops and conferences.
- Set the tone for personal discovery. Personal fulfillment, happiness and growth come from facing challenges and overcoming them so it's
important to create opportunities for this to happen.
- Refocus the role of adult support people. Youth engagement needs supportive adults, but the role of those adults is to be role models
and mentors who offer guidance and input where it is appropriate (a guide on the side). It's not someone to run the show (a sage
on the stage).
(Taken from YACLink: tips and tricks for starting a youth advisory council, McCreary Centre Society)
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Nathan, age 24: Learning about leadership and teamwork
I had just started volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club after becoming interested in community leadership and making a personal
change in my life that was necessary for my growth.
A worker with the Club showed me a posting about a leadership conference. I was intrigued. It seemed to be just the thing I was looking for.
The theme was social awareness, and the workshops were on leadership and other youth issues. I didn't have much money so I phoned a community
assistance program and they told me to write a letter to the Lions Club. I did and they granted me the money to attend! I was happy but a
little scared about my new adventure.
I decided to 'believe in the best' and get out there. It proved to be a great decision when I met a lot of awesome people who were interested
in making a difference and helping others. I learned a lot while having fun at the same time, and enjoying the outdoors. It was cool.
After that I joined the Youth Advisory Council (that organized the youth conference) to help plan and organize the next conference. We have
fun and build skills such as teamwork, organizing and communication skills and I believe we make a difference in being role models for others.
We make improvements each year and it just keeps getting better.
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It's a win/win for communities too
Communities also benefit when young people get involved because engagement:
- gives young people a sense of belonging to their community
- promotes youth's sense of responsibility to the community
- makes it more likely that community programs and services will fit the needs of youth.
Youth engagement: more than meets the eye
Youth engagement is about a lot more than tallying volunteer hours for school credits. Meaningful engagement is about creating
opportunities for young people to learn and practice new skills, develop new networks, overcome challenges and create a sense of self-worth
that comes from having something valuable to contribute.
If it's true that our children are our future, what a future it will be with individuals like these!
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