While negative stereotypes abound on the outlook, life-styles and attitudes of young people today, most youth in the country are actually healthier, happy and productive members of society.
The majority of youth in the U.S. engage in some form of volunteer activity and more youth serve as volunteers compared to adults.
When youth volunteer, almost everyone involved reaps the benefits. Over $60 billion is estimated to be contributed annually to the U.S. economy by virtue of volunteer services. Volunteering also helps various service organizations by cutting down costs of operations and making services available to a larger audience.
When youth volunteer, the larger community also benefits. Volunteerism promotes positive citizenship among youth by encouraging them to be more engaged in their own communities. Youth who volunteer feel more connected to their community, are more likely to show concern, and to stay in or return to their communities. Youth volunteerism contributes substantially to community vitality.
While volunteerism is focused on helping others, perhaps the biggest benefits to volunteering are reaped by the volunteers themselves. Studies suggest that youth volunteerism contributes to identity development, enhancement of skills, including marketability, increase self-esteem, development of empathy for others and improvements related to positive youth development. Volunteer endeavors also facilitate the development of significant relationships. Through these activities, you are able to meet like-minded individuals, as well as a possible range of people they would otherwise not encounter.
Every day, 4-H members across the nation pledge their hands to larger service. And every day, 4-H members are rolling up their sleeves and putting their pledge into action – leading positive change that empowers their peers and their communities.
This April, 4-H is launching an annual True Leaders in Service initiative in honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Month. True Leaders in Service, a month-long community service activation, will officially kick-off the first day of April, and culminate with the National 4-H Day of Service on the last Saturday in April. Thousands of 4-H members will venture out into their communities to do what 4-H members do best: they will lead in service to tackle community challenges and help meet the needs of others.
