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Why Should Youth Volunteer? | Service Learning Questions and Answers

Why Should Youth Volunteer?

You can make a difference at any age!

Benefits:

Promotes Lifelong Community Engagement

  • Youth who volunteer at an early age are three times more likely to remain active in their communities as adults.
    • In fact, twice as many young people volunteer at 55% compared to 29% of adults.
  • By having an adult role model who volunteers, youth are more likely to become active in service opportunities because they want to, not because they feel obligated.

Supports Healthy Decision-Making

  • Youth who participate in volunteer projects are 50% less likely to make destructive decisions or engage in risky behavior.

Develops Skills for the Future

  • Employment Skills
    • Youth and teens who volunteer are more likely to develop a stronger work ethic, invaluable interpersonal, communication and leadership skills, which allow them to perform better in school and at work.
  • Personal Skills
    • New experiences provide youth with new perspectives, encouraging personal growth in empathy, compassion, respect and kindness. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and have fun!