Studies confirm a service-oriented young generation
Studies confirm a service-oriented young generation according to an article, Youths volunteer in record numbers,
in the post-gazette.com It highlights the outpouring of kid-generated
fund-raising efforts for the storm victims. It gives lots of
other examples and points to the following statistics::
- More than 83% of college freshmen reported in 2004
that they did volunteer work during their last year of high school, up
form 66% in 1989.
- More than 80% of U.S. high schools offer some kind
of service club as an after-school activity. Meanwhile, half of all
high schools and one-third of all elementary schools have a formal
service learning program connected to the curriculum.
- Young people cite “being asked” as the main reason
motivating them to volunteer, followed closely by the fact that “it
makes me feel good.”
Note this:
Wendy Wheeler, president of the Innovation Center for Community and
Youth Development in Takoma Park, Md., added that “thanks to
technology, young people can be active in connecting with others. They
are much more aware of the connections with other parts of the world
than previous generations.
“They also have ways to engage with others that weren’t available
before. They can use Internet petitions, online fund-raisers and blogs
to get engaged for the common good.”
So next time someone
asks “why blog?”, say “get engaged for the common good.” It’s true. The article points out
lots more interesting things to think about on the issue of
volunteering and youth. Read the entire article. I think this will be a
good one to post on “A School of Voices”. It’s uplifting to read about the good things youth are doing.
—–