Summer with a Cause
While your students are planning a summer filled with fun and relaxation, why not encourage them to also devote a part of their long break to a meaningful cause?
It’s not only for the humanitarian and environmental goal, really, although that is the main draw. Volunteering also gives your students a personal network where they meet leaders in the community, and experiences that they can learn from.
Here are the things you can encourage them to do:
Research. Volunteer work is more appreciated if the volunteer knows and understands the cause it works for.
Take into account their goals. If your student wants to become an environmentalist or a veterinarian in the future, have them volunteer at the local NGO dedicated to the environment or animals.
Maximize the use of skills and talents. Students who can create web pages or do excellent graphics and design can offer a lot to local organizations like the church, child care center or NGO. Help them match their skills to the various needs of socio-civic organizations.
Be ready to learn. Choose an organization that can open up opportunities for your students to develop new skills and capabilities.
Commit slowly. Overly committing themselves to volunteer service and not following through could turn out to be a frustrating experience for others.
Propose new ideas. If your student has ideas for the organization’s new projects, encourage them to write a one-page outline and spearhead it.
Volunteer with heart. Encourage your students to serve with enthusiasm and sincerity.
Moreover, for ideas on the different organizations you can encourage your students to volunteer in, here are some suggestions:
Red Cross is a great opportunity for your students to learn about first aid, disaster management, trainings on basic health care and life support, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse prevention. Red Cross volunteers also just recently joined a sports fest in Cebu as a way of encouraging friendship, camaraderie and sportsmanship among the youth, which could mean both an enjoyable and fruitful summer for student volunteers.
Greenpeace is currently very active with its Global Energy Efficiency campaign. Students can act on their own by adapting more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly ways, becoming a cyberactivist, volunteering skills, and joining Solar Generation (the youth activism branch of Greenpeace).
Rock Ed consists of volunteers providing venues and events for alternative education. They do it through the following: the arts, poetry, sports, photography, fashion, graphic design, literature, new approaches to science, film, cultural studies, theater, dance and other venues aside from the classroom. Students can volunteer by getting in touch with the head of an organization or school, and planning events for the global anti-poverty campaign. They can also have a poverty awareness photo exhibits in local areas, and post “No more excuses, Philippines” banners in the school campus.
For more information on possible organizations to volunteer in this summer, here are some websites that could be of help.
Youth Volunteer Network - an online community of the youth from all over the world who raise awareness on different issues and take action on things that matter to them.
Network for Good - connects people to charities online.
VolunteerMatch - helps people find possible places to volunteer in.
Rock Ed
Greenpeace
When classes start again in June, your students will surely have more than mere summer vacation stories to tell.
Sources:
“Five tips for volunteering.” Retrieved March 27, 2008 from
http://www.aie.org/AIEmail/Issues/20071210/index.cfm
“How do I volunteer?” Retrieved March 27, 2008 from
http://www.aie.org/AIEmail/Issues/20080303/index.cfm
“How to help us.” Retrieved March 27, 2008 from
http://www.rockedphilippines.org/main_helpus.html
Sinajon, Ghea. “Red Cross volunteers join sportsfest.” Retrieved March 27, 2008 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/community/view/20080312-124252/Red-Cross-volunteers-join-sportsfest
“Take action.” Retrieved March 27, 2008 from
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action
"Ten Tips for Volunteering Wisely." Retrieved March 27, 2008 from
www.usafreedomcorps.gov/for_volunteers/ten_tips
(Published 08 April 2008, Smart Schools Program)
