©Copyright 2000-2002. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reprinted or reproduced in whole or in part without permission from About Families |
|
||||||||||||
|
Feature Articles for April 2003
How Should They Help? Survey finds kids willing to volunteer, but unsure where to begin. More children would volunteer if more opportunities were created for them, and if they were asked, according to a youth volunteerism survey that is the first to poll both volunteering and non-volunteering youth on the subject. Nearly half of children who do not currently volunteer cited the same reason for not doing so: no one asked. Almost seven out of 10 youth who currently do not volunteer would likely do so if opportunities were created for them by schools or other organizations, according to the survey, which was conducted for Kohl’s Department Stores by Teenage Research Unlimited, a survey company specializing in youth attitudes. The findings of the study demonstrate the importance of creating opportunities and inviting young people to get involved, said Steven A. Culbertson, president and CEO of Washington-based Youth Service America, a resource center committed to making youth service the common experience for all youth in America. The survey also found that 79 percent of young volunteers started with an activity organized by their school, a club or religious organization. Through their experience, they felt they really helped someone else while having fun. They felt better about themselves and planned to continue in volunteer activities. In fact, 85 percent of this year’s young volunteers plan to volunteer next year. “Today’s youth recognize the benefits of volunteering for their communities as well as themselves, and we can help plant the seeds of lifelong community service by introducing them to volunteer opportunities when they are young,” said Culbertson. |
