United Nations International Volunteer Day

December 5

Below provided is a small activity you can incorporate in your character education program next month. In our busy lives we often forget the importance of volunteering our time to organizations and people who need a helping hand. Out of a growing concern that some children do not understand the value of being a volunteer, some school districts are making community service hours a graduation requirement. Familiarizing primary and middle school children with volunteer service helps them to discover the rewards on personal and community levels of helping others. Parent-teacher groups within the school system are an example of how volunteers make a difference in students’ lives. Many towns have service organizations, such as Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, food pantries, and homeless shelters.

Students can volunteer in school: sorting the Lost and Found items, reading aloud to younger students, setting up a tutoring program, and helping with playground trash pickup are a few volunteer projects that don’t involve transportation. With access to transportation, usually with parent volunteers, students can donate time at local nursing homes or soup kitchens with age-appropriate activities and supervision. Many old folks are lonely at this time of year, and young people singing holiday songs or making crafts at the elbow of residents is a welcome event. Call any local nursing home and you will probably be invited to “tea and cookies” or activity time.

Encourage students to find stories of people engaging in volunteer work. Collecting newspaper stories and photographs showing people involved in disaster relief after floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes is one way to illustrate volunteerism. A “We Make a Difference” bulletin board of volunteers’ school wide keeps students aware of areas that can use help. The key to success is making students aware of needs in the community.

Community based groups may be willing to provide a school speaker. A speaker from a homeless shelter, teen help hot line, or women’s shelter may be able to provide age appropriate real life stories of serious needs met by volunteers. Be sure to tell the speaker what your students’ ages are and what you would like the speaker to discuss. Students can create a thank you card for each speaker.

By: Francis David