PROMISE 5

All children need the chance to make a difference in their families, at schools and in their communities. Knowing how to make a difference comes from having models of caring behavior, awareness of the needs of others, a sense of personal responsibility to contribute to the larger society, and opportunities for volunteering, leadership and service.

Providing young people with opportunities to make a difference through service instills not only a sense of responsibility but of possibility. Young people want to be involved in making the world a better place; however, far too many lack meaningful opportunities to contribute.

According to Every Child, Every Promise:

  • Nearly half of our children are not experiencing this Promise.
  • Half of parents of young people say they rarely discuss current events with their children
  • One-third of young people say they lack adult role models who volunteer and help others
  • 94 percent of young people want to help make the world a better place

Learn more about our National Action Strategies to bring more Promises to 15 million children in five years.

Strategies that Work

  1. For 0 to 5 Years
  2. For 6 to 10 Years
  3. For 11 to 14 Years
  4. For 15 to 18 Years

For 0 to 5 Years^

Top Six Actions

1.   Discuss with children ways they could volunteer at home. Ask each child to pick one of the things they will volunteer to do. Send a note home either written or “signed” by the child, telling how they will volunteer.

2.   Encourage family volunteering. Provide a list of organizations in the community where they can go, including the kinds of volunteer opportunities provided by each organization.

3.   Work with the children in your group to make a list of volunteer tasks to help your group function properly. Ask the children to volunteer for these jobs. Make sure each child has an opportunity to volunteer for something.

4.   Encourage parents/caregivers to select two simple volunteer activities that their child could do for the family. Start these as soon as the child can walk. The child can pick which one of the two activities he/she wants to do.

5.   Arrange for children to participate in activities that beautify the community.

6.   Encourage four- and five-year-olds to help younger children learn things.

Additional Actions to Consider

  • Have children bring gifts to residents at a nursing home and explain to them that this is volunteering.
  • Ask two children in your group to volunteer for 15 minutes to greet people as they enter your organization’s building. Do this until all children have a chance to volunteer.

For 6 to 10 Years^

Top Six Actions

1.   Ask children to develop service projects related to their interests. Make sure the organization recognizes their volunteer duties.  This should be done yearly.

2.   Ask children to list all the ways someone their age can volunteer. Have them write or draw pictures of these volunteer opportunities. Post them on a bulletin board titled, “All the ways you can volunteer.” Ask each child to pledge to do one of these volunteer projects.

3.   Foster a service ethic within the group through conversations and activities that demonstrate the importance of service.

4.   Encourage families to volunteer together.

5.   With the children in your program, list volunteer tasks that your group needs to function properly. Ask the children in your group to volunteer for these jobs. Make sure each child has a chance to volunteer for something.

6.   Discuss ways your children could volunteer with family. Ask each child to pick one of the things they will do. Send a note home either written or “signed” by the child, describing how they will volunteer.

Additional Actions to Consider

  • Ask two children in your group to volunteer for 30 minutes to greet people as they enter your organization’s building. Do this until all children have a chance to volunteer.
  • Grow a “Garden for the Needy,” where the children take care of the garden and then deliver the food to families in need.
  • Develop a “Kids Neighborhood Watch” so children learn responsibility for community problems.
  • Encourage each child in your group to take on a chore for someone in their neighborhood who could use some help. Chores can include mowing the yard, shopping, etc.
  • Look for a partner agency in the community and plan to have children participate in service activities with that agency.
  • Have the children take pictures of things that are important to them. Then, have them describe why those things are important to them. Help them make the connection back to a potential service project.
  • Run a “toy and book campaign” each year. The children collect toys to give to younger children who need them.
  • Arrange for children to participate in an environmental project.
  • Develop service activities to expose your group to new experiences.

For 11 to 14 Years^

Top Six Actions

1.   Discuss service projects youth can do for their family, neighbors or the community. Keep a written record of the volunteering done by each youth. Set up a regular recognition program for volunteering. Talk about ways that they can make an impact.

2.   Discuss strengths and problems your community faces. Talk about how to solve one of these problems. Then, discuss ways your group could help.

3.   Give youth an opportunity to volunteer with younger children. Before they volunteer, train them to work with young children.

4.   Encourage family volunteering.

5.   Encourage youth participation in environmental improvement projects in your community, along rivers, etc.

6.   Help youth develop a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities for your group and other young people. The youth should manage the clearinghouse.

Additional Actions to Consider

  • Ask youth to pick a volunteer project for your organization. Make sure the organization recognizes them for their volunteer duties at least yearly.
  • Discuss with youth how helping someone is also volunteering. Ask each youth to take on a volunteer job such as making soup for a sick neighbor, or running an errand for someone who is house-bound.
  • Provide young people with opportunities to lead volunteer projects.

For 15 to 18 Years^

Top Six Actions

1.   Discuss the strengths and problems your community faces. Talk about how to solve one of these problems. Then, discuss ways your group can help. It may be necessary to advocate government, business, schools, etc.

2.   Discuss the environment and the importance of nurturing our earth. As a group, decide on a volunteer project to help the environment.

3.   Discuss the importance of not-for-profit organizations.

4.   Develop a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities for your group and other youth.  The clearinghouse should be managed by the youth.

5.   Ask the youth in your group to volunteer. Explore the possibilities as a group. Assist in securing the volunteering opportunities.

6.   Encourage family volunteering.

Additional Actions to Consider

  • Have youth pick a volunteer project for your organization or community.
  • Engage youth in intergenerational activities such as developing community centers for youth, adults and families.
  • Make sure the organization recognizes them for their volunteer duties at least yearly.
  • Discuss how helping someone is also volunteering. Ask each youth to take on a volunteer job such as making soup for a sick neighbor, or running an errand for someone confined to her/his home.
  • Engage youth in volunteer activities linking them to career opportunities.
  • Encourage youth to volunteer with younger children or their peers.