BENEFITS OF YOUTH VOLUNTEERING & WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY
Explore interests and expand your worldview
- Participate in different activities – explore a range of interests and discover new passions
- Diversify interests
- Learn something new!
Increase social connection and build networking skills
- Provides opportunities to expand your social network and make friends
- Make connections to help with future job opportunities
- Meet people in your community – classmates, teachers, coaches, and community leaders
Build your resume
- Volunteer experience provides a way for potential employers to assess your skills and work ethic without having previous work experience
Boost university/college applications
- Help boost your chances of getting into your dream school!
- Shows you are a well-rounded person. Post-secondary institutions and employers love to see an applicant who has hobbies, plays on a sports team, volunteers, holds a part-time job, etc.
- Shows you have gone above and beyond
Sense of fulfillment
- Feel good by helping others
- Find your purpose/what drives you
Improve your mental health
- Youth who participate in extracurricular activities show high rates of positive mental health
- Reduce stress, improve mood, feel more connected and supported
GAIN “REAL WORLD” SKILLS
- Goal setting
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Organization
- Prioritization
- Problem Solving
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
- Public speaking
- Creativity and resourcefulness
- Open to feedback
- Conflict management
- Discipline and responsibility
- Independence
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Benefits of Youth Employment
Learn to communicate with diverse group of people
Learn responsibility (opening and closing stores)
Provides youth with money to spend for themselves, rather than rely on family
Employment teaches youth independence
Benefits of Youth Volunteering
Gives youth a sense of fulfillment
Helps youth build self esteem
Allows them to gain skills necessary for the job market
Volunteer experience stands out on youth resumes
Involved youth are safe youth