By Amy Davidson
I have to say that this year has been one of the most inspiring years for me professionally. Since starting this job in 1998, not only have the people who volunteer changed, but the types of service opportunities and their approach to service has changed. I am happy to say that there is really something for everyone when it comes to service learning and I want to share a few of our experiences.
This year, Volunteer Macon participated in the Semester of Service event. Our role was to host various events throughout the year and engage a variety of young people in service learning opportunities. These events took place around Days of Service-MLK Jr. Day until Global Youth Service Day engaging youth in our Summer Programs and Leadership Development classes.
During our MLK Day event, our participants read the novel, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”. We held several discussion groups about the book and its themes of racism, prejudice and cultural differences. The Friday before the big event, youth erected a wooden fence in downtown Macon. One side of the fence was decorated with things that symbolized positive things in our community and the other negative. On MLK Day, the fence was torn down, symbolizing hope that all fences should be torn down. The students as well as the adult attendees were very moved by this ceremony.
From January until late April, we worked with youth on four different focus areas, including the environment, elderly and aging, homelessness and literacy. After our participants completed workshops, then went out into our community to serve on projects they designed. These sites included area nursing homes, shelters, local food bank and church food pantries, Head Start programs and an environmental project on non-native plant eradication at the Ocmulgee National Monument. All of these projects were well received and had a big impact.
Our summer program has always been one of my favorites. Youth come for an intensive 2-week service learning experience that emphasizes social awareness as well as academics. As with all of our service learning initiatives, youth design their own community service projects ranging from debris removal, picnics for the homeless, baby products drive and helping at our local health department’s HIV Testing Day. The volunteers always comment what a difference it makes when they have learned why they are helping and what kind of impact they are having on our community. Youth come back year after year to this program.
During the school year, Volunteer Macon hosts leadership development and service learning activities. We keep them engaged through the school year and make sure they are staying on task with their academics. During these sessions, we incorporate team building activities and diversity training. At the end of the school year, our students design and implement a service project of their choice.
I am very fortunate to serve in this capacity at Volunteer Macon and I am always blown away by the amount of caring people I meet. It doesn’t take a grand project to make a difference in someone’s life or in your community. When you do something positive for your community or your neighbor you are affecting the whole community.
Everyone, everywhere, schools, businesses, churches can start small, but everyone needs to start now.
Amy Davidson is the Youth Volunteer Corps Director with Volunteer Macon and a guest blogger.
