By Christy Monroe
By the time our kids are in their early teens they have usually mastered using a fork and spoon, brushing their teeth, and taking out the trash…but have they learned about caring for their community?
Many of the teens that I’ve worked with over the past few months are forming their ideals, and they truly want to make a difference. Our job as “the village” is not only to support and protect the growth of our children, but also to guide our young adults in finding ways that they can make an impact by helping others.
The benefits far outweigh the principal investment. Volunteering can help teens to:
Make connections in their community that last a lifetime.
Become more engaged and conscientious adults.
Feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their actions.
Gain experience working as a team towards a goal.
Understand that being part of something greater than yourself is truly awesome.
The trouble is that teens are all too often stereotyped as uncaring, self-centered, and a difficult population to work with. Meanwhile, community service is a term more commonly used as a reference to a punishment rather than a reward. Going on the philosophy that we live up to the expectations set before us, I feel that we can change some of these perceptions by changing the way we view and communicate with our young people.
As managers of volunteers and members of your community, I encourage you to present volunteer opportunities to youth on a regular basis. Whether guiding someone into an existing opportunity or identifying a need in your community for them to meet, don’t forget to reach out to the teen population when recruiting. Get on their radar and present clear direction that results in positive, measurable impact. Chances are they’ll be back to serve their community again and again as they see that caring for their community is an ongoing need (much like brushing your teeth). I truly believe that shaping our young people into healthy and productive adults who are engaged in their community is the best long-term investment that we can make as a society.
Christy Monroe is a featured blogger.
