“When their contributions are recognized, young people come to understand their place and value in the world” ―Meghan Lynch Forder Remember the time in high school where you had to seek out volunteer hours at the local food bank or library in order to be a walking, proud senior graduate? Volunteering in our local communities has been part of the educational curriculum in the United States for decades. Why was volunteering so important and necessary for high schoolers? Many could assume, volunteering should be an option not a necessity. However, it’s the opposite. Volunteering is what allows young students to grow up and create impact and change in their communities and living environments. What better time than high school to train and get our teens thinking and assisting the world at large around them.
It’s a time and opportunity to work through real challenges and make meaningful change with your young teens. These transformative experiences encourage teenagers and children to confront moral dilemmas, brainstorm real-world solutions, and spark innovative thinking.
Here’s an overview of the benefits of volunteering, according to childrenmd.org: Teen volunteering has been on a steady rise since the 1980s. Research has shown that teens who engage in community service are more responsible with higher self-esteem and resilience. Volunteering helps the teens gain new skills necessary for the job market such as leadership, communication skills, dependability, time management, and decision making. Teens who volunteer perform better at school and build a stronger resume for college and scholarship applications.
Social change and movement start in our classrooms with our students. The Design for Change (DFC) platform has the tools and resources virtually handy to get your students started on building awareness around an important social cause and design solution for change.
91% of educators surveyed report that Design for Change increased students' self-motivation to complete tasks and persist through obstacles.
As the old saying goes, there’s power in numbers. Students can work together on the DFC online platform and global network of leaders and start creating powerful change throughout their communities today. All it takes is the support of a teacher or adult mentor and a spark of inspiration to ignite change. Let’s be the support they need to make impactful change. Are there any topics of social interest that are currently buzzing around in your classrooms or on social media feeds?
Design for Change is an engine for students to use what they've learned about big social issues and come up with effective solutions to solve them.
According to a Greater Good Magazine article, Adolescents flourish when they have a chance to make significant contributions to their families, friends, schools, and communities. That’s how they get what they need to thrive as adults who can make a meaningful difference in the world.
Teens and community members will be better off if we help them find ways to make a difference. It all starts with dedicated time and effort to a common and positive goal. Volunteering is an act of service where an individual gives back to society. Relating this to the day, it means that several high school students come together to put up a program where they can affect lives as their own way of giving back to society.
Still on the fence? We encourage you to look at past DFC projects with other students over the years. Thousands of students like those in your classrooms, are tackling big issues and solving them right from their classroom, after school program, camps, and their homes! It’s time for you to invite your students to become part of the largest coalition of children, who are transforming their own communities in big and small ways!
Students are constantly being exposed to the big issues of our time - important social issues, which eventually make their way into the classroom. This is the perfect time to teach your students how to engage these topics and make a difference. The content and types of projects vary and can be aligned with the topics or societal issues that matter most to your students.
Spread the word to local youth and students in your classrooms and have them join the platform, start a movement and share the change they create in the world.
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