WHY GYSD?

A. Growing Recognition Around the world, the confluence of improved information technology, access to education, and the rise of civic organizations has led to an increased awareness by youth and their communities as to their potential contribution through voluntary action. Around the world millions of young people are becoming involved locally, nationally and globally through new programs and infrastructure. At the local level, numerous programs are being established to provide education, leadership training, and opportunities for youth to serve as resources to their communities. At the national level, a growing number of countries are establishing policies and programs which support on-going service by youth through service and conservation corps, volunteer-based learning reform in the schools, and stipend service. At the international level, foundations, multi-lateral donors, and associations such as the International Association of National Youth Service and the Inter-American Working Group on Youth Development have begun to focus on how to stimulate greater support for methodologies which promote positive youth development and youth volunteering. B. Service Works Research in the US demonstrates that young people involved in volunteering are more likely to become active citizens through voting, participating in civic groups, and giving philanthropically. In addition, young volunteers have been found to have higher educational and economic achievement rates. Likewise, young people who volunteer are 50% less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, become involved in delinquency, or drop out of school. Youth volunteering is an effective strategy for building strong youth and strong communities, while also reducing negative social behaviors. C. Mentoring as a Key Resource Research has also shown the importance of all young people having a caring adult or mentor in their lives as a pre-requisite for their healthy and complete development. Young people who face a number of at-risk situations, but have a mentor in their lives, have been shown to be more resilient and to have better educational and economic achievement. D. The Challenge Nonetheless, only a small portion of the world’s youth between the ages of 10 and 24 have the opportunity to participate in organized volunteer programs that blend effective practices of leadership training, significant service to the community, and reflection. Even fewer have access to a mentor. In addition, there is little sharing of international resources and experiences. Despite the powerful communication potential of our technological age, most information is fragmented, thus limiting the possibility of organizing strategies for scaling up youth volunteering or sharing effective practices within countries and across borders. The lack of information limits the public awareness as to the importance of investing in and supporting programs that involve youth in volunteerism in many countries. E. Experience to Date In the United States, Youth Service America and 43 national nonprofit partners have successfully organized National Youth Service Day for the past eleven years. In addition, in 1999, National Youth Service Day had the participation of 18 corporate sponsors and thousands of corporate volunteers. The day typically mobilizes over three million young people in thousand of community improvement projects across the country. It also generates over 470 million media impressions per year.