The importance of youth engagement

What does youth engagement mean?

Youth engagement is the result when young people are involved in responsible, challenging actions to create positive social change. This means involving youth in planning and in making decisions that affect themselves and others. Youth engagement happens in youth-adult partnerships that are structured so that both groups contribute, teach, and learn from each other. 

Why is youth engagement important?

Youth engagement is a central principle of youth development. According to the ecological perspective of human development, young people are agents of their own development. Youth are more than passive recipients of external influences; instead they are actively involved in shaping their development by interacting with the people and opportunities made available within their environments. Through youth engagement, communities can do a better job of creating the services, opportunities, and supports that young people need to develop in healthy ways. Youth engagement offers community leaders the expertise and partnership of young people, helping adults fully understand what it is like to grow up in a rapidly changing world. From a political point of view, youth engagement is important because young people deserve the right to represent their own interests. Youth civic engagement is also critically important to prepare young people to be active citizens in a democracy.
What are the benefits of youth engagement?


Youth engagement is a win-win proposition.

• Young people benefit by gaining skills, knowledge, self-esteem, and connectedness.

• Adults benefit by enhancing their own competencies, learning to better understand and value youth, and increasing their commitment and energy to their organizations.

• Organizations benefit by improving their programs, gaining community recognition, and attracting funders.

• Communities benefit by improving quality of life, coordinating youth services, and authentically embracing diversity by representing young people.

To learn more about youth engagement, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley for more information at (319) 272-2087, email, or visit www.vccv.org.

Thanks to Youth Center of Excellence, Cornell University.

Make A Difference Day With Green Iowa AmeriCorps

Millions of volunteers will unite to improve the lives of others in their communities on Make A Difference Day of Service. The Day, October 22, is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

 

Green Iowa AmeriCorps needs help cleaning up trash on a section of Highway 20 in Cedar Falls on October 22 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Volunteers should meet at the Cedar Falls Tourism Center at 6510 Hudson Road. Green Iowa AmeriCorps will provide transportation to the clean-up site, as well as bags, vests, and gloves.

Green Iowa AmeriCorps is coordinated by the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy & Environmental Education providing residential energy audit services to under-served communities across Iowa, weatherization services with free materials for low-income, elderly, veterans and persons with disabilities, and energy-related education programs to engage communities in volunteer generation. The organization was founded in 2009 to address conservation and sustainable usage of energy resources in several Iowa communities as they struggled to rebuild from the devastating floods of 2008. Since the start of the flood recovery, Green Iowa AmeriCorps has been an active community partner. Other involvement in the community includes deconstruction projects, creating energy educational programs for all ages, and assisting in the development of energy-related community events.

Visit www.vccv.org to learn about these opportunities. For more information regarding Make A Difference Day opportunities, call 319-272-2087 or email the VCCV.

Make A Difference Day!

On one day each year, we want to inspire the nation to make a difference. Make A Difference Day, October 22, is one of the largest annual single-days of service nationwide. No matter who you are or where you’re from, everyone has the power to do something that improves the life of another. Whether it’s starting a project that helps one person, or working on one that benefits a whole community, every contribution makes a difference. Volunteers will unite with a common mission — to improve the lives of others in its 25th year. 

Of course, the VCCV will assist all volunteers, from one person to a group of volunteers, in finding appropriate matches with area non-profits. Visit www.vccv.org to learn about these opportunities. For more information regarding Make A Difference Day opportunities, call 319-272-2087 or email.

Flood Recovery Efforts In Black Hawk County - Volunteers Needed!

The Black Hawk County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) have began prioritizing and assessing flood recovery efforts. This collective group is made up of voluntary agencies, businesses, and governmental agencies in order to allow for more effective preparedness, response and recovery.  

 The early response to the recovery is identifying emergency food and shelter followed by clean-up and assessment of damages.  The early assessments will be compiled by the 211 service.  Residents who have damage to report should call 211, 319-739-4211, or 1-866-469-2241.  The information collected on the call includes name, address, telephone number, age of oldest in the household, type of damage, type of insurance coverage and volunteer need. 

 Gov. Terry Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency activating the Iowa Individual Assistance Program providing grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the current federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $40,320, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to disaster recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim. Locally the applications will be taken by Operation Threshold, 319 -291-2065.

 Those interested in volunteering to assist with recovery efforts should complete volunteer interest form through the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley's website. Groups and individuals being accepted.

 For more information about ways to provide assistance, please contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.