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Youth Service Day

March 2006 article

National & Global Youth Service Day: You Can Change the World! April 21-23, 2006

National and Global Youth Service Day (April 21-23, 2006) is the largest international youth service event. Remind youth to start planning their service projects so they can take part in a service event that engages millions of youth in service.

The goals of National and Global Youth Service Day are

  • To mobilize youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through service

  • To support youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement

  • To educate the public, the news media, and policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders (Adapted from Youth Service America)
     

Help National and Global Youth Service Day achieve these goals by encouraging youth to pursue projects that pique their interests.

Tips to completing a Youth Service Day project:

  • Have youth view the Youth Service America’s National and Global Youth Service Day website. Here they can find service project ideas, find project celebrations in their area, and learn about National and Global Youth Service Day.

  • Encourage youth to contact community organizations to find local service opportunities. Youth can also look for local volunteer opportunities at SERVEnet. (SERVEnet is the Internet's largest database of volunteering opportunities).

  • If youth are unable to find a service project that suits their talents, encourage them to create their own project! NCPC has a publication focused on the steps necessary to create and execute service projects entitled, Charting Success: A Workbook for Developing Service-Learning Projects, 4th ed.
     

'Charting Success' project planning steps include:

  1. Identify the problem you want to address with your service project.

  2. Plan your service project.

  3. Line up the resources you will need.

  4. Act on your plan.

  5. Evaluate and nurture your project; reflect on your service experience; celebrate your successes! 
     

After sharing the tips and planning the project, encourage youth to make both their projects and National and Global Youth Service Day even bigger by involving their friends and family in the project! Then they’ll be able to share the service experience, bond, and celebrate together!

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