Utilizing Youth Volunteers - Summer Opportunities Needed

Youth Volunteer Statistics

• 55% of youth volunteer – 15.5 million people!
• The typical youth volunteer contributes 29 hours per year.
• ¾ of youth who volunteer do so through youth, school and religious organizations.
• 10.6 million youth have engaged in community service as part of school activity.
• If family members volunteer, youth will too.

Benefits for Youth Volunteering

• Volunteering can help explore interests.
• Meet people you might not normally meet.
• Volunteer activities add value to college applications and work resumes.
• It’s fun.
• You’re sharing your talents and knowledge with others.
• Your advancing the common good.

Tips for Working with Youth

• Engage now = lifelong volunteers
• Positive first experience
• Believe in the value of youth volunteers
• Be youth-friendly
• Be honest
• Provide support
• Determine age levels
• Be flexible and tolerant
• Provide training session
• Group activities
• Reassure them
• Build character and leadership skills

Youth Volunteer Recruitment

• Determine your organization’s needs
• Recruitment done through the VCCV, word-of-mouth, advertising, newsletters, bulletins, etc.
• Interview and screen
• Orientation and training
• Performance evaluations
• Recognition

For more information on the youth programs contact Jean Seeland at 272-2087 or Jean_Seeland@vccv.org.