-
TASH -
submitted 9/03/2010
PROBLEM: Youth participation
Young people don't have volunteering opportunities that are:
- relevant to their interests/passions (volunteers have different motives for being involved);
- easily accessible (time commitment needs to work around lifestyle; volunteering costs money [eg: transport, food, etc.]);
SOLUTION: Access
Provide easily accessible volunteer opportunities with incentives to be involved
- actively encourage young people from low-SES backgrounds; considered to be at risk; have a disability, etc.
- build capacity (eg: leadership skills) to make it worth the time and effort of volunteering
- acknowledge the hard work and committment of dedicated volunteers (eg: with NGOs)
-
Brooke -
submitted 5/03/2010
I was strongly encouraged to volunteer at school for things like talking to old people at nursing homes.. but since school it is not really encouraged by anyone at all. i know that is no excuse.. but if young people are not getting encouraged (by media, friends/word of mouth) its not something that comes to your mind.
I heard about the Joblink Plus Driver mentor program.. this involves sitting in a car with someone who is on their L's and teaching them how to drive so they build up enough hours and can go for their P's. Disadvantaged people usually get involved in the program i.e someone who does not have access to a vehicle. I found this mentor role to be extremely satisfying. Having access to transport is so important for anyone including young people so i really felt like i was making a difference in someones life. One of the comments above is spot on- not many people think they have something to offer and think of volunteering as fun/exciting.
A Media campaign on the benefits of volunteering may be useful.. show images of the types of things people can get involved in -exciting things (not elderly people) such as fire fighting, driving programs, art programs etc.
Volunteers play a massive role in society and the truth is as people get older, our volunteers are dropping off the perch so we need to be replacing them... otherwise society and the community will suffer enormously as a result.
Media campaign and the HECS idea above both get two thumbs up from me!
-
d'Arcy -
submitted 5/03/2010
Volunteering is one of the 'richest' things you can do...
The experiences and learning you achieve from volunteering is priceless while you hopefully are working in partnership benefiting others.
From 10 years of working in education and development and volunteering in over 30 countries my 3 biggest tips are:
1. Listen to the needs of the people you want to help
2. Work in partnership with the local people and community
3. Make sure your work is attainable and sustainable
To learn more about not only international volunteering and development see how you can volunteer locally 'through global eyes' - http://www.globalpovertyproject.com
-
Claudia -
submitted 3/03/2010
It is not easy for under 18s to get volunteering opportunities. We are seen as an insurance liability and I know of many people like myself who try relentlessly to get volunteering positions but are constantly knocked back by organisations. I think that there needs to be more support offered to organisations to assist them in taking under 18s on board in a volunteering capacity. It's not a shortage of volunteers, it's a shortage of positions and willing organisations!
-
Mikaela -
submitted 1/03/2010
•I've volunteered overseas (Romania), and now I'm volunteering as a homework/English tutor for kids from refugee backgrounds.
•Initially I found volunteering here too daunting, because I thought it was a really long term, high effort thing. I also knew that overseas, when working with children who have nothing, I would see the benefit of my work.
•Young people need to be aware that volunteering does not have to be a lot of work. The volunteering I'm doing now is 2 hours a week - and anyone can do that. There's definitely a perception out there that volunteering is boring, not really going to make a difference, or limited to planting trees or working in an old persons' home. Encourage young people by showing that there are really fun and worthwhile things that we can do. Also, many young people I talk to about volunteering don't believe they have anything to offer.
•Get uni lecturers to tell their students about volunteering opportunities related to their fields.
•Use TV, commedians, and school/uni teachers. Make the state volunteering websites cooler. And then promote them.
•I disagree with other ideas about monetary support (then it isn't volunteering) and awards. To me, that defeats the purpose. People feel good when they do things for others, as soon as you give them something, you take away the uniqueness of volunteering. Then it becomes work.
-
Vu Long -
submitted 23/02/2010
Yes some people don't realise how easy it is to volunteer and I think that people believe that you must commit regularly which isn't the case at times. Take fun runs for instance, where you volunteer on the day and then you can continue on with your day to day life. Sure, volunteering can be a regular thing, although young people these days (at least my friends and not to mention the average person) are quite busy in their own lives, so having opps that aren't so regular is important. Having the flexible volunteer roles for young people would also help. Discussions of a volunteer database is useful although I'd like to see a filter search option for youth as well. Young people always want to know what they can achieve from it, so letting them know and feel that they are making a difference in the community, developing new skills & career development, as well as having resources & real decision making power available to them will hopefully make them more keen.
-
Adam Cooper -
submitted 23/02/2010
Having worked with young people for over 10 years I believe young people volunteer when:
-theres a practical & easy way for them to engage in something they love or are passionate about
-theres an accreditation of some kind for giving their time
-their participation involves a social aspect with like minded peers
-theres an easy application process with training and support that gives them confidence to undertake their role successfully
-its clearly articulated how the experience can be a stepping stone to future goals.
What needs to happen to foster this more fully is:
-someone to centrally co-ordinate well organised and structured volunteer programs
-having a clear start and end date for the role
-having roles available that are relevant to young people
-Co-ordination by youth friendly organisations.
Many volunteer organisations tend to have a focus on volunteering for and with more senior residents. There are only a limited number of organisations that can take on young volunteers as it takes resources that many don't have.Local Government is well placed but doesn't have the funds to do this as much as it would like.NGO's are often too stretched to take on volunteers also.Structured, funded programs such as Victorias FReeZA program are excellent examples of high quality volunteering programs, but they too are under more pressure with limited funding.Provide opp's to link with schoolwork that extends beyond school hours.
-
Peri -
submitted 23/02/2010
I think people need to be made aware that volunteering isn't just work you don't get paid for. Volunteering can be fun for its own sake - it can mean getting involved in local events, music festivals or youth radio. You never quite know where it might lead, but you're likely to meet funky, like-minded people. What's more, just because volunteer experience is obscure doesn't mean you can't put it on a resume; if you let your volunteer experience shape the sorts of jobs you apply for, you can always keep it relevant. And even if it's not, employers like to see that you've been active in the community, taking the initiative instead of sitting on your tuffet.
-
Sharron Jones -
submitted 23/02/2010
To encourage yp-Make it fun, opportunity to meet new friends, gain new life skills and offer a reward system ie Certificate of acknowledgement which could be of value to their resumes.
Raise awareness- Role models especially if they are sports or other yp in the community. Use their IT processess for promotion. Promote different kinds of volunteering opportunities ie Leeuwin Voyager, Fairbridge Village, Art and Events opportunities to vol. Have well known people talk about their volunteering experience in the past or as a young person.
What kinds of Vol activities appeal-Ones that give them skills, fun, and would need a framework for how adults work with young people. Could have vols in the area of Environment,Tourism, Sports and Events, Community etc...If having specific topics could then market under each topic.
Best way to link yp-Have a mentor alongside of them, Have Local Governments or Telecentres or Volunteer organisations "audit" what is available in their communities and put on a website and other links ie school websites, government websites etc so yp have access. Plus make sure promotions give the opportunities for young people with disabilities to volunteer, CALD and Indigenous Young people to volunteer.
Greater participation: Positive stories back to the community so others can see what yp are getting out of volunteering. Could also promote Volunteering overseas so that yp can see a bigger picture to volunteering. It has to be a 2 way process.
-
Meagan -
submitted 23/02/2010
I work for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Australia and am also completing my Gold Award, and from my experiences I believe that there aren't enough ideas generated in the public for what can be a form of volunteering, the benefit that young people can get out it other than "it looks great on your resume", and most importantly, not enough ideas which can get youth passionate about things they are genuinely interested in! It is the getting them interested which is key to expanding the volunteering community amongst young people.
E.g. Coach younger soccer teams in your spare time for free
Youth volunteering needs to become a mimetic, where it is a norm in society and the question won't be "Do you volunteer at all?" but "What do you volunteer for?"