Causecast

Check out more great ideas for service at Causecast’s United We Serve page.

by MELISSA JUN ROWLEY, Contributing Writer

Summer—the season of no school and sunny days is almost upon us. What better way to celebrate this season of change than with the Obama administration’s new focus on youth volunteerism, as part of the White House’s United We Serve program, which kicks off today at the National Conference of Volunteering and Service. The initiative will target four key areas, in which Americans can contribute using their hearts, hands and minds. The focal points are: clean and sustainable energy promotion, education, health care, and community renewal to aid those negatively affected by the economy.

Designed to inspire Americans to continue traveling along a path of civic engagement that goes well beyond this summer, the program provides a benchmark for our youth to look to when devoting their time and energy to service. They may not all be able to drive, and they may not all be eligible to vote yet, but the old adage that children are our future is no joke. As we embark on our first Summer of Service, it’s important to not only keep young people in mind, it’s imperative that we understand we can learn as much from them as they can from us.

Here are some easy Do-It-Yourself Service Projects you can use to get involved.

•Plenty of young people in grade school through college are ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and the Internet. Getting a group of high-tech kids together to train and give tutorials on the latest gadgets and social media to older adults could open doors for some elderly people that were never thought possible.

•Let’s not forget about our local libraries either. The American Library Association is playing a major part in the Summer of Service program. Gather your young people for library field trips, so they can learn about the invaluable volunteer jobs available. If not all the kids can make it to the library, they can start a book club or reading activities to promote literacy in their neighborhoods.

•Encouraging kids to nurture their creativity and share it with their community can lead to an enriching and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Help organize plays, poetry readings, art shows, concerts, featuring the talented youth in your area. The children can accept donations from audiences, and give the proceeds to organizations of their choice.
•Another way kids can put their creative spirits to good use is by visiting hospital patients and nursing home residents, and working on projects with them. A little painting, writing, and singing activity can be enormously beneficial for all parties.

•If your children have any extra toiletries or grooming products sitting on bathroom shelves, have them round up anything they’re not using and give it to a local homeless shelter. The people there will be much appreciative.

•Everybody needs a buddy. Any child with extra time on his/her hands can have a lot of fun being part of a buddy system for kids with special needs at a summer school or recreational program in your neck of the woods. If such an initiative doesn’t exist in your neighborhood, organize a handful of energetic children and let them work their magic.

•Plenty of people hit hard by the economic crisis haven’t had the money or resources to keep their homes in the best condition. Round up a group of young people to paint, restore, and rehabilitate homes in need with sustainable products and green design in mind.

Photo by San Jose Library, flickr