Camille Mahlknecht, 9, has some big fun planned for this weekend. She and other residents of Agoura Hills, California, plan to pick up trash during their city's annual cleanup. Okay, gathering garbage may not sound like a good time to you--but it does to Camille. "It makes me feel terrific inside to help out and make the community clean," she says.
At the same time, Wissam Raed, 12, will be busy volunteering too. Thousands of miles away in Hasbaya, Lebanon, Wissam plans to help put on a play at an orphanage and bring potted plants to elderly people at a senior citizen center.
More than 3 million young Americans and millions of kids from 127 other countries will join Camille and Wissam in lending a hand to their communities, starting April 11, for National and Global Youth Service Day. Kids will take part in activities that range from planting trees in deforested valleys to making movies that encourage others to help children in need.
WHY KIDS PITCH IN
It's not surprising that millions of kids plan to participate in this weekend's event, which is run by Youth Service America (YSA) with the Global Youth Action Network. Community service has become hugely popular. Zoom, a television show on PBS, conducted a survey this winter of almost 10,000 U.S. kids. Nearly 80% said that they volunteer.
School is a big reason that kids are so involved in volunteer work. According to the most recent statistics, about two-thirds of all U.S. public schools offer community service activities. In a third of all schools, teachers combine volunteer work with classroom lessons. In many schools and clubs, service work is a requirement.
Almost every student at Oakley Park Elementary School in Walled Lake, Michigan, helps protect children around the world by raising money for "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF." Last year, the school collected more than $10,000--more than any other school!
Dave DeCicco, a YSA spokesperson, says that parents can also take credit for the dramatic rise in youth service. "Parents are encouraging their kids to volunteer and doing it with them," says DeCicco.
Some kids like Nathan W., 10, of Lake Zurich, Illinois, have personal reasons for volunteering. Nate's grandmother died of a heart attack. To help raise awareness of heart disease and money for medical research, Nate participated in Jump Rope for Heart last month. He and five other boys took turns jumping rope for 2 1/2 hours. He collected more than $1,200 in donations for the American Heart Association.
LIFELONG LESSONS
According to a report issued last November by YSA and a research group called Independent Sector, kids who start volunteering are twice as likely to continue doing good deeds when they are adults. It's never too early to start. "Volunteers can be any age," says Camille, who has done community service since she was 5.
So grab a paintbrush, trash bag, shovel or whatever you need to help your community. If you're like Camille, Wissam and Nate, you'll love how you feel after helping others. Even dirty work can be lots of fun, if it's for a good cause. --By Elizabeth Winchester
GET TO WORK!
There are many ways that kids can help others. Here are a few projects suggested by Youth Service America. To find a project in your community for National and Global Youth Service Day, visit www.ysa.org/nysd
Help the hungry and homeless. Cook or serve a meal at a shelter. Donate clothing, combs, toothbrushes and other supplies for people who are homeless.
Stay after school. Get permission to paint a mural over graffiti on a school building. Tutor a student who needs extra help.
Seek out seniors. Get a group together to put on a play at a nursing home. Offer to rake leaves or wash windows for a senior citizen. Teach an elderly friend to use the Internet.
Help people with special needs. Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event. Read to people who are blind. Bring books and toys to kids at local hospitals.
Spiff up your community. Plant flowers or trees in public areas. Clean up trash along a river or in a park. Monitor water quality in local lakes, rivers or streams.
Get involved in government. Find out what you can do to encourage people to register to vote. Identify a local problem and write to officials with ideas for how to solve it.