SPECIFIC MODULES LTS/CWTS MODULE 2 VOLUNTEERISM Lesson 1 Concepts/Elements of Volunteerism Lesson 2 Role of Youth in Strengthening Volunteerism and the importance of voluntary actionLesson 1: Concept of Volunteerism People the world over engage in volunteerism for a great variety of reasons: to help to eliminate poverty and to improve basic health and education, to tackle environmental issues, to reduce the risk of disasters or to combat social exclusion and violent conflict. In all of these fields, volunteerism makes a specific contribution by generating well-being for people and their communities. Volunteers are motivated by values like those of justice, equality and freedom as expressed in the United Nations Charter. A society which supports and encourages different forms of volunteering is likely to be a society which also promotes the well- being of its citizens. Volunteerism is a basic expression of human relationships. It is about people's need to participate in their societies and to feel that they matter to others. We strongly believe that the social relationships intrinsic to volunteer work are critical to individual and community well-being. The ethos of volunteerism is infused with values such as solidarity, reciprocity, mutual trust, belonging and empowerment, all of which contribute significantly to quality of life. Volunteerism also forms the backbone of many national and international non- governmental organizations and other civil society organizations, as well as social and political movements. It is present in the public sector and is increasingly a feature of the private sector. Learning Activity: Make a research and look for the different organizations that operates using a volunteerism platform. Study the operation and note of their processes on how the organization ran. Make a summary brief as to how they execute some of their programs. https://www.unv.ore/volunteerism/power-volunteerism Lesson 2 Role of the Youth un Strengthening volunteerism and the importance of voluntary action The Importance of Volunteerism for Youth Why is volunteering important for youth? While we should support youth volunteerism to better our communities, children and teenagers who volunteer will also see and feel transformation within themselves. In the words of Opportunity Nation, “There is mounting evidence that volunteering, participating in service projects, and other forms of community involvement are more than feel-good activities. They can contribute to better outcomes for youth and for communities.” In other words, we all benefit by encouraging altruistic behaviors in our communities’ youth. Below, we outline some of the many ways volunteering can lead to success for teenagers and children: Develop Transferable Skills Special Modules LTS/CWTS ~ Volunteerism ‘Module IYouth who volunteer regularly practice skills—like collaboration and problem solving— that are vital to succeed in academics, the workplace, and their personal lives. Whether it’s collecting donations or caring for the elderly, youth develop an understanding of citizenship that extends into adulthood. Plus, volunteering helps teens fill their resumes with robust, real-world experience. That’s why colleges and employers look for civically engaged applicants who will thrive in team settings and take on challenging work. Reinforce Social Capital Teens who volunteer build relationships and strengthen their support network, or “social capital.” Social capital strengthens trust and sense of community and is critical to upward mobility. According to Opportunity Nation, volunteer opportunities for low-income teens are especially integral in facilitating meaningful connections and sourcing educational pathways, “Research shows [volunteerism] can serve as an effective conduit to positive educational and career outcomes for low-income youth.” The act of volunteering increases the likelihood of finding employment, resulting in a measurable increase in employment among volunteers ages 16-24 who were not in school and previously unemployed. In addition, volunteering is an effective avenue for college students preparing to enter the workforce; employers are 82% more likely to choose a candidate with volunteering experience and 85% more likely to overlook resume flaws when volunteer work is present. Make Real Change Volunteering gives youth the opportunity to work through real challenges and make meaningful change. These transformative experiences encourage teenagers and children to confront moral dilemmas, investigate solutions, and employ innovative thinking. As young volunteers begin to notice real changes as a result of their effort, they establish a cognitive connection between effort and positive outcome: According to this article, young people who volunteer regularly develop a civic identity, as leaders and changemakers, and therefore become more socially and politically active adults. Facilitate Respect, As children grow, they develop a more refined sense of self-awareness and an awareness of others. Volunteers must put their own needs aside to address the needs of others. Children who do so will also learn to value and understand themselves throughout the process. Empathy and citizenship are developed during childhood and adolescence. And participating in activities like caring for the elderly or addressing homelessness from an early age introduces young people to the process of confronting moral dilemmas and thinking about social change. Exposure to meaningful volunteer opportunities as children and adolescents will help foster lasting empathy and inclusivity, qualities necessary in cultivating safe, unified communities. Support Academic Success Special Modules LTS/CWTS ~ Volunteerism ‘Module INonprofits and volunteer centers have begun to partner with local campuses to develop service-learning and other volunteer programs. From them, we've learned that across all socioeconomic levels, teens who volunteer are less likely to feel disconnected from school and work. In fact, 82% of students who participated in service-learning reported increased positive feelings about attending high school, while 75% of students agree that service-learning had an impact on motivating them to work hard. The National Youth Leadership Council states that students who participated in service-learning scored higher in social studies, writing, and language arts subject tests than non-participating students. When students participate in service-learning curriculum, they demonstrate deeper cognitive engagement and greater motivation to learn. And educators are employing service-learning as a tool to reduce high-school dropout and increase achievement among at-risk students. Volunteer opportunities paired with a good education are the success “power couple” for today’s youth; nonprofits and schools together can develop a children and teen volunteerism program to support a rising generation of altruistic citizens. Learning Activity: In your own campus, how do you evaluate your performance in terms of your participation to co-curricular activities? Do you find these activities of your organization productive and engaging? Why do you say so? What do you think are the learning that you get from joining such groups? https://www.galaxydigital.com/blog/youth-volunteerism/#:~:text=Youth%20who aaa i %20organization. Special Modules LTS/CWTS - Volunteerism ‘Module I