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Making a Difference: The Power of Youth Volunteering

Young adults are finding many ways to help in their communities. Some organize cleanups, while others volunteer at food pantries or local events. Volunteering is more than just something to add to a resume—it shows kindness, leadership, and a desire to make a difference.

Youth Volunteering: Finding Purpose  

Volunteering also helps youth grow and learn. They build important skills like communication, teamwork, and responsibility. By helping others, they start to understand what their community needs and how their own talents can help. These experiences can shape their confidence and future goals.

The video, “How can volunteering help youth break free from social media?” by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, explains that volunteering can give young people a positive break from spending too much time on social media. It shares that being online too often can lead to feeling lonely, comparing yourself to others, and increased stress, while helping in the community allows youth to build confidence, make real-life friendships, and feel proud of the difference they make.

You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FT7hkQqfaU




Community Service Ideas

Being involved in the community also helps young people make strong connections. They meet new friends, work with mentors, and build positive relationships with local leaders. These connections can encourage them to stay involved and continue giving back. 

“50 Community Service Ideas for Teen Volunteers” is an article from TeenLife.com which provides a wide range of practical, age-appropriate volunteer suggestions for teenagers. The article organizes ideas that teens can pursue individually, with friends, or through community organizations, including activities such as supporting local nonprofits, assisting senior citizens, helping younger students, participating in environmental cleanups, and organizing donation drives. You can check out the post here: 

https://www.teenlife.com/blog/50-community-service-ideas-teen-volunteers/







What are your thoughts on starting volunteering? Share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments below!

 The SPAN Youth Chat

On March 4th, from 4:15 to 5:00 PM, join with the SPAN Youth Engagement Team for a topic about advocacy and youth empowerment. More details to come.







Resources...

Link to SPAN's website: www.spanadvocacy.org
Link to SPAN's Youth in the Know Resource Page: Youth in the Know
We're here for you! Call SPAN if you need assistance: 1-800-654-7726.

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