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Updated August 6, 2007
Volunteerism: The Gift of TimeBy KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant Recently, a group of volunteers made up of teachers and nurses traveled to Nicaragua on behalf of an international agency. Read the article to see how they helped one community there. There are lots of opportunities for volunteers closer to home, too. For example, hundreds of kids and adults work together every year to improve the environment by picking up trash at the annual St. Johns River Celebration.
Why should you volunteer? What's important enough for you give up your free time for others? What will they get out of it-and just what is it supposed to do for you? Volunteers donate their time to support a cause they believe in. If you put your mind to it, you could probably name lots of causes, or issues. Why not try to think of some right now? You might start with global (worldwide) issues like world hunger or environmental concerns-reducing pollution or helping save endangered species, for example. Then, brainstorm issues in your own community, such as providing food and shelter for the homeless or victims of abuse. What causes do you, personally, feel strongly about? You might know of many places where volunteers are needed. Did you think of fundraisers (with the March of Dimes Birth Defects Organization, for instance), or charitable organizations like the United Way, offering many services to area residents? What about nursing homes or animal rescue agencies, libraries, neighborhood centers and local literacy programs? While government agencies help with some causes, not many governments can afford to provide all services to help people, animals, the environment, and so on. Therefore, organizations and agencies step in wherever they can. Most rely upon donations of money and time to provide their services. Many people volunteer at schools like yours. They help in classrooms, in offices and at special activities and events. Take a look at some volunteers who were honored in a ceremony of appreciation.
Some volunteers travel around-and outside of-the United States. While many donate their services locally, others work through national organizations such as the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is filled with volunteers 18 and older who live and work, for two years, in countries outside of the United States. While serving in the Peace Corps, volunteers share their special knowledge and skills-like teaching, farming or medicine, for instance. Kids are pretty creative at finding ways to donate their services. What skills do you have that others do not-what special things are you good at? You'd be surprised at how many ways you can find to help others. Good readers sometimes volunteer to read to those who can't. Kids fluent in more than one language can translate for others. If asked, the majority of volunteers would probably say they're enriched by opportunities that volunteering provides. They are special people who enjoy working and interacting with others. Whether working abroad, or tutoring, mentoring or providing companionship in their own neighborhoods-they would say they build special relationships with people and places they come to know through volunteering. They appreciate their new understanding of different viewpoints and cultures, and while teaching, working with and learning from others they learn more about themselves. If you're interested in doing some volunteering yourself, be sure to check out the newspaper activities and web sites provided below, because they might give you ideas about where to start! Additional News-Journal Articles Volunteerism Hits a 30-Year High DeBary student government honored as ‘Point of Light’ Pitching in to pitch away Try these interesting activities using The News-Journal 1. With appropriate permission, volunteer to read newspaper articles and features to a needy person in your community who cannot read for him or herself. Hospitals, homes for the elderly or disabled and neighborhood centers are just a few good places to ask about volunteer opportunities. (Sunshine State Standards: SS.C.2.2.1)
2. Search your newspaper and read articles: about volunteers and volunteering. Make a list of the qualities you believe are important for a volunteer to have. Then, check out your newspaper's Help Wanted ads to see how they are written. Create your own Help Wanted ad, imagining you are head of an agency looking for volunteers with the qualities you listed. Post your ad on a bulletin board for others to see and get ideas from. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.5, LA.B.2.2.6, SS.C.2.2.1) 3. 'Recycle' the list you created in Activity #2, above, or jot down thoughts now, about the important qualities a volunteer should possess. Then, use your newspaper's Comics section for reference as you design your own 'Volunteer Superhero" comic strip. Share your creation with friends and family. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.5, LA.A.2.2.8, LA.B.2.2.6, LA.D.2.2.3, LA.D.2.2.5, LA.E.1.2.4, SS.C.2.2.1) 4. Volunteers help to make a difference in our world. Find someone featured in a recent newspaper who is making a difference. Write a letter telling that person why you admire him or her. Edit for spelling, grammar and punctuation, and consider sending the letter to your newspaper. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.5, LA.B.1.2.2, LA.B.1.2.3, SS.C.2.2.1) 5. The News-Journal regularly publishes names of local agencies and organizations in need of volunteers. Use your newspaper to locate a recently published list. From your list, select three volunteer opportunities you are eligible for and might like to participate in. Discuss your findings with a parent or guardian, and if possible, call or visit your top choices for more detailed information. You might end up becoming a volunteer yourself! (Sunshine State Standards: SS.C.2.2.1) A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org. Check out these links to learn more Each year USA Weekend, the magazine carried on Sundays in The News-Journal, sponsors Make A Difference Day at the end of October. Check out their web site for current activities. They even have a project generator to help you discover more ways you can help in the future. http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html
Check out this page of links that show many ways kids are helping individuals, communities and more. www.surfnetkids.com/volunteer.htm The time you spend doing volunteer work almost certainly makes a difference in people's lives. Listen to some kids talk about how they are helping make a difference in their communities! www.peacecorps.gov/kids/difference/ Founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps has sent over 163,000 men and women all over the world. Take a look at this Peace Corps page to learn more about the organization. Many people, when they turn 18, or perhaps after they earn their college degrees, seriously consider joining the Peace Corps for opportunities to help others as well as to build bridges of cross-cultural understanding with people of other countries. www.peacecorps.gov/kids/about/index.html See what a typical day is like for a Peace Corps Volunteer who is serving in South Africa. www.peacecorps.gov/kids/like/index_day.html The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world. Visit the site and check some of them out, to see if they have recently published any articles about volunteering. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. |
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