Youth setting example for next generation

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Taber Times

Anyone who has ever wondered about the future state of our communities when it comes to volunteerism can be assured the youth in our region are stepping up.

Whether its recent food drives for the local food bank, coaching minor sporting teams or just helping out at community events, our teenagers are making an impact in their community.

Certainly there are those who have yet to catch the volunteerism bug but on the whole youth across our region are setting a fine example, not just for their younger counterparts, but also for the older generation.

While community organizations and clubs are often scrambling to get enough volunteers, the youth represent an often untapped source of energy and enthusiasm.

The key is to appeal to the youth through such avenues as social media.

Community organizations who want to get more youth involved need to consider how they present their programs and activities.

Gearing even a portion of their annual events to the youth will make it that much easier to get them involved.

Partnering with already established youth organizations such as Scouting, sporting teams and even local schools is a great way to involve even more youth in community events.

Those youth who are volunteering are the cream of the crop, they are young people who already understand they can make a difference in their community.

They have learned from their parents and their teachers that even one person can make a difference in their community if they are willing to put some effort forward.

Parents who are raising young children would be wise to follow the example of older parents who have already taught their children about the importance of volunteering by first setting the example as volunteers themselves.

Adults who volunteer their time for sports teams, school activities and community events are setting an example for their children and other children in the community.

If you make an impact on a young person in your community it is more than likely that young person will go on to be a leader of youth themselves because they remember what an impact you had in their life.

In this age of social media and instant headlines, it is too easy to focus on the negative stories that surface about problems among the youth of our nation.

Our youth are not perfect but there are many who are making a difference in their schools, communities and within their own homes.

And there are many more who could be making an impact if adult volunteers were willing to step up to work with them and set the example.

If you are one of those who believes our society is suffering from a lack of involvement than step up.

Be the person who believes they can make a difference and volunteer to work with the youth of our communities.

Youth learn best by example.

Instead of telling them what you want them to do, show them. Help them to see the importance of volunteerism by example.